Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici announced that the Maltese Carnival (il-Karnival ta’ Malta) will benefit from an investment of €1.2 million’s worth of modern tractors and trailers that will raise the quality and standards of the Maltese Carnival.
In the upcoming edition of Carnival in February, Festivals Malta will use 20 new tractors equipped with modern technology. These will be used by the Carnival participants to transport their trailers from their warehouses to Valletta, as well as during Carnival celebrations to navigate their floats around the streets of Valletta, in the safest possible way. This investment also includes 20 new trailers that will be used as of next year’s edition of the festival.
Minister Bonnici stated that through this initiative, the Government will continue to reach its goals for more sustainable festivals that reduce the negative impact on the environment. “Carnival enthusiasts dedicate a lot of their personal time for this important event, for whom it is not merely a tradition or a pastime but constitutes a significant part of their lives and therefore these 20 trailers and 20 tractors will certainly make a marked difference for the better,” stated Minister Bonnici.
Minister Bonnici thanked the many volunteers for their dedication and time in the preparations for this event, which brings together a number of different talents and skills.
Festivals Malta Chairman Aaron Zahra stressed that this investment is just one of the steps that Festivals Malta will be taking to not only raise the level of Carnival in Malta but also to considerably reduce the impact the festival has on the environment. Mr Zahra said: “These tractors are equipped with various features of the highest level in terms of safety and are therefore safer to work with. So apart from reducing pollution, this investment will help safeguard the health and safety of the Carnival participants. Furthermore, the numerous members of the public who attend our activities, Carnival in particular, can put their mind at ease that they are in a safe place that can be enjoyed together with their family, as for us, health and safety are a priority in all the events we organise.”
Festivals Malta CEO, Annabelle Stivala explained that “These tractors represent a change for the Maltese Carnival. Where in past years we had to use less adequate machinery as a means of transport for the Carnival floats, now we can facilitate our participants’ work while reducing the environmental impact. Thanks to these tractors Festivals Malta will be reducing its carbon footprint and harmful emissions by a considerable amount. Apart from those considerations, through the use of the new vehicles, noise pollution caused by normal tractors, which can interfere with the lively atmosphere of Carnival, will be diminished.”
Apart from the investment in these vehicles, Festivals Malta will be allocating a number of containers scattered along the streets of Valletta, in which organic waste, plastic, and tins will be collected and separated. In this way, Festivals Malta will serve as a platform for change for more sustainable festivals.
Il-Karnival ta’ Malta will take place between the 17 and 21 of February. For more information visit www.festivals.mt/karnival.
Source: Office of the Prime Minister