Valletta's cleaning services, road management and general infrastructure are not up to scratch and "urgently need improving", Valletta 2018 organisers have warned.
With Malta's capital city set to host the EU presidency next year and the European Capital of Culture title in 2018, the Valletta 2018 Foundation has warned that much needs to be done when it comes to city management.
"The Foundation is concerned that basic standards pertaining to cleaning services, road management and infrastructure are not sufficient and is calling for a coordinated effort to bring Valletta’s management on par with other European cities," Valletta 2018 chairman Jason Micallef said.
The Valletta 2018 Foundation provided various photos of the capital city to drive its point home. Photos showed large mounds of rubbish awaiting collection, shabby street signs, unfinished roadworks and rubbish collectors working while tourists dined on Republic Street.
Photo: Chris MangionMr Micallef said the Foundation was talking to the Planning Authority to ensure major works, including those by the private sector, were coordinated and timed not to disrupt the European Capital of Culture year.
He added that visitors to Valletta could expect to see interactive information billboards crop up across the city in the coming weeks. The boards will display information about current affairs, the weather and general information about Valletta.
Foundation executive director Karsten Xuereb noted that government departments had been provided with a forum in which to coordinate their activities to ensure the capital city's infrastructural needs were met.
"Through the Inter-Ministerial Commission for the European Capital of Culture in 2018, these departments and authorities are expected to coordinate and report to the Foundation on what is happening," Dr Xuereb said.
Photo: Chris Mangion
Photo: Chris Mangion
Photo: Chris Mangion
Photo: Chris Mangion