Cabinet reshuffle announced
Cassar becomes Minister of Health. Enemalta, WSC moved to Finance Ministry
Parliamentary Secretary Joe Cassar has, as expected, been promoted minister and been given responsibility for health and care of the elderly in a Cabinet reshuffle announced this evening in the wake of John Dalli's departure.
The changes see no new faces in the Cabinet, but Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco, who to date had been responsible for tourism and Mepa reform, was given additional responsibilities for the environment and for culture.
Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said also saw his responsibilities grow, to include consumer affairs and fair competition along with local government and public dialogue, which he was already responsible for.
Dolores Cristina will remain responsible for education, but has also been given responsibility for employment and family affairs, which were previously under the Ministry of Social Policy.
Responsibility for Enemalta and the Water Services Corporation has been transferred from Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt to Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Tonio Fenech.
Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi retains responsibility for lands but also becomes directly responsible for the self-employed and small businesses.
There have been no changes to the portfolios of the other ministers, including Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, who had a meeting with the Prime Minister at the Auberge de Castille this afternoon.
MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Prime Minister: Lawrence Gonzi.
Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, the Environment and Culture: Mario de Marco.
Parliamentary Secretary for Consumers, Fair Competition, Local Councils and Public Dialogue: Chris Said.
Office: Auberge de Castille, Castille Place, Valletta.
Public Service, EU Internal Coordination Planning and Priorities Co-ordination Policy Unit, Internal Audit and Investigations Management Efficiency Unit;
Defence Armed Forces;
Environmental Upgrade Committee, Science and Technology Policy Research and Innovation;
Tourism (Under Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco)
Environment, Malta Environment and Planning Authority, Sustainable Development, Culture and the Arts, Cultural Heritage, Theatres and the Mediterranean Conference Centre, National Orchestra (Under PS Mario de Marco)
Industrial and Employment Relations, Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, Local Government, EU Information (MEUSAC), Consumer and competition regulation (incorporating Competition Policy, Consumer Protection, Malta Standards Authority, Medicines Authority and Intellectual Property) (Under PS Chris Said)
Information, Government Printing Press (under PS Chris Said)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
Minister: Tonio Borg.
Ministry: Palazzo Parisio, Merchant Street, Valletta.
Relations with the European Union Relations with Foreign and Commonwealth Countries Relations with International Organisations and Institutions, International Economic Relations, Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs, Central Visa Unit;
Parliamentary Affairs
Ministry for Gozo (MGOZ)
Minister: Giovanna Debono.
Ministry: St Francis Square, Victoria, Gozo.
Gozo Affairs
Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications (MITC)
Minister: Austin Gatt.
Ministry: 168 Strait Street, Valletta.
Internal and External Transport (incorporating civil aviation, maritime transport, ports, the Freeport and land transport), Malta Communications Authority, Information and Communications Technology Strategy,
National Identity Management - Public Registry - Land Registry - Civil Registration - ID Cards - Passports, Coordination of Major Government Projects, Coordination of Road Building, Maintenance and Landscaping.
Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs (MRRA)
Minister: George Pullicino.
Ministry: Francesco Buonamici Street, Floriana.
Malta Resources Authority Climate Change Policy Development of Alternative Energy Sources Oil Exploration;
National Parks, Afforestation and the Countryside, Waste Management Strategy Implementation Cleansing;
Building Industry Consultative Council Manufacturing and Servicing Construction and Maintenance; Rural Development Agriculture Horticulture Fisheries Aquaculture
Veterinary Services Animal Welfare
Ministry of Education, Employment and the Family (MEEF)
Minister: Dolores Cristina.
Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport: Clyde Puli.
Ministry: Palazzo Ferreria, Republic Street, Valletta.
Childcare and Early Education Compulsory Education Higher Education (including MCAST and tourism studies) Life-long Learning Examinations Libraries and Archives
Employment and Training, Social Policy, Family Policy Child Policy, Social Security Solidarity Services, Social Housing, Equality;
Public Broadcasting Services
Youth, Sport and Sport Complexes (Under PS Clyde Puli)
Ministry of Finance, the Economy and Investment (MFEI) Minister: Tonio Fenech.
Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Land: Jason Azzopardi.
Ministry: Maison Demandols, South Street, Valletta.
Finance Budget Office The Treasury Inland Revenue Indirect Taxation Customs and Excise Contracts;
Economic Policy External Trade, Relations with Central Bank Financial Regulation, Malta Statistics Authority;
Industry, Investment Promotion Malta Enterprise, Privatisation, Government Investments (including Malta Shipyards), Water Services Corporation Enemalta Corporation;
Small Business and the Self-Employed, Cooperatives, Trade Services, Land, Joint Office, Notary to Government (Under PS Jason Azzopardi),
Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs (MJHA)
Minister: Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici.
