BoV supports Arbor Day activities

Bank of Valletta recently took an active part in the commemoration of Arbor Day with a donation of 10,000 rulers and bookmarks with images and information about the five indigenous trees planted under the 34U campaign.

The rulers/bookmarks were presented to schoolchildren by Environment Minister George Pullicino during an event held at St Catherine's School, Pembroke, the winning school of the first 34U school campaign award.

Minister Pullicino thanked BoV for its gesture and highlighted the importance of having more private organisations come forward to support Government in its various environmental initiatives.

St Catherine's School is the winner of the 34U award and St Aloysius College is runner-up. Minister Pullicino presented the award and congratulated the students on their success. He also praised the dedication of teachers who go beyond their normal duties to encourage student participation.

Mr Pullicino reiterated Government's commitment to attach primary importance to environmental education, since "this is a sure way of instilling a positive environmental appreciation and awareness", saying he hoped Arbor Day kickstarts yet another successful year.

Addressing the children, Charles Borg, executive head at BoV's CEO office, said: "The environment constitutes a main pillar of the bank's community programme and we are actively involved in supporting initiatives that raise environmental awareness and that give a direct contribution towards a better environment."

He went on to say that BoV is itself a main sponsor of the 34U campaign, having contributed to the planting of hundreds of trees at Ta' Qali National Park.

Afforestation is one of the areas in which the bank is actively involved and, over the coming months "we are planning to have more trees planted through the bank's environmental project as well as the Project for the Revival of the Indigenous Maltese Olive (PRIMO)".

Commending St Catherine's School for winning the award, Mr Borg said: "While we are proud to be taking an active involvement in Arbor Day 2007, we welcome the enthusiasm of the participating students - an ideal example to us all on how to protect and enhance the environment".