An agreement was signed between Active Aging and Community Care (AACC) and the Żejtun Local Council where a van that was at the disposal of the council will now start to form part of the Silver T service.
The Minister for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici and the Minister for Active Aging Jo Etienne Abela were present at the signing of the agreement and explained how the AACC will use this van for – the next four years to provide a transport service, known as Silver T, according to the needs of the elderly who live in Marsaskala, Żejtun, Marsaxlokk, Birżebbuġa and Għaxaq, so that they can do their work.
Minister Bonnici said that in this way the help for the elderly in these localities will be increased. “Through projects or initiatives like these we are really facilitating the lives of our elderly, and the Local Councils continue to fulfill the main functions of promoting stronger communities,” stated Minister Bonnici .
Minister Jo Etienne Abela said that through this agreement a number of elderly people living in the community will continue to be helped. “This initiative continues with the Government’s vision to continue to improve and facilitate the quality of life for the elderly who are still part of the community. This collaboration is another important step in working in favor of the elderly,” concluded Minister Abela.
The Silver-T service operates from Monday to Friday, from 7:00 in the morning to 2:00 in the afternoon and provides a facility of transport to those elderly people who wish to go to the Health Centres, Active Aging Centres, the Local Council, the bank, the local market, and various other places.
The Silver T so far has a fleet of 14 vehicles, of which 6 vehicles are electric. By the end of November the Silver T service was provided to approximately 720 beneficiaries and the number of journeys is constantly increasing. From almost 1,300 trips made during the month of January this year, the number of trips rose to more than 4,200 during the month of November. By November of this year almost 28,000 trips had been made.
This van was purchased in 2021 through the Safe and Healthy with Sustainable Mobility campaign for which the local council of Żejtun had qualified in third place and were given a grant of €25,000 from Transport Malta through which it was purchased this electric van.
