The Prime Minister closed the discussion held at the Floriana Granaries yesterday as part of the independence celebrations. The discussion, entitled More Projects and a Better Environment involved several ministers discussing projects that have been carried out as well as others that are planned.

Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino said the government is currently carrying out the projects it had promised. On the subject of the aforestation project, Minister Pullicino said 4,000 trees have been planted under it-Torri l-Ahmar in Mellieha and he said that by the end of the year 10,000 will have been planted in this area. The public must have noticed the new plants and shrubs along the centre strips of various roads, said the minister. He noted that government workers in this sector can now be even more proud of their work since it is more visible.

As far as waste management is concerned, the minister said 540 tonnes of separated waste has been collected from the 50 bring-in sites, where people separate their waste before disposing of it. “The plan is to have many more bring-in sites so more waste can be separated and recycled or disposed of in an eco-friendly way,” he said.

Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech also spoke at yesterday’s discussion and said that Malta depends heavily on tourism since it is the source of one fourth of the country’s income.

The Lm50 million being invested in the building of new hotels shows faith in the economy and the tourism sector, he said. He pointed out that S2.5 million has been allocated to help the industry and 60 per cent of investment made will be funded by the government and the EU.

The minister mentioned once again the intention of promoting Malta’s cultural heritage as a tourist attraction. “We are not simply an island of sun, sea and sand. Malta’s rich history is unique and it must be put at the forefront of the tourism agenda,” he said. The minister supported his point by mentioning an exhibition dedicated to Maltese history to be held in an Amsterdam museum on 1 October.

After the various ministers spoke about the projects their respective ministries are overseeing, the prime minister congratulated them all for the hard work that is being done to put Malta on its feet and improve the island for its citizens and for the tourists who visit it every year.

“So many projects are being carried out that one almost gets breathless when mentioning them all,” he said. The Nationalist Party is working towards the renewal of Malta and the prime minister commended the important contribution of the private sector in this initiative.

“When it comes to the environment, the most important element is education,” said Dr Gonzi. If one educates the public to embrace and respect the environment, then every person can shoulder the responsibility for making Malta an better island to live in, he concluded