Through an agreement between the Local Enforcement System Agency (LESA) and the Association of Local Councils, LESA will provide €600,000 over two years to the Regional Committees, for their use by the local councils and voluntary groups in various localities in Malta and Gozo.
The aid will be used to cover expenses related to Police, LESA officials and Civil Protection during cultural and other events organized from time to time.
In a press statement, government said that it will continue to support volunteer groups involved in cultural and community activities across Malta and Gozo.
This initiative in connection with cultural activities was announced by Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri and Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government Alison Zerafa Civelli.
Bonnici spoke about the importance of the government's ongoing efforts to support activities at the local level in order to enhance the sense of community.
“We are close to the volunteer groups and are sensitive to their needs. It is for this reason that this scheme is being implemented to provide assistance to cultural and other activities that take place in our streets, towns and communities,” Bonnici said, emphasizing that this assistance is in addition to all other aid already being given.
Bonnici said that government is investing in resilient communities that can meet local and community challenges.
“We believe that the value of community work is our responsibility to support it in order to strengthen and celebrate what we achieve together,” Bonnici said.
Camilleri explained that LESA will provide the money from its funds to the Regional Committees to cover services provided by various entities under the Ministry for Home Affairs, National Security and Law Reform.
He continued that when cultural and other events are organized, certain roads must be closed to traffic and there is a need for police and other officials during the event.
Camilleri said that this government has supported and will continue to support cultural and other activities through this aid.
“We believe that community work is important for social development and that it is our responsibility to support it, particularly at this time when we are rebuilding our society,” Camilleri continued.
Parliamentary Secretary Alison Zerafa Civelli said that through these additional funds, local councils will be in a position to allocate more funds towards the organized activities in their localities, with residents enjoying a higher level of local socio-cultural activities.
The funds that the LESA Agency will provide to the Regional Councils will be distributed over two years and will be equal for each region. The agreement will come into effect from 12 May 2023.