The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association has called for immediate action on the cleansing of tourist zones around Malta and Gozo.
“MHRA is greatly concerned by the apparent and unacceptable lack of this essential service and calls on all authorities concerned to address this problem with immediate effect,” the association said in a statement.
The MHRA said that key locations such as beaches and areas such as Paceville, Sliema front and Bugibba had no form of service for the removal of litter, emptying of bins and ground washing.
“These and other popular areas are now suffering badly and are in a pitiful state reminiscent of a third world country rather than a modern European state. It is deplorable to stroll along our prime sites and promenades only to be faced by littered streets, overflowing bins, rampant weeds, broken pavements, gravel, dust and general filth, in the height of the summer season.”
The MHRA said that those who had been appointed specifically for these tasks and paid through public funds must be held accountable for “gross inefficiencies and negligence”.
“This is nothing short of a disservice to our entire population and a squandering of taxpayers’ money,” the MHRA said,
The association also called for an overall drive by local wardens and police to focus energy on littering and to get government undertaking a “general cleanup”.
“Wardens should conspicuously scout problematic streets preventing motorists from parking badly, rather than turning up after the harm has been done and happily issuing parking fines. Police should be strategically positioned in hazardous areas where their presence and influence will prevent drunk and disorderly behaviour, particularly with youngsters, rather than having to be called in after disruption of the peace, or even serious injury, has been committed.
“Bottle shops which are licensed to sell alcohol only until 21:00 must finally be forced to comply with this essential requirement, which in itself limits both littering and public annoyance.”
Despite the imposition of new rules to improve standards and quality under pain of fines, loss of licenses and other repercussions, the MHRA said government was not doing enough to get its own house in order.
“What internal control measures, productivity checks and enforcement are being practiced within their own ranks, leading to decisive disciplinary action with all those who disregard their assigned duties? The many new taxes and contributions being imposed by the authorities, together with constant increases in existing ones, surely should result in the visible improvement of our country’s public areas and not in their constant deterioration,” the MHRA said.
“Keeping our public areas clean is one of the most rudimentary functions of any government. Those failing their obligations must be seriously reprimanded and the necessary remedial action must be taken with immediate effect to ensure that such a basic service to the nation is restored.”
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