An opportunity for reflection

A political party such as the Nationalist Party is alive and dynamic and experiences moments similar to those in the life of an individual. The moments that seem most difficult and require most reflection are those that provide the greatest opportunity. They are the moments that require soul-searching, reflecting on those qualities that characterise us while also reflecting on what needs to be improved and strengthened to make us more at peace with ourselves.

During this weekend’s general council, we have the opportunity to understand the changes we facilitated since 1987: freedom, openness, opportunities. We transformed the country into one based on freedom and participation in every sector, nurturing a modern mentality that demands quality in everything – from hospitals to roads and public spaces, employment to schools. We have evolved. Yet, we must understand better those same changes we brought about. We have nurtured a satisfied society that no longer depends on politicians, widely educated and capable of fending for itself and making its own choices. We inherited a society that was scared and abandoned and transformed it into one that is mature and emancipated.

We must appreciate the moment we find ourselves in as an important one for our democracy. Not only will we not go against the will of the electorate but we have a Prime Minister who will ensure that legislation that he disagrees with will be voted through Parliament according to the wishes of the people. The freedom that we believe in respects the opinion and beliefs of each and every individual. The Prime Minister gave us a free vote on the divorce Bill. Yet, some are presuming that he himself does not deserve this right. Is this freedom? Is this liberal?

We must also appreciate the bigger picture and the developments taking place overseas. Greece is on the verge of failure, Spain is burdened by thousands of unemployed youths, Portugal is implementing austerity measures. Our media can afford to focus, day after day, on how MPs plan to vote on the divorce Bill or other stories that, although important for us, are relatively secondary when taken out of an island context and placed within global realities.

Above all, we must reflect on what we would like to be as a party within the coming years. We are a party of the nation, embracing diverse opinions with a common goal: every individual comes first. We must strengthen the party so that it remains the best agent of change within the country – June 17

Two more quality projects

I was in awe today when visiting the President’s Kitchen Garden inaugurated as a new attraction within San Anton Gardens. When the President invited me there over 18 months ago, I was intrigued by his vision and promised to assist in materialising his dream to open it to the public. The result is another quality, educational and creative area.

Under the leadership of architect Jeanne Frendo, from the Restoration Unit in my ministry, her staff carried out extensive restoration works on stone and timber while the Works Department’s staff installed lighting, waterworks and fountains. My ministry also assisted in creating a section for animals, which, as the President envisioned, now have more appropriate space to enjoy. George Abela also utilised the abilities of a number of people and organisations, including Heritage Malta and the Ministry for Education, to complete this project.

Another project to be inaugurated this weekend is the Marsaxlokk seafront, where a €2 million investment is providing more renovated spaces in this fishing locality. The project was split into three phases over two years.

We began by widening the pavements adjacent to homes and shops, resurfaced the road and laid new drainage services. The second phase included the embellishment of the seafront with new paving across 9,200 square kilometres. The decorative lighting and street furniture installed complements the area without disrupting fishing activities. The third phase consisted of the renovation of Marsaxlokk’s main piazza where we installed a fountain, together with the site opposite previously used as a car park where we erected a monument to fishermen.

This government is clearly committed to investing in the embellishment of all areas of our country, especially those central to tourism. The opposition unfairly claims that we only invest in localities home to our traditional voters, ignoring other constituencies. I have no doubt that Marsaxlokk local councillors, including those that do not support the PN, today can bear witness to our efforts and commitment – June 16.

Nine not 40 per cent

Today, the centre pages of The Times featured photographs of all members of Parliament and the percentage of parliamentary sittings we supposedly missed since the beginning of the year. I am in favour of accountability and appreciate the media’s role, right and duty to report such issues.

Next to my photograph, it was reported that I “missed 40 per cent”. The same report also notes that “MPs are only marked as excused if they are away on parliamentary duty. This does not include official executive duty of ministers and parliamentary secretaries. MPs who are abroad on party business or who are sick are also marked as absent.”

In my case, I was away on ministerial duty 17 times, primarily attending the EU’s Council of Ministers. I attend three Council formations: fisheries and agriculture, energy and climate change. When attending such meetings, I fulfil my parliamentary duties nonetheless by preparing replies to parliamentary questions.

This means that, in reality, I was absent for nine sittings while in Malta. On some of these occasions, I was carrying out ministerial obligations, such as delivering a speech to the Mini European Assembly, attending a public lecture on climate change by a Belgian professor we invited to Malta or delivering a press conference on dairy farms.

I was, therefore, only absent for nine per cent of the sittings and not 40 per cent as readers were led to believe. Had the journalist investigated further, he would have given a more realistic picture of attendance by ministers and parliamentary secretaries who travel on official duty.

The attendance system used is unfair and gives a skewed picture of the efforts of MPs who form part of the executive. When MPs who are not ministers travel in a parliamentary delegation they are excused.

Yet, ministers travelling on government duty are marked as absent. A fairer system is clearly needed – June 15.

Treating all sewage

I was impressed when I visited the new sewage treatment plant in Ta’ Barkat, Xgħajra yesterday. While it boasts the latest technology, there is a marked absence of drainage in the blue sea ahead, which has characterised the area for so long. Malta is now treating all sewage before being deposited at sea. Moreover, the coast next to the new Water Services Corporation treatment plant is compliant with the Bathing Water Directive.

We are making great leaps forward within the environmental sector and our quality of life as a result of years of clear and determined vision that bore fruit through concrete investment.

The plant is split into three sectors. The material enters the pumping station from which it is transferred into a structure that separates and drains oils, grit and other materials. It is then biologically treated.

The remnants, 2,000 tons of water per hour, is deposited a kilometre out at sea. The water is not suitable for consumption due to its high concentration of salt. The solid remnants separated from the liquid are fermented to generate clean energy on which the plant runs.

CEO Marc Muscat’s enthusiasm and vision is testament to the fact that this is just a start. The next step is investing to allow Malta to have a clean source of water. The political will is in place. In the coming days, the government will be announcing a project that should help this materialise – June 9.

http://georgepullicino.blogspot.com

The author is Minister of Resources and Rural Affairs.