Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/709569
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 31 JULY 2016 24 Opinion Stewardship of our public assets S tewardship is an ethic that embodies the responsible planning and management of resources, and as a concept can be applied to both our environment and public property. The ISO 20121 international standard defines stewardship as the "responsibility for sustainable development shared by all those whose actions affect environmental performance, economic activity, and social progress, ref lected as both a value and a practice by individuals, organisations, communities, and competent authorities." That is, having a holistic concern for all factors that impact our ability to thrive and survive on this planet. The stewardship concept involves personal and social responsibility, including a duty to learn about and improve natural resources and cultural heritage as we use them wisely, leaving a rich legacy for future generations. 'Stewardship land ' is government-owned land as well as land that is publicly owned, that is set aside for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Examples of stewardship land include national parks, wilderness areas, and ODZ (outside development zone) land used to enhance ecosystems to encourage animal and plant species, and to conserve nature. 'Stewardship assets' include historic buildings, their preservation and use, as well as service providers such as Enemalta, hospitals, public transport etc. Stewardship is hard work and not popular with developers and big business whose main concern is the bottom line ("to hell with the consequences!"). It is also not popular with this government, which is hell-bent on handing over national assets at below market prices for questionable projects. Questionable because despite numerous requests by the Opposition in parliament and by the media, contracts and agreements relating to the sale/transfer of these national assets have not to date been made public. Questionable because with the exception of the transfer of public transport to Autobuses Urbanos de León, all other sales and transfers of national assets were negotiated by Minister Konrad Mizzi who set up questionable trusts and other questionable tax avoidance mechanisms through the notorious Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca. We need a sea change in the way politics gets done. The word that comes to mind is "statesmanship": "the practice of a Statesman, usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. Statesmanship also conveys a quality of leadership that organically brings people together and of eldership, a spirit of caring for others and for the whole." And statesmanship is the polar opposite to politics as practised today. To many, politics is a win- lose game where "might makes right". Plus, it seems to be a path to power and wealth for the people involved in, and with, the party currently in government. The definition of statesmanship fits Simon Busuttil like a glove and the Public Domain Bill presented in parliament by Jason Azzopardi, Ryan Callus and Marthese Portelli is a prime example of best practice and governance in the stewardship of land. Alan Abela Wadge is a candidate for the Nationalist Party Alan Abela Wadge Virtù Ferries MaltaToday and Virtù Ferries have teamed up to take one lucky winner and a companion every week to Sicily, with two tickets to be won every week in our photography competition. Already been on holiday? Good: we're sending you back if your best photograph from your holidays and travels makes the cut. 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Send the photo via email on info@mediatoday.com.mt [SUBJECT HEADING: MaltaToday photo competition] by next Friday at 9am. Themes may change from one week to the other This week's winner is SONYA MICALLEF Stewardship is hard work and not popular with developers and big business whose main concern is the bottom line ("to hell with the consequences!")