Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1201983
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JANUARY 2020 NEWS sations. With Cutajar out of the way, Abela now has the opportunity to start afresh. However, he has not rushed to propose a name, hinting at changes in the way the police commissioner should be appointed. It remains to be seen how the new commissioner will be cho- sen and more importantly, who the person will be. Seeking con- sensus on a name with the Op- position is a pledge Abela made in the leadership campaign and he would do well to try and achieve that. The police have done a good job in bringing the perpetrators of Caruana Galizia's murder to justice but they should do more to rid themselves of the subser- vient mentality towards politi- cians. The manner in which accu- sations against Keith Schembri were handled left a lot to be de- sired and Abela must make sure that any shackles to achieving justice are removed. Cutajar's departure sends the right signal. A young face for a tough job: make or break Byron Camilleri, who will be 32 in a fortnight, is the new home affairs minister. A lawyer and former mayor of Fgura, he was first elected to Parliament in 2017. From the backbench, where he served as Labour Whip, he now sits in what is possibly the hottest seat in Abe- la's Cabinet. Camilleri's choice was a defi- nite break from the past for a ministry that has come under intense criticism as a result of deficiencies in the police force and a perceived lack of enforce- ment. It sends out a signal that government intends on deliver- ing change. Camilleri will have to drive the reform that Abela has promised in the police corps. In his first comments, Camilleri has said that he will not hesitate to take hard decisions. Whether he can stay the course has to be seen, given that he has had no previ- ous experience in the executive. He will have the Prime Min- ister's backing – Abela has pledged to give particular at- tention to the ministry – which is important in a sector where changing ingrained methods and mentalities is going to be a challenge. Camilleri's new posting can ei- ther make him in a big way, if he does deliver, or break him, if he fails to bring about change. Giving planning a green tinge: the new environment ministry Abela's decision to place the Planning Authority in the portfolio of the environment ministry suggests that the new administration wants a green- er direction for planning deci- sions. But this could simply turn out to be green-washing unless the new environment minister, Aaron Farrugia, translates this new direction into meaningful policy change. The ODZ policy introduced in 2014 was a welcome devel- opment for farmers because it provided a framework for de- velopments that are necessary in the agricultural sector. It also delivered clarity in those cases were development was needed to fix derelict rural buildings. But it was ridiculously stretched to allow even a mound of stones to magically transform into a vil- la with pool. This policy needs revision, just as the policy on building heights needs to be clear that tall buildings should only be permissible in the identi- fied localities and nowhere else. But beyond planning concerns that tend to eclipse other consid- erations, the environment min- istry has to deal with the waste issue. The country has to move forward on plans to develop an incinerator at Għallis, introduce waste separation rules for busi- nesses, and speed up the export of recyclable goods to alleviate the pressure on bring-in sites. There is also the need to focus on improving biodiversity in ru- ral and urban areas, as well as more afforestation projects. The ministry must also give the Envi- ronment and Resources Author- ity more clout to enforce rules and bring culprits to check. It's a tall order indeed for Farrugia. A housing transformation: re- sponding to the Left The creation of a new ministry for housing is undoubtedly Ab- ela's response to criticism the Labour government has been receiving from the more leftist elements within it. Since 2013, the government has not put one social housing unit on the market, although there are pending projects that are expected to deliver some 1,500 units over the coming years. More significant is the im- pact on the housing market from a growing economy. Rents have increased exorbitantly, pricing out vulnerable individuals from the market and making it diffi- cult for the younger generation, where renting out is not anathe- ma, to find affordable rents. Roderick Galdes, who is now housing minister, had piloted legislation last year to introduce a measure of control in the rent- al sector. It is important that the impact of this legislation is mon- itored to determine whether changes need to be made further down the line that respond to evolving market realties. But, more importantly, is the need to address the problem of a lack of affordable housing for those who do not qualify for any social help but do not have a big enough wage to secure bank fi- nancing to be able to buy their own house at current market prices. Abela's decision to elevate housing as a ministry in its own right indicates that government will give this sector more impor- tance. Galdes should hope and push for a budgetary allocation that matches this importance to ensure the change is not just a cosmetic one. He came, he saw but will he conquer? The education conun- drum One of the least understood moves was Owen Bonnici's transfer to the education minis- try. It feels like a demotion for the former justice minister but Ministers: Silvio Schembri, Aaron Farrugia, and Byron Camilleri Survivor: former tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis gets justice, leadership rival Chris Fearne stays on health and deputy PM, while finance minister Edward Scicluna carries on as before Byron Camilleri's choice was a definite break from the past for a ministry that has come under intense criticism as a result of deficiencies in the police force and a perceived lack of enforcement Putting planning back under the environment minister could turn out to be green-washing unless Aaron Farrugia translates this new direction into meaning ful policy change CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 Promoted: citizenship parliamentary secretary Julia Farrugia gets tourism, while social policy minister Michael Falzon remains in place, and former environment minister José Herrera gets arts, heritage and culture