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NEWS 6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 SEPTEMBER 2021 Malta gets its first strategy policy for people with disability NICOLE MEILAK WITH 13 objectives and 63 ac- tion points, the Ministry for In- clusion and Social Wellbeing has launched Malta's first national strategy on the rights of people with disability. Titled 'Freedom to Live', the 100-page policy document comprises 13 objectives and 63 action points to be carried out over the next nine years. The objectives include: re- forms and equality; research and data-gathering; awareness on disability; accessibility; par- ticipation in culture, entertain- ment, recreation and sport; relationships, family, sexuali- ty, and parenthood; informal, formal, and non-formal edu- cation; healthcare; work and employment; independent and community life, and de-insti- tutionalisation; partipiation in political and public life; disas- ter risk management and re- duction; and regional and in- ternational efforts. Speaking at the strategy's launch, Inclusion Minister Ju- lia Farrugia Portelli explained that each action point is tied to one of the 13 objectives. Moreover, each point must be completed in two, five, or nine years. Most of the action points involve the drafting of new pol- icies to govern the various ob- jectives. She added that this strategy was part of an electoral prom- ise made by the Labour Party during the 2017 election peri- od. "After the 2014 national pol- icy for people with disability, the next step was implementa- tion through strategy – this is what we're doing today," Far- rugia Portelli stated. Matthew Vella, the Perma- nent Secretary within the Min- istry for Inclusion and Social Wellbeing, remarked that the strategy isn't being carried out due to budget-related incen- tives or electoral promises. "We have one goal – to work together through dialogue and, at the end of the day, achieve our established targets." A brief discussion was held during the launch on how the strategy will be implement- ed. Ruth Sciberras, the CEO of Aġenzija Sapport, said that hav- ing several organisations work- ing on the same issue could lead to territorial behaviour, espe- cially when everyone is fighting for limited resources. However, she praised the fact that government entities have made inroads on network- ing and collaboration when it comes to the disability sector. Collaboration was a key point made during the discussion. Josanne Ghirxi, Director of Na- tional School Support Services at the Ministry for Education, remarked that collaboration is necessary in her particular line of work as all involved parties need to work in harmony to the benefit of the students. Alistair de Gaetano, from the Ministry for Inclusion and Social Wellbeing, added that the new strategy helps give a clearer direction for all entities working in the sector through measurable and specific tar- gets. Rita Micallef, Director in the Department for Health Ser- vices in the Health Ministry, added that proper training is vital for the sector, while Ruth Sciberras said that an evi- dence-based policy approach can help inform future policy decisions in the area. "You don't just draft a policy," Sciberras said. "You have to see what's working and what isn't to give the best service in poli- cy and practice for people with disability." GOVERNMENT is exploring free public transport for locals and tourists visiting Malta, with the aim of imple- menting this by 2030, Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia said yester- day. Farrugia was speaking during a working group organised by the S&D European parliamentary group, who are holding an external group meet- ing in Malta between 28-30 Septem- ber. "If you look at a pie chart of our emissions, half of it stems from the transport sector," the minister ex- plained. "As you can guess, most of our measures focus on transport and the changes we are planning are wide-ranging. We are exploring free public transport for everybody, both Maltese and visiting tourists, by 2030." He added that the project would cost some €40 million in addition to what is being paid today. Farrugia listed through other envi- ronmental measures being explored by government. He said that 65,000 cars will switch to electric instead of an internal combustion engine. "We also have other measures which focus on green public procure- ment, and we are giving up to €9,000 in grants to those who wish to buy an electric vehicle. This is one of the biggest grants in place at EU level." More infrastructural changes will be headed by the Ministry for Ener- gy, Enterprise and Sustainable De- velopment, including a focus on re- mote working, retrofitting of public buildings, and solar water heaters. MEPs forming part of the S&D group are in Malta for a three-day conference titled "United for a More Social Europe". The S&D Group usu- ally conducts its business from with- in the confines of the European Par- liament, but they are held elsewhere from time to time. Malta is exploring free public transport for all by 2030, Minister tells European socialists Environment minister Aaron Farrugia and minister for energy and enterprise Miriam Dalli