Managing the environment through local government

Sebbah Pajjizek, the nationwide campaign organised by the Ministry for Justice and Local Government, is entering its third consecutive year with a selection of 11 different competitions open to all local councils.

This year's campaign is also commemorating the International Year of Eco-Tourism through the co-ordination of a new category specifically directed towards the promotion of this important aspect in environment management.

The core of Sebbah Pajjizek lies in the fact that it goes directly to the individual. Although co-ordinated by the local councils in a bid to ensure the best upkeep of their respective localities, the campaign seeks to encourage local councils, residents and commercial communities to participate in an embellishment initiative of the locality where they live or operate from, and at the same time take part in various competitions with the opportunity to win cash prizes.

Sebbah Pajjizek seeks to involve every citizen since the environment belongs to everybody and in this way every citizen can contribute in his or her small way to make our country more beautiful and cleaner.

Another objective is to change the attitude towards civic pride, public cleanliness and the embellishment not just of our homes - something we Maltese are very good at - but also of our neighbourhood.

Sebbah Pajjizek also seeks to raise awareness on the importance of a cleaner environment so that residents, tourists and future generations alike, can enjoy it so that the end of this campaign is not an end in itself but the beginning of a new mentality which promotes the campaign's slogan - a better locality, a better country.

The campaign, which is being sponsored by Bank of Valletta, Middle Sea Valletta Life Assurance, the Malta Tourism Authority, Maltapost, and Central Cigarette Co Ltd, will focus on promoting the involvement of residents with their respective councillors as well as seek to enhance partnerships between local councils, the Malta Tourism Authority and the private sector.

The involvement of local councils however is a key element in the success of this campaign since they have a key role in the upkeep of the environment.

The competition

This year's competition is divided into 12 categories which include Best Kept Public Gardens with playing fields and other attractions; Enclosed Public Gardens; Open Public Gardens embellished with trees, plants and flowers; Playing Fields surrounded by trees/plants/ flowers; Embellished Squares/ Public Spaces; Best Kept Sandy Beaches; Best Kept Rocky beaches that are accessible and popular for swimming, Best Kept Promenades; Best Overall Tidiness of Non-Urban Areas; Best Overall Effort of Residential/Commercial Community; Best Initiative for Embellishment of Locality and a new category for Best Kept Valley.

Gardens, fields and public areas

These have been assigned to four different categories namely Best Kept Public Gardens with playing fields and other attractions; Enclosed Public Gardens; Open Public Gardens embellished with trees, plants and flowers; Playing Fields surrounded by trees/plants/ flowers; Localities participating in these categories will need to ensure a high level in overall tidiness as well as presence of amenities such as benches, fountains, gazebos, litter bins, toilets, kiosks, and telephones.

Adequate accessibility to elderly and disabled as well as relative publicity and information on the site will also be considered.

Embellished squares/public spaces

This competition rewards local councils with the best overall embellishment of public gardens, parks and squares within the locality.

Green areas, including roundabouts and traffic islands, water fountains and horticultural features in public gardens, parks and squares will all be judged favourably.

Best kept sandy beaches

The competition rewards local councils for the overall tidiness and embellishment on beaches within their locality. Cleanliness of sandy beaches, easy access, provision of litter bins, sanitary facilities, safe markings for sports activities, first aid facilities and accessibility to elderly and disabled will be favourably considered.

Best kept rocky beaches and coast

The competition will reward those localities with the overall tidiness and embellishment on beaches within their locality.

Cleanliness of rocky beaches, easy access, provision of litter bins, sanitary facilities, safe markings for sports activities, ladders, diving platforms, parking and first aid facilities, telephone and accessibility to elderly and disabled will be favourably considered.

Best kept promenades

The local councils with the best overall tidiness and embellishment on promenades within their locality will also be rewarded under this competition.

Points will be rewarded for general cleanliness, adequate provision and maintenance of seating facilities, provision, availability and signage of toilet facilities and provision of litterbins including their state.

Best overall tidiness of non-urban areas

This category will reward the council with the best overall tidiness of non-urban areas. Criteria include general cleanliness of non-urban roads, pathways and open areas.

Also important is the maintenance and careful cleaning of any culverts and natural watercourses and safeguarding of the natural environment.

Best overall effort of residential/commercial community

This category will host local councils which throughout the months assigned for the competition would have organised activities, initiatives and competitions in their respective localities in a way that involves the residents and commercial community's participation.

Such competitions would include Best Decorated Balcony, Best Kept Facade, Most Attractive Front Garden, and Best Kept Residential Area, drawing or painting exhibitions dealing with the environment as well as Best Public/Private Partnership Initiatives.

Best initiative for embellishment of locality

This competition will seek to reward the locality for the best commitment in tidiness and law enforcement, best general image, traffic management procedures, up keep and embellishment of open spaces and promotion of locality in media and distribution of informative material about the locality.

Valleys

This newly introduced category marks this year's commemoration as the International Year of Eco-Tourism.

Localities who apply for this category will be assessed on the level of tidiness and general state of the environment, rural landscaping, state of watercourses and rubble walls, accessibility and upkeeping of passageways.

Sebbah Pajjizek is not merely a competition to establish the best and most active councils.

It is an ideal opportunity to create a synergy whereby localities work hand in hand in a bid to improve the general state of the environment.

The campaign finally should seek to educate citizens by raising awareness that the environment is there for us to enjoy and to be preserved for our future generations.