PL MP Katya De Giovanni said in Parliament on Wednesday evening that the rubbish problem in Sliema has reached "unacceptable levels" and has called for waste in the densely populated locality to be collected at least twice daily during "high peak" summer periods.
The Labour Party backbencher cited unsustainable levels of waste, prolonged noise pollution, blocked pavements, "water quality crisis" in its swimming areas, public indecency, and road closures as factors all hindering the quality of life of everyone entering Sliema, from visitors to residents.
She stated that all these issues exacerbate one another, and therefore, Sliema requires a structured, evidence-based framework to see how to go about these struggles and "measure the true limits of Sliema."
"Traffic leads to late garbage collection. Excess garbage encourages filth and rodents. Noise keeps families indoors. Sewage makes the sea unsafe," the PL MP remarked.
De Giovanni said that the region pertaining to Sliema, St Julian's, and Pembroke is very close to her heart, as it is the region where she went to school and visited her grandparents when growing up as a child.
The PL MP called for additional efforts to be taken to take care of the seaside town as, in her own words, "promenades intended for families, joggers, and those who come to relax are now filled with torn garbage bags and containers full of rubbish."
De Giovanni observed that short-term tenants, food vendors, and large influxes of tourists are to blame for overwhelming the town's current infrastructure. She said that at present, recyclable waste is often discarded irresponsibly, and that rats and seagulls visibly scavenge through the waste.
"In 2023 alone, more than 360 fines were issued for littering, but the main problem remains: the system is out of touch with today's reality," De Giovanni said, "We are trying to manage today's Sliema with yesterday's infrastructure."
Noise pollution
Switching her attention towards the constant noise pollution that has become ever-present around the locality, the PL backbencher remarked that the loud noise being heard late at night forced her - as many residents regularly face - to close her windows shut, forget about enjoying the nightly breeze, and switch on her air conditioner to withstand the summer heat in her sleep.
She called for the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) to do more to combat noise pollution, noting that laws in this regard are vague, that serious enforcement on sound proofing is not being done, and that police and local enforcement officers are under-resourced.
Need for a carrying capacity study in Sliema
De Giovanni proposed for a carrying capacity study to be conducted in the locality.
Noted that Sliema Local Council voted against carrying out a carrying capacity study, and that without knowing these figures, "it is difficult to take action because one cannot know what they are talking about."
Hence, she appealed for such a study to be carried out to aid Sliema's resident population.
The PL MP criticised that the PN-led Sliema Local Council had voted against a motion, which was pitched by PL councillors, to carry out such a study, paid for by the local council.
Restaurant space blocking public pavements
De Giovanni also referenced the long-standing issue of tables and chairs occupying public pavements that has been flagged time and time again by civil society - an issue that has sustained since society emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic and has since done away with social distancing.
The Member of Parliament suggested outlet owners to leave space for passersby to use the pavement without being hindered, and for establishments to declare, via a visible licence, how many tables and chairs they are allowed to have. She added that there should also be a system of penalties in place for those who do not conform with this law, should it come to be.
She commented that at the moment, businesses and short-let landlords "continue to thrive in this chaos" to the detriment of nearby residents.
Alarms raised over 'water quality crisis'
De Giovanni condemned the recent sewage leak that impacted and temporarily closed off the Chalet and Font Għadir zones
Remarking that local infrastructure needs bolstering after reaching such a crucial junction, she lamented that this sewage leak is not just a great inconvenience, but a dire health concern to many families, swimmers, and children. She added that such events deter tourists from returning to bays with red flags.
She stated that the quality of the sea is of vital importance to Sliema residents, as for many it may hinder quality of life in the occurrence of such instances. Hence, she also called for work to be done to boost access points into swimming areas for persons with mobility issues.
Public decency and road closures
Another residential issue relating to swimming areas pertains to what is considered as "decent clothing" and complaints of several tourists not abiding by regulations be dressed decently when leaving swimming areas. The PL backbencher wants clear signs around these areas to specify what "decent clothing" means and for Community Police to be more present in these areas to notify tourists to dress decently when leaving swimming areas, enforced by fines.
In addition, De Giovanni brought up "unplanned road closures and poor traffic management" in the locality.
Stating that road closures for events or construction works are arising without prior notice or advising alternate routes, the PL MP called for a traffic management plan that considers Sliema's complexities and surroundings to be heeded so that residents and visiting drivers may no longer worry about whole lanes and residential streets being obstructed by delivery trucks, idle coaches, or private contractors "illegally, out of convenience."
Concluding her speech, she commented that the backbench's role is to listen to the people and inform the executive government to propose legislation to address these issues. She noted that both Sliema and St Julian's are "gems that all Maltese love to enjoy" before appealing for these localities to be taken care of.