The Nationalist Party yesterday unveiled the names of nine apolitical professionals who will be heading policy fora to discuss new and updated proposals for the party.
“Their role will include examining the party’s current policies and coming up with policies for the future... This, in itself, is part of a consultation process since they will be meeting with various people and collecting ideas,” PN leader Simon Busuttil said after the list was announced.
The people heading these fora are businessman Ivan Bartolo who will head the economy forum, Prof. Valerie Sollars will chair the education forum, while the health forum will be chaired by lecturer Maria Cassar, the former chairwoman of the Karin Grech Hospital management committee.
The head of the university’s department of youth and community studies – Albert Bell – will chair the social renewal forum, Prof. Maria Attard – director of the Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development – will chair the environment and agriculture forum and Prof. Vicki Ann Cremona – who chairs the university’s School of Performing Arts – will head the European and foreign affairs’ forum.
Lawyer Joseph Giglio will handle justice and home affairs, lawyer Rita Mifsud will chair the Gozo forum and architect David Felice will chair culture and creativity.
The 10th forum, for long-term vision, will be chaired by MEP Therese Comodini Cachia, the only politician among those named.
When asked whether he feared such fora would just lead to words and no action, Dr Busuttil said that as a party in Opposition it was difficult to enact the policies.
However, he said, he would try to convince the electorate that these ideas, which would be included in the electoral manifesto, were the best way forward.
Speaking about Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s refusal to confirm whether the new gas-operated power station would be completed by March, Dr Busuttil said the Labour Party’s electoral promise had been to reduce water and electricity bills by building the power station within two years. The Opposition and the people expected him to keep that promise.
Dr Muscat was now saying the bills would be slashed without explaining how this would be funded, leaving people questioning whether they would have to fork out money from elsewhere, he said.