Praise for Gonzi's leaner Cabinet

Leaner is indeed meaner, according to some of the initial reactions to the new Cabinet appointed on Wednesday.

Political historian Joe Pirotta views Lawrence Gonzi's Cabinet appointments as being a very bold and good decision in terms of size and composition.

"There is a good balance between experienced people and new faces that will be rearing to prove themselves," he said.

"The new faces are also very promising. It was a very good choice. The fact that the ministries have been expanded will be a bigger problem for those heading them but I think also that they are capable of dealing with this.

"All in all, it is extremely positive. It is also a message that everyone has to work hard. The fact that Dr Gonzi, as Prime Minister, has tourism and the environment in his portfolio is setting the primary example."

Historian Dominic Fenech said the idea of a small Cabinet dates back to Malta's first parliamentary constitution of 1921, which laid down that the number of ministers was to be seven.

The number of ministers increased in past legislatures reaching a maximum of 13, excluding the Prime Minister, under Eddie Fenech Adami. When Dr Gonzi became Prime Minister in 2004, he cut down the number to 12, taking over the Finance Ministry himself.

Prof. Fenech said one had to see how a leaner Cabinet would work, but it might not be a bad idea, if only because, there being more backbenchers, those not chosen would have less reason to feel marginalised.

"It's also good for our eventual pension fund because fewer ministers mean fewer ministerial pensions (which are uncapped)."

On the composition of the Cabinet, Prof. Fenech said that perhaps the people were led to think there would be more new blood. Rather than a lot of new blood, however, it seemed there was much less old blood, partly thanks to the smaller number of ministers and partly due to the fact that several former ministers failed to get elected.

Employment consultant Alfred Mallia Milanes said Dr Gonzi utilised the resources available in the best way possible in view of his commitment to the electorate.

"The Cabinet is now more consolidated, ministers have bigger challenges and more has to be done with fewer resources, but I think Dr Gonzi did an excellent job," he said. This did not mean that those who were not chosen were not valid but one had to change and other people had to be tested especially when one takes into account that the challenges of the future were different to those of the past.

Maurice Petrocochino, an official of the Pensioners Association, said Dr Gonzi had joined together responsibilities which did not make sense to have under different ministries, making it is easier to get things done.

There was no doubt that the people had not been pleased with the old Cabinet so the Prime Minister lifted the best elements out of the old one and introduced new names.

Alfred Mifsud, a former consultant to the Labour Party, said the new Cabinet was a step in the right direction but it should have been even leaner.

It was unnecessary to have more than seven ministries, which would include that of the Prime Minister, and he did not know whether there was a role for parliamentary secretaries, who were ministers except in name, since their role could be taken up by the civil service.

Environmental activist Edward Mallia, however, does not think leaner is necessarily better.

"As is evident in some cases, the relatively small number of ministers means some of them have a wide range of responsibilities. In such cases, a parliamentary secretary may be necessary."

Prime Minister has a large area of responsibility. And although Mario de Marco was helping out with tourism, Chris Said had a rather vague remit, Prof. Mallia said.

"A more specific involvement with the environment and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority might have been more productive."

On the Ministry for Communications and National Projects, Prof. Mallia said Austin Gatt has an extensive field with no parliamentary secretary to assist him.

Dr Gatt was said to be one of the best people to involve in any serious attempt at electoral reform. "But would he have the time?"

And a parliamentary secretary in the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs would have left Minister George Pullicino free to work on areas in which he was an expert.

Prof. Mallia said the presence of Giovanna Debono clearly showed the one area where Dr Gonzi was still not his own master. On the other hand, the other two Gozitan MPs did not seem to have accumulated much experience as yet. The very small PN majority would have justified an offer of a coalition with the Labour Party, with the MLP getting up to three ministries and some parliamentary secretaries, he suggested.