Another quality recreational space

The works on the new garden in Qui-si-Sana, Sliema are well under way. In fact, we are planning the opening later this month. It is high time this area is turned into a quality recreational space. The garden that was there before certainly did not do justice to the area, which has benefited from so much private investment over the past 20 years. Over two years we have given back to the community St Anne Square and a promenade and new garden in Qui-si-Sana.

The design and layout of the garden allows it to be sheltered from the winds the area is exposed to. In the coming days, turf will be laid.

For this to be maintained, particularly during the summer months, three large reservoirs that hold up to 1,000 cubic metres of water each were built under the garden.

The garden will be equipped with a children’s playground, outdoor gym equipment and three fountains.

We should also appreciate all the hard work that goes into a project such as this, which is not necessarily seen at face value. The staff at the Works Department lay one kilometre of foundations of reinforced concrete underneath the promenade and excavated trenches for a number of services, including the laying of 4.8 kilometres of pipes.

The original garden took up an area of around 5,000 square metres while the new one is spread over an area of about 8,000 square metres.

This project, including the promenade, has been made possible thanks to an investment of €2 million.

Without a doubt, this investment pays off not only because Sliema residents and all those who visit the area will benefit but also because it will continue to make this touristic area more attractive – December 2.

Three moments at Sant’Antnin

I was impressed by the public’s response to the open weekend at the Sant’Antnin waste recycling plant in Marsascala, which received about 6,000 visitors over three days. Today, the opening hours had to be extended due to the high number of visitors. The public expressed their appreciation for the €27 million investment, €18 million of which came from EU funds.

There were three moments that struck me over the past few days.

The first was during the inauguration on Thursday morning, when the Prime Minister unveiled a monument sculpted by Angelo Agius. This work of art is in itself a message: a sculpture made out of recycled stone.

During that moment, I thought: Finally! After so much opposition, despite doing our best to explain the benefits we would be accomplishing.

The second was during the reception hosted at the plant for residents of Marsascala on Thursday evening. I was so happy to see a gentleman who, during the information meeting we organised in 2005, was in the front row vociferously raising objections. I would like to thank him for the sense of maturity he showed. He did not hold back from attending Thursday’s event, which I greatly appreciated. I only wish the Leader of the Opposition showed the same levels of maturity as this gentleman and accepted our invitation, despite having stated during the same 2005 meeting he would do all he could as an MEP to freeze the European funds that had been made available. Yet once again, the Labour Party remains entrenched in the past.

The third and best moment was on Friday morning when I accompanied schoolchildren on a tour of the facility. At one point, a young boy came up to me and asked: “Sir, why is there a smell of garbage inside and none outside?” I tried explaining the concept of negative pressure, whereby the air inside the building is trapped and treated to eliminate the smell. If only the opposition we faced over the past few years was curious enough to look for answers rather than remain immersed in prejudice - November 28.

Our country’s economic strategy

As Ireland formally requests financial assistance from the EU, and Portugal may well follow suit in the next few weeks, the caution of our economic leadership becomes clearer. Ireland’s problems are different from Portugal’s. Ireland’s government has money but its overextended banks are drowning in debt and Dublin has vowed to cover all banking losses to keep its system functioning. On the other hand, Portugal’s banks are not especially troubled but its economy is stagnating and public debt is considerable. Portugal has been unable to stick to this year’s pledge to cut its bloated deficit. Rather, during the first nine months of 2010, the deficit widened by 2.3 per cent from a year earlier.

Our cautious financial institutions, aided by a strong regulatory framework, have ensured we do not go down Ireland’s path. The prudence which has marked this government’s financial budgets since the outset of the financial crisis has ensured we do not go down Portugal’s path either. Over the past three years, the government has striven to slash the deficit even as it offered a helping hand to companies in distress. This approach has also allowed for spending to be directed at producing more jobs and economic growth.

The savage cuts European governments have had to announce are measures any government is reluctant to take. We have so far steered out of troubled waters because we have travelled ahead of the wave. Taking for granted this state of affairs is however far from desirable. Even as our economy recovers and generates job opportunities for young and old, we may yet have to face dramatic consequences as doubts on the euro’s stability resurface – November 22.

Almost 100,000 trees

Over the past three days, about 1,000 trees were planted by children, families and companies who participated in the Tree Planting Weekend. This morning, I visited the activities taking place in the National Park in Salini, where I thanked all those who had dedicated their time and energy. These trees were planted in a new area in Salini, which will continue to extend this recreational park, allowing for another 3,000 trees to be planted.

Furthermore, this extension continues to tie in with the government’s vision to provide more recreational parks for families. This is why the government is working on another extension to the National Park in Ta’ Qali and will soon open the Xrobb l-Għaġin park for the public. Moreover, we are also working on a park in Delimara and another in Marsascala, apart from the parks that will be developed with the rehabilitation of the closed landfills in Magħtab and Qortin.

With the planting of 1,000 trees today, more than 96,000 trees have been planted in Malta since the 34U campaign was launched five years ago.

We hope we will soon reach the 100,000 target. Many are today responding to the different initiatives within the 34U campaign. When a baby is born, a tree is planted. When a loved one passes away, a tree is planted in their memory. 34U is clearly not a government campaign but a national project – November 21.

http://georgepullicino.blogspot.com

The author is Minister of Resources and Rural Affairs.