So Joe Mizzi is the man responsible for all things motoring on a national level now.
The PL is promising to exempt electric cars from registration tax
He has been appointed in the new Cabinet as Minister of Transport and the Infra-structure, with responsibility for manufacturing and servicing, construction and maintenance, cleansing, co-ordination of major government projects, internal transport, roads, co-ordination of road building, maintenance and landscaping.
Although better known for his expertise on energy and oil exploration, I look forward to seeing what Mr Mizzi can bring and contribute to this sector, which created quite a stir under the previous legislature.
Mr MIzzi will have to deal with quite a few hot potatoes which have suddenly landed on his desk, issues so close to the hearts of people that contributed to the demise of the previous government. Top of the list, I would say, is the public transport saga and the Arriva fiasco.
It is interesting to see how much Mr Mizzi will bend over backwards to create a public transport system for the people rather than asking them to adapt to one that was apparently thought up in an office with no consultation at all. I believe the PL also promised to rid us of those dreaded bendy buses.
Mr Mizzi will also have to act fast to ensure that the PL’s promise of a new Government that will retain and implement the measures announced in the Budget, concerning the decrease in vehicle registration taxes, is kept.
Former Finance Minister Tonio Fenech had announced that car registration tax would be tied to the emissions expelled by vehicles and had planned to significantly reduce the registration tax on the least polluting cars (Euro V) by up to 30 per cent.
Also, budget initiatives will be introduced to discourage the purchase of the more polluting Euro I, Euro III cars and Euro IV cars.
In line with this Budget measure, the PL has com-mitted to implementing a national strategy in favour of electro-mobility and less polluting transport systems.
The PL is also promising to exempt cars that run on electricity from registration tax.
Another measure Mr Mizzi will need to cost is that of introducing free parking in Valletta after 2pm and on Saturdays, a measure which will hopefully give a boost to the retail community in the capital.
Parking issues in Sliema, Valletta, Buġibba and Paola will also be addressed.
He will also have to start working on drawing up a National Traffic Management Plan to tackle traffic congestion. This should definitely be a priority. The PL is saying it would identify “traffic bottlenecks” and attempt to find a solution to problem areas. My suggestion is to seek funds to create a public transport web underground or overhead.
This is the only way we can alleviate the congestion problem, at the same time reducing traffic pollution considerably.
Another big promise that might not be directly within Mr Mizzi’s portfolio is to refund the extra VAT paid on car registrations.
Finally, if only we could all follow in the footsteps of Francis, who refuses to drive or be driven about and prefers to travel by bus.
I’m not talking about our own Francis Zammit Dimech, who I congratulate on his recent success in the election, but about Francis the new Pope; although, quite frankly, I cannot imagine the Pope in his white zucchetto (headcap), white mozetta and red papal shoes, going around on a bendy bus.