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6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 FEBRUARY 2022 OPINION 2 maltatoday EXECUTIVE EDITOR Matthew Vella mvella@mediatoday.com.mt 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 • 27 FEBRUARY 2022 The environment is not just for elections Editorial MANY will be familiar with the saying – originating from a television advert – that 'a dog (or pet) is not just for Christmas'. Just as a decision to adopt a pet will involve both re- sponsibility and a long-term commitment: the same concept can be applied to any other form of responsi- bility, including the electoral promises made by political parties. The ongoing campaign is no exception. Consider, for instance, the government's recent flip-flops on two en- vironmental issues: the proposed yacht marina in Mar- saskala; and plans to build the Marsaxlokk local council offices, in a school garden. Clearly, this indicates that Prime Minister Robert Ab- ela is being conditioned by civil society action on envi- ronmental issues; but only, it seems, when an election rears its head. On one level, the news remains welcome. It suggests that public pressure does indeed pay-off, in such cir- cumstances. But as with all pay-offs, there is an addi- tional cost embedded into the transaction. For even if the government's newfound environmentalist drive is yielding desirable results: it is still contingent on gov- ernment's own, short-term needs. Specifically in the case of Marsaskala, the Prime Min- ister said that "it was his government's duty to listen to the concerns raised." But this only raises the question of why his government had flatly refused to listen to those concerns for so long: with Transport Minister Ian Borg even describing the popular protests as a 'Nationalist Party strategy'. It is therefore clear that, if Abela is now conditioned by environmental pressure – mounted mostly by NGOs like Graffitti: a central protagonist in coordinating resi- dents' anger and action – it is largely thanks to his own desire to obtain a 'super-majority', by not conceding a single vote to Opposition over unpopular causes. As such, the election has cynically brought about gains for the environmental movement, reminiscent of Law- rence Gonzi's Majjistral golf course U-turn of 2008. But, then as now, this is comes at a price: whereby residential pockets are continuously frustrated and exhausted by having to show popular opposition to projects that only serve moneyed interests; only to see their demands met, on the eve of an election. Clearly, this is not a responsible, long-term commit- ment to preserving the environment. Nonetheless, Rob- ert Abela should have ample opportunity, in the years to come, to demonstrate that these U-turns are not merely a case of 'environmentalism, just for elections'. PN manifesto: More 'carrot' than 'stick' With no fewer than 500 proposals, the National Par- ty's electoral manifesto certainly cannot be described as a hatchet-job. In the words of author MP Claudio Grech (who penned it shortly before announcing his own sudden departure last week), the PN's goal is that of creating "a fairer soci- ety which rewards good behaviour." There is no shortage of proposals in that direction: mostly taking the form of a 'carrot and stick' approach, designed to incentivise good practices, and disincentiv- ise the bad. But while the manifesto does identify the correct chal- lenges, and also provide some good ideas, many of its actual proposals are somewhat bland and technical; and some – especially, concerning the 'living income' - do not go far enough, to meet their own targets. As such, the manifesto reads more like a handbook for 'techno-fixes', concerning highly specific issues; while seeming to overlook the 'bread-and-butter' concerns of ordinary people in the street. For instance: while the PN now recognises that the country can no longer depend on competitiveness based on low wages, and that the present minimum wage is inadequate; its electoral programme falls short on pro- posing a mandatory increase in the minimum wage, or a mandatory living income (as requested by anti-poverty activists.) Nor does it help that Opposition leader Bernard Grech has meanwhile been making other proposals, which seem at a glance to contradict the aims of his own man- ifesto. For instance, his proposal to waive traffic contra- ventions "after a six-month period, if no further infrac- tions are committed by motorists." One cannot 'reward good behaviour', whilst also en- couraging leniency for those who flout the rules and reg- ulations. Otherwise, it will be a case of 'too much carrot, and too little stick'. We stand with Ukraine Like all sane, peace-loving people everywhere, this newspaper observed the unfolding events in Ukraine this week with alarm, distress, and a general sense of helplessness. This is an understandable reaction, to a despicable act of brute military force. Nonetheless, such events call for more than mere 'solidarity' with the victims of Vladimir Putin's aggression. 'Helpless' though we may feel, there are still ways in which even small, peripheral countries such as Malta can contribute in more meaningful ways. Malta's neutrality status may remain a paramount consideration; but it must not prevent us from taking decisive action, in any non-military area where we ac- tually can. This certainly includes our practice of selling passports to Russian nationals: which, under the circumstances, has simply become indefensible. Likewise, Malta must add its voice to the pressure for harsher sanctions against Vladimir Putin's regime. Now is the time to stand foursquare with Europe, in a firm response to Russian aggression; as well as by supporting all efforts for peace, and for Ukraine's defence of its ter- ritorial integrity. 27 February 2012 Opposition is not updated – health ministry THE Ministry of Health said the government was continuing to invest in the health sector for the patients. "This is being done through new services, more medical tests, more free medicine and more surgeries. The govern- ment is also collaborating with the private sector." The ministry said Opposition leader Joseph Muscat this morning showed that he was not "up to date with what is happening in the health sector". "By giving the impression that working with the private sector is his new idea, shows that he is more threatened by criticism than the facts. Thanks to the agreement made with the private sector regarding the ex- aminations PET and CT scans in 2011, 310 patients had this procedure done in a private hospital." The ministry said that the government also made agreements for a number of other procedures, including Capsule Endoscopies, MRI, Multi skeletal MRI and CT angiogra- phy. "The government also made another agree- ment for CT Coronary angiograms. All these are specialised medical examinations. Anoth- er agreement was made regarding cataract operations where, to date, the government has paid for 579 persons to privately have these operations done," the ministry said. The ministry added that all this was done while the same operations continue to in- crease in Mater Dei Hospital, where during 2011, 2,438 cataract operations were con- ducted, which was already an increase when compared to 2010. "The number of cataract operations con- ducted at Mater Dei during January 2012 has already increased when compared with January 2011. In fact, 263 operations were conducted in January 2012 while in January 2010, 199 were conducted. All this resulted in the reducing the waiting time for cataract operations," the ministry claimed. The ministry added that the government was currently investing in another agreement with the private sector for arthroscopy pro- cedures and arthroscopic surgery. Quote of the Week "They want a tunnel and airport on a tiny island. Get real! This is nuts!" ADPD Carmel Cacapardo reacts to news of the PN's support for the Gozo tunnel and an airport on the island MaltaToday 10 years ago