Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1200837
16.01.2020 3 NEWS The new cabinet KURT SANSONE ROBERT Abela will tell EU leaders that past mistakes will not be repeated and his government is committed to address them, at his first summit in March. "I will tell them that Malta is a stable country where the rule of law is strong but with humility I will admit that we did mistakes that could have damaged our reputation and these will not be repeat- ed," Abela said on Wednesday afternoon. He was asked by sister newspaper Mal- taToday what message he will be taking to EU leaders in his first summit as Prime Minister in the next couple of months. Abela said he will emphasise that past mistakes will not be repeated. "What happened is in the past and today we are committed to move forward," he added. Abela laid emphasis on discipline and enforcement in his first address after his Cabinet got sworn in. e Prime Minister said having rule of law on paper was not enough unless there was proper enforcement. "I believe in discipline," he said when asked about his Cabinet choices in a lengthy question and answer session with journalists after the swearing-in ceremony at the Palace in Valletta. Abela insisted that people had peace of mind that there will be continuity in those sectors where the country was doing well and changes to ensure the country can move forward in those sec- tors where things "could have been done better". However, he refused to describe the events of recent weeks as a crisis, insist- ing that the wrongs committed would be addressed. Asked about the US government's offer to help the Maltese police in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder investigation, including the search for Keith Schem- bri's mobile phone, Abela said it was not his prerogative as Prime Minister to investigate but would urge the police to do all they can to get to the bottom of things. Balance between environment and development With ministers and parliamentary sec- retaries standing behind him, Abela said the decision to bring the Planning Au- thority under the environment ministry was a sign of the balance his administra- tion wanted to seek between develop- ment and the environment. He said the creation of a specific min- istry for housing and social accommo- dation was a sign of the government's greater emphasis on this sector. is is the first time in almost 25 years that housing has a ministry dedicated all to itself. Chris Cardona and family firm Asked about the decision not to ap- point Chris Cardona in his Cabinet, Abela said the deliberations on Cabinet appointments were his prerogative ac- cording to the constitution and would keep the reasons to himself. Abela said his wife and he pulled out of the family legal firm and it would not be competing for government work. On the appointment of all three Labour women MPs to Cabinet, Abela said this signalled government's direction in fa- vour of equality and reforms, including the inclusion of more women in decision making roles. "ey are capable women… this signals our commitment to equality and reforms that should see more women in decision making roles and in Parliament," he said. Long-term choices Abela said the Cabinet had a lot of young faces and was full of energy to get down to work. "A lot of work has to be done… I trust in the capabilities of my Cabinet and col- lectively we can move forward," he said, adding the choices he made were intend- ed for the long term and not just the next two-and-a-half years until the election. 'Past mistakes will not be repeated,' Robert Abela says when presenting new Cabinet MINISTERS Chris Fearne Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Evarist Bartolo Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Edward Scicluna Minister for Finance and Financial Services Michael Farrugia Minister for Energy and Water Management Owen Bonnici Minister for Education and Employment José Herrera Minister for National Heritage, Culture, and Local Government Carmelo Abela Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (responsible for sustainable development, social dialogue, and the implementation of electoral manifesto) Ian Borg Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Justyne Caruana Minister for Gozo Michael Falzon Minister for Family, Children's Rights and Social Solidarity Edward Zammit Lewis Minister for Justice, Equality and Governance Roderick Galdes Minister for Social Accomodation Silvio Schembri Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses Julia Farrugia Portelli Minister for Tourism Aaron Farrugia Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Clint Camilleri Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Animal's Rights and Consumer Protection Byron Camilleri Minister for Home Affairs, National Security and Law Enforcement PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds within the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs Clayton Bartolo Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services and Digital Economy within the Ministry for Finance and Financial Services Chris Agius Parliamentary Secretary for Lands and Construction within the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Clifton Grima Parliamentary Secretary for Youths, Sport, and Voluntary Organisations within the Ministry for Education and Employment Silvio Parnis Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing and Persons ith Disability within the Ministry for Family, Children's Rights and Social Solidarity Rosianne Cutajar Parliamentary Secretary for Equality, Reforms, within the Ministry for Justice, Equality and Governance Deo Debattista Parliamentary Secretary for Consumer Protection and Public Cleansing within the Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries, Animal Rights and Consumer Protection Alex Muscat Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Communities within the Ministry for Home Affairs, National Security and Law Enforcement