Ministry: Auberge d’Aragon, Independence Square, Valletta.
Courts of Justice Attorney General's Office;
Police Immigration Airport Security Correctional Services Civil Protection, Data Protection
Ministry for Health, the Elderly and Community Care (MHEC)
Minister: Joe Cassar.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly and Community Care: Mario Galea.
Ministry: Palazzo Castellania, Merchant Street, Valletta.
Health Services Regulation and Standards Health Services Delivery Occupational Health and Safety Elderly Community Care.
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Muscat. Pat
Feb 11th 2010, 21:12
Given the anarchy within the PN who are bent on self destruct, isn.nt it better for Gonzi to call it a day and let the PN renew itself in the opposition benches?
Muscat Pat
Feb 10th 2010, 18:37
A statesman is a politician who places himself at the service of the nation. A politician is a statesman who places the nation at his service.
J.Borg
Feb 10th 2010, 15:51
Who is running the Government....Dr.Gonzi or Ms.Giovanna Debono........as it seems that the PM wanted to change duties for Ms.Debono....but she objected!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joseph Grech
Feb 10th 2010, 14:20
Thank you Mr. J. Micallef for high-lighting the unjust manner whereby owners of summer homes are being barefacedly discriminated against in the computation of Utility Bills.
Owners of summer homes are otten pensioners who had bought these premises in order to spend the summer months there, something to which they are perfectly entitled! Minister Fenech and especially the Hon. P.M. should appreciate that old age sooner or later may preventing old folks from going abroad for holidays.
It is scandalous that such owners are indeed ''burdened by an indiscriminatory regime of water and electricity tariffs which - for the first time in Maltese history - are far higher than the already high utility tariffs for residential homes.''
It is ridiculous that the authorities keep on considering the number of person living in these places as ''0 persons'' when the actual situation is indeed very much different.
When a bill is issued for ''0 persons'' all entitlement to Utiliy Bills lightening simply goes up in smoke.
This is an unjust and discriminatory situation which the present authorities NEED to address if they are to be taken seriously. It may also impinge on basic human rights.
S Borg
Feb 10th 2010, 13:17
Turn it as you turn it and twist it as you twist it, Prime Minister Gonzi and his Ministers failed badly in the first two years of this legislation. They did not fail because of the difficult economic climate that lead us into recession, they failed because prior the March 2008 General Elections they made promises that they knew they could not keep. They failed because the aspirations of a whole nation where let down by an irresponsible government that has only one agenda this being to remain in power.
John Borg
Jan 6th, 14:33
fallew bhal ma falla zapatero, dak li joseph riedna nimitaw, fallejna daqs cipru, il mudell ta joseph... kulhadd qed jeghreq u l-lejber jeqirdu li tat turizmu qed jaghmlu anqas profitt....
il-verita li b'gonzi malta mhux talli ma gherqitx izda ghaddejja tajjeb hafna....
j micallef
Feb 10th 2010, 11:46
All bloggers here so far seem to have missed the most important change in this reshuffle. Enemalta and WSC have been removed from Minister Gatt's portfolio, and placed under the responsibility of Minister Tonio Fenech.
It is true that hope springs eternal in human beings, and as far as I am concerned I am now starting to hope once again. Maybe Minister Fenech will strive to remove the highly unjust way, old age pensioners owning a summer home have been treated when burdened by an indiscriminatory regime of water and electricity tariffs which - for the firsdt time in Maltese history - are far higher than the already high utility tariffs for residential homes.
Who knows, perhaps this was a conscious move by the PM to have a cabinet minister who may be more sensitive to the dire situation many such pensioners have found themselves in with the tariff discrimination which is bound to push them nearer and nearer the poverty line. Come on Dr.Fenech, show us you are truly gifted with a caring social conscience when it comes to a section of the population that is helpless in meeting the heavy burdens so unjustly placed on its shoulders.
M Psaila
Feb 10th 2010, 11:45
Li kien ghal xi whud il-PM kien jaghmel id-deputati kollha Ministri u Segretarji Parlamentari imma ma ghamilx hekk u wera li bil-fatti par idejn sodi fit-tmexxija ... ma qaghad ghall-ebda rikatt u wera li hu b'sahhtu...hekk ikun mexxej u mela xi hadd li jrid idahhal id-divorzju imma ma ghandhux il-guts li jweghdu fil-programm elettorali ghax jibqza li jitlef xi vot ...
Mexxej sod taghrfu f'mumenti bhal dawn ta u mexxej sod mhux xi hadd li jaghzel in-nies biex ikunu faccata sabiha halli jaghmel statement dak nghidulu mexxej tal-gallarija jew b'mod aktar preciz 'attur tal-palk'!
