Kurt Sansone
Rumblings of a mini-reshuffle
The government's IT agency is on standby after being told of possible changes in the set-up of the Administration as the Prime Minister mulls over a replacement for Social Policy Minister John Dalli.
In the coming two weeks, Lawrence Gonzi will have to decide who is to fill the ministerial vacancy created by Mr Dalli's departure to Brussels to take up his seat as EU commissioner.
On Sunday Dr Gonzi said Mr Dalli's departure would not cause an earthquake to Cabinet's set-up. However, it is probable Dr Gonzi may choose to have one or two new ministries.
Any changes in portfolios but, more significantly, the addition of new ministries would entail changes to the government's IT infrastructure and employees at Malta Information Technology Agency have been put on standby, government sources said. Mita handles the public sector's IT infrastructure.
Dr Gonzi is keeping his cards close to his chest but sources have suggested he could split the social policy mega-ministry into two, promoting Joe Cassar to Health Minister from parliamentary secretary and nominating somebody new as Social Policy Minister.
Dr Gonzi may also opt for a musical chairs approach, appointing a pair of experienced hands from his Cabinet to take on social policy and, in turn, promote one of the parliamentary secretaries to minister.
Another change could possibly be the creation of a Tourism and Sustainable Development Ministry, which would include the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, headed by Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
4 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Joseph Grech
Jan 21st 2010, 00:30
VERY very well said indeed Marco Cremona.
I hope the Prime Minister heeds your advice - which makes sense! Honestly hope the P.M. won't be too busy to (at least) read Cremona's comments.
J Farrugia
Jan 20th 2010, 17:06
Let the media play the usual game of musical chairs. They will get their surprise when the PM announces his choices. They will hide their faces in shame.
Marco Cremona
Jan 20th 2010, 15:30
Continued.....
A most sensible outcome of MEPA reform should have been the amalgamation of the Malta Resources Authority with MEPA, to form a single strong truly 'Environment' authority, and support it with the necessary autonomy, administrative structures and enforcement capabilities to do a proper job.
As things stand we have a resources authority with huge responsibilities (to ensure the sustainability of our water, stone and energy resources) that is devoid of any enforcement capability and is only known for rubber-stamping Enemalta's revised tariffs. No small wonder that our water-resources have only 15 years left; our stone 40 years and we have no strategic plan for energy (and renewable energy in particular).
I had put forward this proposal (amalgamation of MRA and MEPA) to the Prime Minister during a meeting held by the PN with environmental NGOs a year ago. PM Lawrence Gonzi commented that it was an "interesting" proposal and moved on.
We cannot continue to pay lip service to environmental issues, which are increasingly having a more crucial economic dimension. This country faces huge sustainability issues (high population density,limited resources) and I have not yet starting talking about the impact of climate-change.
Marco Cremona
Jan 20th 2010, 15:17
How can anybody fathom to set up a 'Ministry for Tourism and Sustainable Development' when the country's resources (water, energy, stone) will be regulated by an authority (the Malta Resources Authority) falling under a different Ministry? The MRA currently falls under Minister George Pullicino's portafolio.
While it is recommendable to have a Ministry for Sustainable Development (because sustainability is probably Malta's biggest challenge), this new ministry will be powerless to bring about the necessary changes because the regulator empowered with the protection of our resources (and therefore sustainability issues) is not under this new Ministry's control.
Most people believe that environmental regulation and protection starts and ends with MEPA. No, the environment goes much further than issues of land use (which dominate the country's 'environmental' agenda) and issues relating to biodiversity. One important aspect of the environment is people and natural resources such as water, minerals (stone) and energy (which impacts on air quality, public health and quality of life).
Continued.....
meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs