A responsible Budget

The Budget presented yesterday was not a regular one. It was put forward by a responsible government facing an unprecedented international crisis impacting European countries. Every assessment regarding the Budget must, therefore, be made within this context and, thus, the slogan chosen, B’għaqal u b’serjeta’ biss nirbħu l-maltemp (It is only by being sensible and serious that we can make it through the storm), is highly appropriate.

... this mother wanted her child to live and entrusted her into reliable hands ...- George Pullicino

The fact that we have not been impacted by the storm that still surrounds us, in the same way that countries like Greece and Italy were, is no coincidence. It is the result of responsible decisions – not always popular – taken by a government with vision and an adequate strategy for our country. We need to remain focused because there are still challenges that must be overcome.

It is a Budget focused on two main actions: 1. aiming to boost growth in employment and 2. providing assistance to the most vulnerable sectors of society, particularly, young families and the elderly.

We will also continue to invest in education, which remains the foundation of economic development and our primary resource.

With regard to my ministry, the financial allocations must be considered in perspective. The government expenditure must be reduced in certain sectors so as to meet society’s needs. We havea strong work plan for the next year utilising European funds, whereby a number of large projects will be implemented, including underground tunnels to mitigate flooding, which will alone cost €56 million.

We will also continue to invest public funds to provide more comfortable public spaces for our families to enjoy – November 15.

Vegetable market reform

This weekend, we launched a six-month pilot project to begin another phase of reform for the Pitkalija.

This project will include a number of changes outlined by the memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs and the Farmers’ Central Cooperative Society that is in agreement with the principles proposed in the reform. I would like to praise the society’s leaders who have joined us in this endeavour. The reforms should not be imposed from above but result from dialogue with the most important stakeholders: farmers, middlemen and buyers.

During the signing ceremony, I stressed that this important reform is based on three principles: firstly, that farmers receive the appropriate value for their products that would be tied to a grading system; secondly, farmers should know what is being done with their products; and thirdly, the role of middlemen should only be that of a broker.

In order to achieve these goals, the agreement stresses the importance of training for farmers so that, among other things, they may carry out the necessary grading of their products to the benefit of the consumer. The aim is to devise a traceable system through which each phase in the entire process may be followed. A new system of crates to be utilised by farmers will also be introduced.

The infrastructural and restructuring works and the IT system to support these reforms are estimated to cost about €6 million – November 13.

New life for Pinto’s Clock

Until a few years ago, three things used to bother me as I would be entering Parliament: the state of St George’s Square and the fact that the clocks on the Main Guard and Pinto Tower in the Grand Master’s Palace were stopped. Now all have been restored.

Yesterday, I visited the restoration works that my ministry has completed on the Pinto Tower within one of the courtyards in the Grand Master’s Palace.

This clock was built in 1745 under Grand Master Manoel Pinto de Fonseca and is one of the most beautiful clocks in Malta, yet, unfortunately, it has long been at a standstill. Its mechanism was made by the renowned Gaetano Vella, and consists of four bronze statues, known as jacquemarts, that turn to strike the bells. It is believed that these statues symbolise Moorish slaves.

The work was led by a group of restoration experts from the Project for the Rehabilitation of Valletta and Heritage Malta. The structural restoration works were carried out under the guidance of architect Mireille Fsadni. Stephen Zammit worked on the clock’s mechanism, which he literally dismantled, fixed and reassembled, while Kenneth Cauchi restored the bells and jacquemarts.

The works were carried out with care to restore the beauty of the four dials of the clock: the middle one displays the hour, while the other three show the month, date and phase of the moon.

This project, which began in April 2010, cost €120,000 and was financed by national funds. It links to other restoration works being carried out on the façade of the palace. As Parliament will be transferred to its new premises next year, restoration works will be carried out within the palace so that the second most beautiful jewel in our capital may serve as a window to our culture – November 11.

130,000 babies saved

News about a baby abandoned on the doorstep of a convent this week shocked all of us. Although rare in Malta, such episodes force us to reflect. We have no right to judge the mother who resorted to such an extreme decision regarding her baby, particularly if we do not know all the circumstances.

The truth is that this mother wanted her child to live and entrusted her into reliable hands that will continue to care for her, all the more since a foster family has been identified.

This episode reminds me of an article I read recently in the Italian newspaper Avvenire, which stated that, since 1975, pro-life clinics across Italy have succeeded in saving 130,000 babies from abortion.

Abortion is the most extreme decision that can be resorted to by parents. According to statistics quoted in the same article, half a million mothers were assisted by the volunteers of such centres and it was found that the most common reasons for which they resort to abortion are social, economic and psychological problems.

Hopefully, baby Carla will find the care and attention that all babies deserve. Hopefully too, her biological mother will also find care and attention as well as the courage to, someday, come forward and identify herself. Above all, I hope that Carla serves as a remarkable example in favour of life – November 10.

Fresh produce

During meetings with farmers I have long lamented over the availability of imported pre-packed salads in supermarkets, without the availability of similar local products. Today’s consumers are not the same as they were 10 years ago. The average family is made up of three to four people, where, in many cases, both parents work. Returning home after a day’s work, they usually cook in a hurry and will, therefore, choose products that are convenient. They will certainly not be peeling and chopping vegetables in the little time they have if they can find an alternative.

Two women, Joyce and Marthese, are responding to this demand through their company Frott Artna. Last Sunday, I greatly enjoyed attending their product launch during the activity Vivanda that took place in Ta’ Qali. The product range includes fresh portions of salad or coleslaw or mixed chopped vegetables for soup that are smartly packed with a transparent window that allows customers to see the quality of their purchase.

Frott Artna has also responded to the needs of restaurants by providing larger portions.

These local products have been on the market for a while, yet Frott Artna have now expanded their product range.

I wish Joyce and Marthese success, which will also translate into success for our farmers who provide fresh products from their fields on a daily basis, and encourage Malta’s consumers to choose local vegetables – November 8.

http://georgepullicino.blogspot.com

The author is Minister of Resources and Rural Affairs.