Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/591015
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2015 Opinion 20 T he Nationalist Party has served this country for 135 years. Very few elements within it failed us and served themselves more. Should this knock down all the good deeds? My categorical answer is 'no'. I do concede that my party over the past years has lost appeal with certain factions of our society, however I do also acknowledge that my party is gaining ground, and is now standing on its two feet, willing and wanting to get back in business and serve this proud nation. Shifting away from the mantra of "vote for me since the other is incompetent", the PN is indeed becoming a force to be reckoned with. Hailed by many, criticised by some, Simon Busuttil is defying all odds and with his genuine way of doing things, and many are today doubting the foregone conclusion drawn a couple of months back. Difficult it is, so it will remain – however Simon's approach convinced me to stand up to be counted. All of my generation has profited from the PN's policies such as education, democracy and progress in technology. I did so too. It is not just payback time, but I do also feel a strong obligation and duty to ensure a better future for the younger generations. Today I'm a proud PN candidate for the next general election. I might be the new bloke in town, I have so many questions and so few answers, however I have a strong will and desire to instil back some lost faith within politics and the political class. This is my aim, this is what will guide me in the months to come. Joe Mizzi's f(l)ame Dubbed in a recent MaltaToday poll as being the 'worst performing minister', Joe Mizzi – better known as 'the Minister for traffic' or simply 'TM' (Traffic Mizzi) – is currently made to endure a torrid time. Whereas it is the norm within political circles to face harsh criticism from foes, joining the bandwagon in lambasting Mizzi's antics are today his comrades, also his partners in crime. And indeed a crime it is to deceit electors by claiming that a 'traffic management plan' has been devised prior to them casting their vote. In appealing to the public for ideas and creativity to solve this nationwide problem, TM (not Traffic Mizzi but Transport Malta) clearly indicated that they have no political direction by their political guru, confirming the non-existence of a traffic management plan. Mizzi rose to fame in the early days of this surreal legislature after having ordered the switching off of the Floriana f lame (war memorial monument), thereby coining the very first "part-time eternal f lame". Notorious for his "nitla u intella z-zejt", he didn't even manage to strike enough oil to keep the f lame burning for 24 hours, so how can we mere mortals expect a decent solution for the traffic catastrophe? Time is ticking on the PM to intervene and solve this problem. It would be unfair to attribute the traffic problem to this three-year-old government, however the electorate was promised traffic solutions, a bettered public transport system, and enhanced parking solution programme – we got nothing of the sort. Some justifiably would argue that we have more traffic, a more expensive but less efficient public transport system, and a parking crisis. If this is the case, and so it is, we expect whosoever is in charge (including Mizzi, his consultants, and his political appointments) to act now or lose their pension perk! Rediscovering Malta's old treasures In a political ambience where controversy is the order of the day, Malta's cultural heritage brings all political parties, NGOs and other entities together – i.e. the preservation of same. We do all have an obligation to tutelage anything and everything which has been transcended by our ancestors – in this not only in lieu of the generations yet to come, but also since these landmarks should be our pride and glory. Over the past couple of weeks I had the opportunity to indulge myself in a heritage bonanza, primarily with the happening of the now annual event 'Notte bianca' in Malta's capital city Valletta and thereafter a more hands-on experience with the coordination of the likewise annual 'Genna ta' Gonna' in Floriana. Apart from the football dialectical between these two neighbouring rivals, both share common traits, namely that they are both gifted with immense treasures, some of which have been left to deteriorate, others restored to their magnificent prestige. Although my bias towards the first district is indeed obvious, I do feel honoured and privileged to hail from these areas. The localities within the district have served the Maltese people for a good number of years, and it is now our obligation (taghna ilkoll [sic]) to ensure that these areas are given back their magnificence and splendour. Investment seems to me the obvious approach, however this should be coupled with education, which should also rank high within our agenda. Getting tuned to our past could also help us devise a better tomorrow – in all this hullaballoo about traffic mismanagement, the former railway from Valletta to Mtarfa should definitely serve as an eye opener and a basis for discussion! Matthew Paris is a PN councillor for Floriana Opinion Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund CALL for PROPOSALS Pre-announcement for calls for project proposals under the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund 2014 - 2020 The Funds and Programmes Division within the Parliamentary Secretariat for the EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds as the future Responsible Authority for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund would like to pre-announce the launching of the first calls for project proposals under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund in November 2015. The Asylum, Migration and Integration (AMIF) 2014 – 2020 will continue to build on the previous General Programme for the Solidarity of Migration Flows 2007 – 2013 and will continue to provide improvements in the capacity of the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees and continue to finance voluntary and forced return actions with which migrants are assisted to return back to their country of origin as well as integration measures for third-country nationals living in Malta. Other interventions in order to continue provide adequate accommodation, provision of food and medical care are also envisaged in this programme. The calls for project proposals will target the National Objective aimed at strengthening the role of the Office of the Refugee Commissioner and the National Objective for Integration aimed at providing the necessary linguistic ability to Third Country Nationals and migrants in order to be able to integrate better in our society. Calls for project proposals under the National Objective targeting return measures will also be issued for the implementation of voluntary return measures as well as forced return measures. In total around !3,691,980 in EU Funds will be made available. The Responsible Authority reserves the right to revise the budget allocation accordingly. Further information can be viewed on the website of the Funds & Programmes Division: https://eufunds.gov.mt/en/EU%20Funds%20Programmes/Migration%20Funds/Pages/News-and-Events.aspx More information could be obtained from the Responsible Authority within the Funds and Programmes Division through email fpd.meaim@gov.mt Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Co-financing rate: 75% EU Fund; 25% Beneficiary's Funds Sustainable Mangement of Migration Flows Matthew Paris PN, in pursuit of excellence