MaltaToday previous editions

MaltaToday 9 June 2021 MIDWEEK

Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1381190

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 9 of 15

OPINION 10 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 9 JUNE 2021 LAST week I had the opportuni- ty to showcase part of the work entrusted to myself and my team as the Ministry responsible for coordinating the implementation of the electoral manifesto. The majority of this work is done behind the scenes. It is me- ticulous work of following up, documenting, collaborating and assessing. Looking back at what we had promised in 2017 and what we have achieved on behalf of the Maltese and Gozitan peo- ple, makes one appreciate the true value of politics. This politics is politics of as- sessing where we stand, listen- ing to our communities, having the courage to promise the right changes and the determination to turn words into law, projects, and to change the status quo. So day in, day out, together with the relevant officials from my of- fice, we meet with officials from other Ministries to coordinate work and see which proposals have been concluded and what phase the others are at. On my part, I also keep direct contact with all my colleagues in Cabinet in order to steer things along. The level of collaboration that we find from our colleagues across the Government is laud- able. Indeed, due to our role in the enactment of the manifesto, we are amongst the ones to wit- ness most the sense of teamwork and determination to achieve amongst all our Ministries. On a yearly basis then, we take a moment to showcase this work and highlight the achievements of all Ministries. This week I an- nounced that the current Labour Government in its fourth year has implemented 84% of the electoral manifesto. During the press conference, I also announced that since June 2020 another 100 pledges out of the 772 were enacted complete- ly. This in itself shows that whilst over the last year and a half Gov- ernment had to lead and co-ordi- nate the fight against COVID, we still continued to fulfil our elec- toral commitments. With the end of the legislature etching closer, the challenge of closing more pledges becomes more pressing, however I am very confident that we will end this legislature with the largest percentage of pledges ever imple- mented. This will give us as a La- bour Party the right momentum to embark on the next phase of our vision when shaping the next electoral manifesto. In 2013 the Labour government was the first Maltese government ever to introduce a self-imposed KPI-based electronic system that gauged the real completion rate of each pledge. This has helped in no uncertain terms to change the perception that electoral manifestos aren't worth the paper they are printed on. Over years of Nationalist rule, our predeces- sors had rendered the manifesto process into a farse of political promises ending up being not implemented at all. The Labour Party in government changed this completely. The measures that were imple- mented in the last 12 months con- tinue to leave a marked change in our everyday life. The following is a small list of what we achieved during the last year. Starting with the Marsa flyo- ver and the Gozo fast-ferry, ver- tical gardens, the change to the IIP scheme, community policing and the compensation for pub- lic holidays falling on weekends. The government also reinforced the rule of law and governance - namely by improving the way that the President of the Republic, ju- diciary and the attorney general are selected. We have also implemented an electoral reform intended to in- crease gender equality, a change that will become a reality from the next general election. This apart from continuing our invest- ment in health, education and so- cial security. This is the politics that we need to engage in, if we are to keep people interested and passionate in our public life and politics at large. Some might be more inter- ested in creating stories and Face- book sensations – I for one, am the type of politician that wants to leave change and improvement as a legacy and not lies, mud, ha- tred and inaction. It is with this approach and with marked change that my colleagues and I, under the lead- ership of Prime Minister Robert Abela, will continue to implement and do good for our country. As always, we are as confident as we have ever been that with Labour, change for the better is not just promised but delivered. The politics I believe in Carmelo Abela is Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Carmelo Abela Some might be more interested in creating stories and Facebook sensations – I for one, am the type of politician that wants to leave change and improvement as a legacy and not lies, mud, hatred and inaction

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of MaltaToday previous editions - MaltaToday 9 June 2021 MIDWEEK