F Cassar
Feb 10th 2010, 11:22
Notwithstanding all pressure the Prime Minister did not give in to blackmail and took the right decisions.....this contrasts deeply with what the superficjali Joseph Muscat did when he appointed all of his MPs as Shadow Ministers halli jinghoob ma kulhadd!
laurence schembri
Feb 10th 2010, 11:17
@ G. Mangion
No one has got it wrong, Wenzu simply hasn`t got the guts, he kept the `yes man` around him for protection.
J.Tonna
Feb 10th 2010, 11:03
Many of you have forgotten the Maltese saying "Il-Komander fire-engine" (i.e. Chi comanda fa la legge).
We read many proposals/prophesies, but it is the Prime Minister who decides.
J.Cauchi
Feb 10th 2010, 10:23
Vera li kien hemm petizzjoni ta il-fuq minn 4,000 firma kontra it-tnehhija ta Giovanna? Kemm jaghti kaz lin-nies fej irid Gonzi! Beza li jitlef xi vot. Prim ministru dahru mal-hajt u superficjali.
G. Mangion
Feb 10th 2010, 10:19
@ all moaners.
I feel sorry for your Disappointment, regarding this reshuffle, Why ? one news on T.V Yesterday
made so many speculations to you ( surely not to me ) and guess what ? ..False alarm as Usual !
H. Mifsud
Feb 10th 2010, 10:11
Why did timesofmalta.com feel it proper to inform us that the Minister of Gozo had a meeting with the PM in the afternoon before the announcement of the reshuffle? Is it because the paper got it all wrong in announcing the presumed changes the day before or is it because those changes were really on the cards but the PM had to make drastic changes to the plan specifically because of the meeting with Ms. Debono?
Charles J. Buttigieg
Feb 10th 2010, 09:35
Gonzi changed his mind about the Gozo Ministry or what?
J Muscat
Feb 10th 2010, 09:18
Another opportunity lost to give Gozo a boost. Gozo needs new blood new ideas. L-aqwa li l-imperu ta' Giovanna jibqa' hemm. Ministry full of staff with nobody knows what to do. This is really bad for Gozo. Gonzi was afraid that the PN will loose Giovanna's votes. But unfortunately it's the LP who gained from this stutus quo.
Albert Farrugia
Feb 10th 2010, 08:52
Unbelievable! Six years into EU membership and this so-called "pro-EU" goverment still lacks a Minister for EU Affairs. For the "European-minded" Nationalist Party (if this party still exists, one might add) EU Affairs are still "Foreign Affairs".
laurence schembri
Feb 10th 2010, 08:49
The Prime Minister has shipped the little talent he had in governrnent to Brussels.
He is left with what you see, outspoken members are not welcome in his administration.
Muscat. Pat
Feb 10th 2010, 08:44
This lack of the "new" in Gonzi's cabinet reflects the great indifference that this "more of the same" administration, showers towards the citizen's expectations of renewal.
It is evident that the objective of this stagnant move by Dr Gonzi is an attempt survive new attempts by a growing number of disgruntled backbenchers, - PN party officers and ordinary citizens- to force him to relinquish the leadership.
Tonio Cassar
Feb 10th 2010, 08:44
Prosit Joe Cassar. A much deserved promotion for all the hard work and dedication shown during the past 2 years. Health is now back as a Ministry - a much deserved and needed move.
J. Azzopardi
Feb 10th 2010, 08:42
Il-Prim ikkonferma li ghandu l-problemi u ma ghandux fuq min jaqa jew lil min jista jassenja karigi bla ma jqajjem rivoluzzjoni interna, Imbaghad lill-Onor. Demarco barra t-turizmu u l-MEPA ziedlu l-kultura. Fracass se jaghmel minnhom.
Dak li hawwad il-borma jaf x'ingridjenti ghandu.
louise vella
Feb 10th 2010, 08:09
Could the new Minister of Health, Dr Joe Cassar, take it as his first task to tell the Maltese tax-paying public the full cost of refugees and illegal immigrants - in terms of medicine, doctors' services, service of Mater Dei hospital etc. We know it's high because some diseases are particularly associated with people originating in sub Sahara Africa. But the true costs are split and hidden under various items of the Government's accounts.
A Farrugia
Feb 10th 2010, 07:33
The Prime Minister had a one-time golden opportunity to revitalise his cabinet and he botched it. Notably the two things he appears hesitant even to embrace are policy and making difficult decisions.
Half way house solutions and safety first solutions aren't the answer.
X differenza mit-tmexxijja ta` Eddie Fenech Adami. The Party is knackered under Gonzi`s "leadership".
