Although José Herrera has never touched green issues throughout his 20-year political career, observers believe his success as Environment Minister hinges on bringing in the right people.
The competence of the people he selects as advisors will be important to counterbalance his lack of expertise in environmental matters, according to commentators and green activists approached by this newspaper.
They say it will not be difficult for Dr Herrera, a lawyer, to outperform his predecessor, Leo Brincat, who left many environmentalists disappointed with his low-profile approach to issues of concern.
Whenever he was confronted about this, Mr Brincat, who relinquished his portfolio after being nominated by the Prime Minister for the European Court of Auditors, always insisted he raised issues of concern where they mattered, at Cabinet level.
Whether Dr Herrera will be more vociferous publicly in defence of the environment has yet to be seen, but it is definitely one of his challenges, according to Petra Caruana Dingli.
What matters is that he makes the right judgement based on the advice he is given
The former environment director notes this is an awkward time for changes at the top with the ongoing planning authority demerger and a raft of new policies overwhelming environmentalists.
“We already have the third parliamentary secretary for planning this legislature and now the second environment minister. It is now up to Dr Herrera to ensure that environmental concerns and needs are not sidelined, and I sincerely hope he takes it on successfully,” she says, adding land use remains one of the most sensitive environmental issues.
According to George Vital Zammit, public policy department head at the University of Malta, Dr Herrera’s lack of expertise in the field could actually be helpful: the fact that Dr Herrera is not associated with the sector means he is not hampered by bias.
“If you’re not familiar with the subject, you might think twice or three times before taking decisions. Being cautious ensures that the arguments are first weighed properly prior to pronouncing oneself,” Dr Zammit says. He believes being a lawyer should also not be a stumbling block. “You don’t need to be a lawyer to be justice minister and you don’t need to be a doctor to be health minister.”
Columnist Martin Scicluna also believes an MP can be assigned any portfolio regardless of his or her background. He points to Dr Herrera’s less- than-euphoric reaction when he was first appointed parliamentary secretary for local government and culture in 2013.
“It doesn’t matter that he has no environmental credentials; what matters is that he makes the right judgement based on the advice he is given,” Mr Scicluna says, adding the Maltese are often quick to judge on the basis of qualifications.
Dr Herrera’s promotion to environment minister must be taken in the context of the entire Cabinet reshuffle, notes Front Ħarsien ODZ activist Michael Briguglio.
“The reshuffle was extremely disappointing. Konrad Mizzi was given a promotion, while Manuel Mallia was reinstated as minister. The Maltese were awaiting clear decisions which would remove Dr Mizzi and not reinstate people smeared by scandals.”
However, Dr Briguglio continues, he knows Dr Herrera to be a reasonable man who could prove to be a fine minister if he brings in technically proficient people, steers clear of partisan appointees and applies his trademark conciliatory approach.
Being receptive to environmentalists is key, according to Astrid Vella of Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar. “It is crucial that Dr Herrera appoints consultants who are not just knowledgeable but who genuinely care for the environment and put it above all other interests,” she says, stressing the word “genuinely”.
The NGO hopes Dr Herrera’s appointment will signal a more dynamic approach to protecting the environment. Having a lawmaker in the field may finally bring about the enactment of the draft Tree Protection Act, Ms Vella says.