The Minister for Gozo Anton Refalo and HSBC CEO Andrew C. Beane, have officially inaugurated the HSBC Catch the Drop Campaign project at Ghar Ilma, limits of Kercem.

Minister Refalo said that this initiative is funded in part by the HSBC Group so as to raise awareness about water conservation and to encourage a positive change in Malta and Gozo by using water wisely and in a sustainable way. Works have been financed by the Ministry for Gozo and the Catch the Drop scheme of HSBC.Built in the 1880s by the British, these water canals used to take water to the aqueducts from Santa Lucija to Victoria. In Santa Lucija, the Administrative Council carried out maintenance on the water channels from Santa Lucija to Victoria.

During the summer of 2015, several students from Gozitan schools attended for visits at the Ghar Ilma site where they learned to appreciate how our ancestors used to harvest water as a precious resource.

The Minister reiterated that, as an educational programme, the Catch the Drop campaign raises awareness about water conservation, therefore encouraging people to make better use of this precious resource. Projects with such an objective are important when considering the true principles of an eco-island.

Minister Refalo said that, "Our vision for our island is to become even more beautiful, inspiring, welcoming, thriving, inclusive and successful; a healthy and successful place to live in, in equilibrium with the environment. This is what an eco-island will strive to achieve."

"Ghar Ilma enjoys historic significance on a national level, and creating easier access to it for the general public ensures that this important aspect of the country's history can be appreciated by visitors to Gozo. Preserving Ghar Ilma is about preserving the rich and unique culture of Gozo for future generations," said HSBC Malta CEO Andrew Beane.

Photographs: MGOZ/George Scerri

Permalink: HSBC Catch the Drop Campaign project inaugurated at Ghar Ilma, Gozo