Joe Grech
Feb 10th 2010, 02:34
Minister Giovanna Debono's duties are explained as follows:
''Ministry for Gozo (MGOZ)
Minister: Giovanna Debono.
Gozo Affairs''
I personally consider the apparently much lighter work load enjoyed by Minister Giovanna Debono is rather unfair on at least a number of Ministers whose work load has been considerably increased. Certainly looks like the Hon. Prime Minister does not wish to increase Ms. Debono's responsibilities.
People have begun wondering what exactly is meant by ''Gozo Affairs''? Surely a more detailed explanation is in order.
Also, is it true or not that the number of employees carrying out duties at the Ministry for Gozo is exceedingly numerous? I believe (but am uncertain about this) that it was ex Minister John Dalli who once pointed this out. If it really is true why is it so? Does it make economic sense to leave the situation what it is? Or do we put other considerations before economic viability - at least at Gozo? Hopefully this Comment will be followed up.
D. Xerri
Feb 10th 2010, 01:51
L-Istess Ucuh - L-Istess Ideat
Dr Gonzi Changes the Recipe But Uses The Same Ingredients Ending Up with the Same Taste !
Oscar Cassar
Feb 10th 2010, 00:46
tourism / Mepa / environment / culture kollha taht Segretarjat Parlamentari wiehed... din x'gennata hi ? Kif f'opportunita bhal din il-PM filwaqt li tilef persuna ta' esperjenza (Hon. J.Dalli) ma pprofittax tal-anqas biex jdahhal energija gdida fil-Kabinett... Kont nistenna li R.Arrigo u J.Pullicino Orlando li t-tnejn kienu gew eletti minn zewg distretti elettorali, jiddahhlu bhala Seg. Parlamentari. Din hija hasra.
Ray Buttigieg
Feb 9th 2010, 23:26
very few changes in this reshuffle. in fact government has even become smaller with one less parlamentary secretary. also the Ministry for Social Policy has effectively been eliminated and its responsibilities have been transfered and fragmented into other ministries. This cabinet is now more to the right of the political spectrum than ever before.
P. Schembri
Feb 9th 2010, 23:19
The More things Change, The More They Remain the Same. What an apt quote for this government!
Peter Bonnici
Feb 9th 2010, 23:16
Looks like he lacked the courage to make the biggest and most needed change of all. Pity.
Jo Mercieca
Feb 9th 2010, 23:16
@ J Cauchi
Allura b'daqshekk ..billi hemm l-ambjent u t-turizmu fl-istess Ministeru.
Il-Prim Ministru minn dejjem qal illi jemmen illi l-izvilupp sostenibbli, l-ambjent u t-turizmu ghandhom ikun ma xulxin.
Nahseb il-Prim Ministru, ma tax kas il-paroli u l-ispekulazzoni u ra x'ghandu bzonn verament il-pajjiz
Mary Fisher Giordimaina
Feb 9th 2010, 23:02
Congratulations are due to Dr. Joseph Cassar who has never taken a wrong step while he has been secretary, He has been seen to be interested in all that he is doing and also takes notice of all that others do. You are young Dr. Cassar and you can only get better. Prosit.
G Cutajar
Feb 9th 2010, 22:37
" Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said also saw his responsibilities grow, to include consumer affairs and fair competition"
Nahseb bhal ma rnexxielu jaghmel dak ix-xoghol kollu fil-Kunsilli Lokali, zgur illi ser naraw bidla fl-affarijiet li iktar jolqtuna ta' kuljum. Fl-ahhar mill-ahhar kulhadd konsumatur.
Cert li Chris Said ser jaghmel differenza f'dan il-qasam...
C Bezzina
Feb 9th 2010, 22:29
Minkejja kull spekulazzjoni il-Prim Ministru zamm il-wieghda li kien ghamel li jkollu Kabinett zghir u iffukat.
Hadt gost hafna li ahna s-Self Employed ghandna Segretarju Parlamentari u ninghataw aktar importanza.
Lino Attard
Feb 9th 2010, 22:22
At least culture is back to 1st division!!! A good move. Combining it with Education was a disaster.
J.Cauchi
Feb 9th 2010, 22:11
Tourism with the environment??? Why isn't tourism on its own as it should be? Are we really going nuts in this country?
Jon Sciberras
Feb 9th 2010, 21:57
Is this a good move, parlament secretary DeMarco, was given addetional responsibility. He already up to today had two very hot potatoes such as MEPA & Tourism, and now more responsibility!
This is not a good sign keping in mind that tourism is one of our main pillars of our economy. I am sure there could be other MP who could devote more time and work on one of these issues rather than having one parlament secretary carrying all this weight on his shoulders.
albert debono
Feb 9th 2010, 21:34
who said we never had a female prime minister?