Through assistance provided by the European Services in Malta, the Żabbar Local Council acquired co-financing with a total value of just over €13,000 from the European Union’s LEADER programme. These funds will fund restoration works on two niches with statues of St. Joseph and the Redeemer in the locality of Żabbar.
The project was presented to Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Carmelo Abela and Chief Executive of SEM Mandy Falzon by Mayor of Żabbar Jorge Grech and Architect Ray Sammut.
The Local Council undertook this project with the aim of preserving these two sites, which are part of the heritage of the locality of Żabbar, whilst promoting them as cultural and tourist attractions. Restoration work on these two niches included cleaning of the niche statues with modern methods, the treatment of limestone, the removal of stone salts, repair of niche stones, removal of damage caused by graffiti and vandalism, and the replacement of niche glasses to protect the statues.
Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Carmelo Abela praised the effort that a number of local councils are making in order to obtain additional funds, even through the SEM Agency, which assists where necessary for such purposes. The Minister emphasised the importance of EU funds reaching our localities. He said that, “Although Malta has acquired the largest package of financial assistance for the current seven years from the EU, our satisfaction would be that we visit such places, which have a local history, and see the projects completed and that, through these, the European Union is reaching the heart of our localities.”
Minister Carmelo Abela concluded that, through the SEM Agency, European funds are being utilised for our localities, with the aim of improving the quality of life of residents, whilst taking care of the environment in which we live as well as the culture and history that our country is endowed with.
SEM Chief Executive Mandy Falzon said that SEM is the agency which offers free assistance to organisations in Malta and Gozo to apply for European Union funds for their projects. The agency makes it easier for what is often not so easy for organisations due to their limited resources. As of last year, SEM has also launched a new service to assist organisations in the implementation phase of projects obtained with European Union funds.
