A monument to determination

This morning, I visited WasteServ’s administrative and technical staff, about 60 of them, who have just relocated from Santa Venera to new offices next to the Sant’Antnin Solid Waste Treatment Facility. The third phase of this facility, which will treat part of Malta’s household waste to generate electricity from gas, equivalent to what as many as 1,400 households consume annually, will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister on November 26.

The move to Marsascala delivers a strong message. Not only is Wasteserv refuting the notion the plant is a health hazard for nearby residents. The administration is working in the vicinity on a daily basis.

Wasteserv now has a 150-strong team, many of whom are newly recruited within the environment sector. In fact, the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin’s Gejtu Vella, who accompanied us during the visit, praised the leap made in the generation of green jobs.

Where is the opposition in all this change? It is disappointing that not only doesn’t it participate in such efforts but tries to put spokes in the wheels. Joseph Muscat himself was determined to do all he could to ensure that almost €19 million in EU funds allocated for this project would be frozen. Sant’Antnin is not only a monument to the government’s determination for a better environment; it is a monument also to the opposition’s irresponsibility. Such scaremongering has done nothing but show that the Labour Party is detached from reality – November 4.

Time to show he can

What seemed unthinkable two years ago became a reality last night, when US President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party suffered great losses during the mid-term elections. President Obama now faces a more difficult scenario with a House of Representatives against him and a Senate only marginally in his favour.

Mr Obama was elected on a ticket of optimism and trust. His “Yes we can” won the hearts and minds of the American people who saw in him the new blood they so desperately wanted. Only two years later, there is an apparent rift between the President and the people. Yet, his leadership comes during one of the most difficult periods. While the US economy has begun to recover, this is taking place at a very slow pace. The results are clearly a reflection of a frustrated electorate. However, Mr Obama has succeeded in implementing a number of difficult reforms, not least health care. The broader context, therefore, means that yesterday’s results merit careful consideration and analysis.

It is not the first time an American President – or other governments, for that matter – saw such results during a mid-term election. Rather, this tends to be the norm. Not all is lost for Mr Obama; however, the honeymoon period is clearly over. He has two years to win back the trust he appears to have lost – November 3.

A story of hope

I still cannot stop thinking about Evelyn Vella Brincat’s speech delivered at the Nationalist Party’s general council. Evelyn shared her story as a cancer survivor, which she was struck by five years ago at the age of 44. Despite being given eight weeks to live, she was determined to fight. As she stated: “I wanted to see my children grow up.”

Evelyn received care privately since the treatment needed – Herceptin – was at the time not provided by the state. It was thanks to this treatment – together with emotional and financial support from relatives and the Community Chest Fund – she won her battle with cancer.

As she regained her health, Evelyn lobbied for this treatment, which costs thousands of euros, to be provided by the state. She expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister’s willingness to listen and satisfaction that it is today provided free of charge for all those who need it. As Evelyn reminded us, each life saved by such treatments and the extensive care made available by the government is thanks to those who have the courage to invest in such services.

Having known Evelyn for many years, her emotion was evident as she shared this difficult experience with us. As I listened I was reminded of the reason we enter politics: to help fellow citizens and improve the quality of life of each and every one of us. Evelyn has also dedicated herself to the community as an active member of Pembroke’s local council. The general council’s president, Paula Mifsud Bonnici, was right to thank Evelyn for sharing such a painful but encouraging experience.

View Evelyn’s story of hope at www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TZAjfrV4y8 – November 2.

Tragedy turned into spectacle

As time passes, I become increasingly concerned over the way certain news items are reported by the media. The Italian media’s reporting of Sarah Scazzi’s murder has been taken to the worst levels. The tragic death of a young girl, who was allegedly killed by her uncle and cousin, has been spun into a bad taste reality show. The lawyers of those who allegedly committed this heinous crime gave interviews on a number of talk shows providing the details they were told by their clients and, above all, admitted to being paid to appear on such programmes.

Italy’s Communications Authority was right to note there is a need for serious reflection on the reporting of tragic events and the way in which broadcasting has undermined the human dignity and rights of minors.

A market mentality has overridden media owners. Television stations have been transformed into cash milking cows that exploit the public’s appetite for the spectacular. Rather than being used as instruments for communication and information, they are being used to satisfy people’s curiosity. Unfortunately, journalism, as was rightly stated by Fr Joe Borg in The Sunday Times, has become all the more market driven, rather than normative – October 30.

A realistic and responsible Budget

The Minister of Finance has just presented next year’s Budget in Parliament – the Budget of a government treading cautiously as it recognises contemporary international economic realities. While other countries are adopting austerity measures and slashing social benefits, our government is investing in sectors that are crucial for progress: education and training, health, pensions and social services and the environment and infrastructure.

This Budget is once again an environmentally conscious one. It includes further incentives for the purchasing of solar water heaters and schemes that favour the purchasing of electric vehicles and encourage the scrapping of old cars. Our commitment towards supporting full-time farmers was solidified by a 12 per cent reduction in their national insurance contributions. A fund of €400,000 was set up to alleviate the impact of increasing prices of cereals. Investments in the management of waste, as well as projects that restore our heritage and embellish our country, have continued.

The millions of euros invested will not only benefit each Maltese individual but will also continue to make our country more competitive in the tourism sector. This is why, after record spending on tourism, a marginal increase in VAT on accommodation was introduced, which revenue will in turn be reinvested in the same sector.

Above all, it is a Budget that continues to invest in the generation of work by supporting economic growth for jobs and strengthening the country’s competitiveness and enterprise – October 25.

http://georgepullicino.blogspot.com

The author is Minister of Resources and Rural Affairs.