Last Sunday, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal crossed paths in a football stadium under the watchful eyes of millions of people across the globe. But this wasn't the first time the two did so. The first time was in 2007, and no one knew, except a photographer named Joan Montfort and a young couple, the parents of a 5-month-old baby named Lamine Yamal. Shortly after the birth of their son, the Yamals entered a raffle run by the Catalan newspaper Sport in conjunction with Barcelon

Housing is about security, dignity, and the opportunity to build a better life. In a country experiencing unprecedented economic growth, access to decent housing should never be treated as a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. Housing is a fundamental social right that supports people's well-being and strengthens communities. Not a statistic Too often, housing debates are reduced to statistics and property prices. While these factors matter, they do not tell the

Shadow Min­is­ter for Accom­mod­a­tion and Lands, PN MP Stan­ley Zam­mit, and I met at my office last week. We had a con­struct­ive and enjoy­able dia­logue. I in­vited Mr Zam­mit for an informal chat to get bet­ter acquain­ted and to dis­cuss the chal­lenges and oppor­tun­it­ies in these import­ant sec­tors. Such meet­ings are import­ant because they help build mutual under­stand­ing and encour­age a cul­ture of respect. They also demon­strate that pub­lic ser­vice should al

In one of my first meetings as the new Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation and Lands, I had the pleasure to have a beautiful discussion with the YMCA . I welcomed YMCA CEO Anthony Camilleri and the indefatigable anti-poverty activist, with his distinctive hat, YMCA Chairperson Jean Paul Mifsud at my office in the Ministry. How we care for the most vulnerable members of our society defines who we are. Few organizations have contributed as consistently and meaningf

Social and afford­able hous­ing, com­monly referred to as hous­ing, is at the very core of Labour polit­ics. From provid­ing social hous­ing to pro­mot­ing afford­ab­il­ity, Labour’s com­mit­ment remains clear: mak­ing sure that Malta’s eco­nomic pro­gress trans­lates into Home His­tory clearly shows that the Labour Party is syn­onym­ous with hous­ing. Labour Prime Min­is­ter Dom Min­toff was a pion­eer­ing leader in this field. His premi­er­ship saw the con­struc­tion of ext

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.)The May 30 general election boils down to one key question: Which of the political parties has the credibility to implement their electoral manifesto? The Labour Party and the Nationalist Party are announcing, daily, their electoral proposals - some are more generous than others. The Nationalist Party seems to be caught in the weird cycle of trying to outdo the Labour Party proposals, and it is becom

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) Two weeks have already passed since the start of the electoral campaign, and the contrast between the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party, particularly that between Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition leader Alex Borg, couldn't be clearer. The Prime Minister is upbeat, positive, and full of energy and enthusiasm - above all, he is constantly announcing proposals that are feasible, costed,

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) It's decision time again. On May 30, the people will choose their government for the next legislature. Prime Minister Robert Abela is seeking his second term. The Nationalist Party has been in opposition since 2013 and has had five leaders since then. Alex Borg has, from the day he was elected PN leader, said in no uncertain terms that he will win. Despite consistently positive polls for the Labour

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) Political polls provide a snapshot of the electorate's mood at the time they are taken. They are in no way indicative of an election's outcome. However, while trends consistently show the Labour Party's strong electoral support, polls have now consistently pointed to declining trust in PN leader Alex Borg and his party. There seems to be widespread consensus that the PN lacks political gravitas on m

Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government This evening, Prime Minister and Labour leader Robert Abela delivers his concluding speech at the Labour Party Congress. It was a week-long congress that saw the participation of many people across all ages and backgrounds. The purpose of this congress was to shape the next electoral manifesto of the Labour Party. Starting in Gozo last Sunday and concluding today at Ta' Qali, the Congress was structured in a way to decentra

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) In the first ten years of its existence, Arts Council Malta shaped Malta's cultural landscape. It was set up with the intention of giving culture and the arts a professional structure and drive them forward. In ten years, it grew into the leading organisation that has managed to redefine how culture and the arts operate within Maltese society, socially, economically, and even internationally. I am p

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) A few days away from Holy Week, I had the pleasure of announcing a restoration project that is close to my heart: The restoration of the historical Parish Church of Zurrieq, dedicated tl St. Catherine of Alexandria. Initiatives like this breathe new life into our village cores. In an era where we must balance urban development and modernization with safeguarding historical landscapes, such projects