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2 maltatoday EXECUTIVE EDITOR Matthew Vella MANAGING EDITOR Saviour Balzan Letters to the Editor, MaltaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt Letters must be concise, no pen names accepted, include full name and address maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 OCTOBER 2020 Bernard Grech's golden opportunity Editorial IT has already been widely noted – by this newspa- per, among others – that Budget 2021 was unlike any of its predecessors in recent history: having been completely overshadowed by the COVID-19 crisis. But it is also unusual because it came at a time when the Opposition party had just changed its leader. As such, Budget 2021 was not merely an opportunity for Prime Minister Robert Abela to make his mark, after a mere nine months in office; it is also an opportunity for Bernard Grech to set his own stamp as newly-elected Opposition leader. Understandably, then, there is a certain level of expectation ahead of Grech's formal Parliamen- tary response, scheduled for tomorrow. As such, Monday's address should be treated as his maiden speech in Parliament: his first major encounter with Robert Abela, and a golden opportunity for the newly-elected Opposition leader to show some proper leadership mettle, to give us a taste, as it were, of his qualities as a potential Prime Minis- ter-in-waiting. Monday's debate is therefore is the ideal plat- form for both the PN and Bernard Grech to show the people what their new leader is all about. If he fails to engage with these expectations by outlin- ing, in some way or form, a vision for the Malta he believes in – concretely, and disrobed of bland platitudes – he risks coming across as a disappoint- ment. While his actual approach to this important appointment remains to be seen, it must be said that Bernard Grech's initial reactions to Budget 2021 have so far been rather weak and predicta- ble. Admittedly, some of his criticism may even be justified: it is true, for instance, that the budget presented last Monday does not outline any clear, long-term strategy for future economic recovery. But this has to be counter-balanced by the truly extraordinary economic conditions the country is currently in. Faced with a health crisis that seems to have no end in sight – at least, for the foresee- able future – it would not have been amiss for the Opposition party to at least acknowledge Abela's achievement in maintaining government subsidies, without also raising taxes, or introducing any new ones. Besides, it is to say the least questionable for Grech to claim that "nothing had been heard about a holistic plan to help businesses survive", when the government has extended its wage supple- ments – without which many businesses would certainly collapse – until next March. Having said this, Grech must certainly address the measures introduced by the Budget. But a par- tisan critique, aimed only at enthusing his party hard-core, will surely fall flat. The reality is that the Opposition is no longer facing the Labour Party run by Joseph Muscat: and it now seems clear that Robert Abela is preparing for a reshuffle that will prize technocrats and polit- ical doers. This means that the PN must respond to Labour's own advances with arguments that prove the Opposition's judicious analysis of the challeng- es the country faces. Likewise, Grech is within his rights to criticise government's handling of the COVID-19 pandem- ic; but he must also outline what the PN would do in government; how it would support and finance the national health effort. Grech must also talk about schools, and how he would support educators under the difficult circumstances they face; not to mention how he would finance a proper remuneration package for these important front-liners. Another topic Grech will have to talk about is domestic security and police reforms. He should also outline the PN's vision on immigration: whether it wants to be a government that abides by human rights obligations; but also seeks solutions for irregular migrants; carries out fair repatriation programmes, whilst also addressing local insecu- rities by investing in towns and communities: and not by scaremongering, and banging the drums of xenophobia. People will want to know what Bernard Grech has to say about climate change and the coming industrial transition. Will he simply go along with the mantra of economic growth, with no concern for the long-term implications of climate catastro- phe? Will he buy in cheaply to projects such as the Gozo tunnel, or does he believe in alternative and green modes of transport that can make Malta a more liveable place? In truth, these are all areas that the Opposition should not have waited until the annual budget response speech to address. But if every budget is 'State of the Union' speech for Malta, Bernard Grech must make tomorrow's speech his own 'vi- sion for the union'. 25 October, 2010 A serious question raised over hazardous waste A simple question by Labour MP and shadow environment minister Leo Brincat on where and how much hazardous waste is being stored failed to produce a clear reply from par- liamentary secretary Mario de Marco. In his reply, de Marco simply declared that the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) is currently working on a plan to ensure that all operations posing an environmental risk are endowed with an environmental (IPCC) per- mit. "This will make the systematic compilation of statistics possible," de Marco said in his reply. But the evasive answer prompted a stormy parliamentary debate, with Brincat insisting on a clear reply and asking whether any of this haz- ardous waste is being stored in Magħtab. De Marco replied that he was not in a position to reply to this question, adding that he would be willing to provide an answer next sitting. Brincat would not take this for an answer, interjecting again to ask de Marco whether Mal- ta had compiled a hazardous waste directory as in all EU countries and whether this was being updated. De Marco replied that it would be "pretentious on his part" to reply "yes" or "no" to the question. "I assume that they have such a directory, though I would have to ask MEPA whether this is being updated. I do not doubt that if they have such a directory, it is also updated. But it would not be prudent on my part to reply on the basis of an assumption." Brincat also referred to a statement made during a radio programme by WasteServ CEO Vince Magro, who said fly-ash from the abattoir incinerator was being exported after it emerged that it contained high levels of heavy metals. Brincat asked whether this could have any effect on the quality of the meat of animals killed in the abattoir, and whether the high amounts of heavy metals was caused by the use of heavy fuel oil to ignite the incinerator. De Marco replied that he could not reply to a question on a matter arising during a radio programme had on the previous day, but once again expressed his willingness to reply to these questions in the next sitting. ... 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