During the last four years more than a hundred projects directly connected with embellishment and restoration have been carried out.

Open Spaces

A number of open spaces have been created to provide families and their children with areas of relaxation in a safe atmosphere.

St George’s Square in Valletta, St. Anne’s Square in Sliema, the Adventure Park at Ta’ Qali, the Waterpark in Bugibba, George Bonello Dupuis Garden in Qui si Sana, the Environmental Centre and Park at Xrobb l-Għaġin in Marsaxlokk, the extension of the National Park in Salina, the Santa Marija tal-Anġli Garden in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq and the conversion of the oil depot in Kalkara into a beautiful garden are just but a few examples worth mentioning.

Facilities for sport practise

Our children must be provided with facilities where they can run and jump, and this is exactly what we are doing. Obvious examples are the more than 30 smooth artificial surface grounds all over the island that provide the best training facilities for the thousands of youngsters that attend the numerous football nurseries.

Mention must also be made of other sports facilities that are found in our state-of-the-art schools and colleges, while not forgetting novelties such as the High Ropes at Ta’ Qali, a number of gymnasiums, the modern sport complexes – the latest being the one at Kirkop, with an investment of €3.5m – the refurbishment of a number of bocci pitches and the development of new facilities for basketball and other projects that should convince one and all of the government’s determination to get more and more people involved in sport – in the best surroundings.

There have never been so many sports facilities available to the community as there are now.

The capital’s glamour

Within the strong fortifications lies the pride of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta. Valletta is a gem with a number of particular attractions.

The city is essentially dominated by its baroque architecture and its 16th-century glamour and it was in 1980 that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. The fact that “Valletta is beautiful” is not just a slogan for tourist brochures. Recent work and projects have ensured the restoration of a number of historical buildings that had been badly affected by the natural elements and pollution.

The Grand Master’s Palace and the Main Guard have not just been given a facelift but have been restored to their previous glory. Similarly, restoration work has been carried out on other historical palaces, auberges and churches, such as the façade of Castille, the Auberge d’Italie, the Public Library, St John’s Co-Cathedral and Victoria Gate. Most of the streets have been resurfaced and a few have become pedestrian areas – which provide even more opportunity to admire the settings. The cleaning of the bastions has given Valletta quite a different appearance – and not solely as a tourist attraction.

Equally interesting is the work that has been carried out in tourist areas such as the promenades at Qui-Si-Sana, Marsaxlokk, Xagħjra, the Waterfront in Valletta, the Golden Mile in Paceville and other popular areas.

Church parvises

Attention has also been paid to a number of chapels and to the church parvises all over the island that are an essential part of Malta’s heritage and history.

A cleaner future

Not to be ignored are the hundreds of thousands of trees that have been planted since the introduction of the 34U campaign in 2005, or the two million plants that are planted annually to embellish our roads or the considerable number of fountains that have been constructed. And we are certainly managing waste better than ever before through the modernisation of the Sant’ Antnin plant. One thousand bring-in sites for separated waste have been provided and the notorious Mgħatab is being turned into a park the size of six football pitches.

Government’s aim is to provide cleaner air, and people have profited from grants to install solar water heaters, double glazing and insulation. The reform in public transport has also contributed towards cleaner air.

With an investment of €108m in three plants, Malta treats its waste water before it reaches the sea. Apart from the health benefits of this investment, Malta can now claim excellent water in its bays and beaches, to the pleasure of both residents and visitors.

These projects have not only embellished towns and villages across the island but have also provided an improved quality of life while increasing commerce and creating jobs.