Innovation Award For Active Aging And Community Care (AACC)

Dec 18 2023

Active Aging and Community Care has been honoured with the Innovation Award at the Malta National Transport Awards 2023.

Active Aging and Community Care is recognized for its outstanding Silver-T service, a free transport initiative dedicated to individuals aged 60 and above, as well as those with disabilities hindering public transport use.

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Since its launch in 2018 with 4 Tuk-Tuk vehicles in 4 localities, Silver-T has expanded to 12 regions, including Gozo. Focused on aiding medical appointments, the service also enables seniors to run daily errands, fostering independence.

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Malta Takes a Green Leap with €7 Million Investment in Electric Cleaning Equipment

Dec 18 2023

Malta is making history with a groundbreaking investment of approximately €7 million in fully electric cleaning equipment.

The initiative, co-financed by national and EU funds, marks a significant step towards sustainability, efficiency, and environmental protection.

This involves the electrification of 73 pieces of equipment, including Hook Loaders, Tipper Vans, Rough Terrain Utility Vehicles, Compact Sweepers, Pedestrian Sweepers, and more, with a total investment exceeding €5 million.

The fleet of electric equipment brings about a reduction in noise pollution, allowing for extended cleaning hours without causing disturbances. This move aligns with the global push for cleaner and quieter urban environments.

The electrification of cleaning equipment not only improves sustainability but also enhances efficiency and effectiveness in maintaining cleanliness in public spaces.

With 100% carbon neutrality, the electric cleaning equipment significantly reduces carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to Malta’s efforts in combatting climate change.

The introduction of state-of-the-art electric machinery is expected to increase the frequency of street cleaning, with some areas being cleaned three or four times a week, ensuring a cleaner and healthier urban environment for residents and visitors.

The inauguration of the electric cleaning equipment follows the launch of the national campaign “Keeping Clean Together,” emphasising collective responsibility for maintaining cleanliness in public spaces.

Government officials, including the Minister for Tourism Clayton Bartolo and the Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Chris Bonett, expressed their support for the investment, highlighting its positive impact on the quality of life for residents and visitors.

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Malta 1st EU Country That Could Have 16 Year Old Mayors

Malta 1st EU Country That Could Have 16/17 Year Old Mayors

Dec 18 2023

Malta has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the inaugural European Union member state to grant 16 and 17-year-olds the opportunity to assume roles as mayors and deputy mayors, following unanimous approval of a new bill by the parliament on Monday.

Under this legislation, individuals below 18 years of age who secure the highest number of votes from the party with the majority can ascend to the positions of mayor or deputy mayor.

Pending President George Vella’s signature, the law is poised to take effect in the coming days, potentially paving the way for the emergence of the first 16 and 17-year-old mayors in Malta by the upcoming local council elections in June.

Local government minister Owen Bonnici lauded the development as “groundbreaking legislation”.

Previously, although 16 and 17-year-olds were permitted to vote and participate in local council elections, they were ineligible for the roles of mayor or deputy mayor, even if they secured the highest or second-highest number of first-count votes.

The Maltese Parliament has just unanimously approved a groundbreaking legislation allowing youths under 18 to serve as Mayors/Deputy Mayors. Once signed by the President, Malta will lead the way as the first EU country embracing this reform. 🇲🇹 pic.twitter.com/CoMQI0frCb

— •Owen Bonnici (@OwenBonnici) December 18, 2023

The new law not only addresses this restriction but also introduces amendments allowing underage mayors to sign legal documents on behalf of the local council and making both the mayor and executive secretary “jointly responsible” for legal representation, enabling them to sue or be sued on behalf of the council.

This progressive measure was outlined in the Labour Party’s electoral manifesto and the government’s ‘National Strategic Vision for Local Governments’ document from May. Despite sparking varied emotions, with some mayors expressing concerns about the lack of life experience among 16 and 17-year-olds, others believe that their enthusiasm could invigorate local councils.

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Bolt Market adds 1,000 new products to its offering

Dec 18 2023

Bolt Market’s operated in Malta since June 2023. During this time, the network of local grocery stores driven by technology has significantly expanded its offering. Most recently, 1,000 new products have been added in categories, including Pet Food, Frozen Products and Drinks.

Via the Bolt Food app, customers can order a wide selection of grocery products — from fresh produce from local providers to pantry staples and household essentials — to their door.

Currently, 4,000 products are available in each of Malta’s Bolt Market stores. Among the most popular categories is the Delicatessen category, which has more than 60 types of goods, such as bacon slices, roasted chicken breast, and salami. Customers can also choose from 80 items in the Fruits and Vegetable category, allowing them to prepare dishes without leaving home.

But everyday shopping isn’t just about groceries. Among the most surprising but necessary products, customers can order sun cream, school supplies, or even batteries. Bolt Market stores have become the place for daily shopping and regular stock-ups.

– “We’re excited to see how warmly the local community in Malta has welcomed our driven-by-technology stores. Our investments into adding new products is yet another step we’re taking to ensure Bolt’s fast grocery delivery service enables people to reclaim time and indulge in activities they enjoy, while providing a viable alternative to another private car use case,” says Edik Davitan, Country Manager of Bolt Market Malta.

The selection offering isn’t the only thing Bolt Market’s team has worked on this year to improve customers’ grocery shopping experiences.

During this time, Bolt Market also focused on improving service quality and convenience. Thanks to the industry-leading technology that enables Bolt to optimise its stores through inventory management and logistics, the platform can better serve local communities.

– “Over the past 10 years, we’ve developed products that offer better, more affordable alternatives to almost every purpose a private car serves, such as scooters, e-bikes, and shared mobility options like ride-hailing and car-sharing. While one of the main private car use cases Bolt services can replace is commuting, we started to see that replacing private car trips to restaurants or grocery stores would be a natural progression of our services. That’s why we introduced food and grocery delivery in 2019,” adds Edik Davitan, Country Manager of Bolt Market Malta.

Bolt Market stores are open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (depending on the location), so customers can count on Bolt to get their essentials delivered at a time that suits them.

Customers can expect plenty of seasonal promotions and categories. This Christmas, for example, Bolt Market has discounts of up to 50% on items like chocolate, cake, and personal care

products (with offers updated each week). Customers can also get up to €2 off each delivery until the end of the year.

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