A decisive Prime Minister

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.)

Malta will not be alone in recognising the State of Palestine next September and will be joining another 10 EU member states who have already recognised the State of Palestine.

Out of these ten States, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden had already recognised the State of Palestine generations ago when people my age were still in our childhood.

Malta's decision to recognize the State of Palestine confirms Malta's steadfast commitment to peace in the Middle East

If we truly believe in a two-state solution it follows that we must recognise Palestine and Israel as two states. This recognition will keep serving as a basis to further our belief that the two should coexist side by side in peace and prosperity.

We have always, as a nation, stood as a beacon of hope and peace.

State Solution

On Tuesday evening, Malta, led by Robert Abela, stood up to be counted. In Parliament, on Wednesday, the Prime Minister described the motivation behind this historic decision.

He explained that recognizing the State of Palestine is consistent with Malta's long-held position in favour of a Two-State Solution.

Children from Gaza

More importantly, the Prime Minister said that the situation in Gaza warrants immediate attention and that the world can no longer turn its back on the people of Gaza, who are experiencing famine, devastation, and desperation.

In April this year, Malta welcomed children from Gaza for medical care. It was our country's way of showing that we care and that we are fully committed to giving these children, from war-torn Gaza, medical help and a better future.

Hunger and material deprivation cannot and should not be used as a military weapon. Ever.

Undecisive PN, and Metsola

Unfortunately, not all leaders are doing their part to address the genocide in Gaza.

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, was taken to task, earlier this week, by a former PN Secretary General, for her lack of action on Gaza.

Three months ago, 150 Maltese academics wrote a letter to Metsola expressing their concern about her weak position on this matter. Metsola looked the other way. She still does.

She has repeatedly been asked to stand up and be counted. She refuses to do so.

On its part, the Nationalist Party stated that Malta should recognize the State of Palestine now, rather than in September.

This is sheer hypocrisy - they had a full 25 years' time window to do precisely that.

Planning Reforms

For decades now, anomalies, uncertainty, illegalities, and injustice have characterized some of our planning laws.

It was time to take the bull by its proverbial horns. The status quo is always an option, but never a good one.

Change for the better comes through reforms and tough decisions.

Time and again, Labour has shown that it never shied away from implementing the reforms that are necessary for the benefit of the people.

Long-term

Long-term strategy ensures greater responsibility and a better quality of life. Planning laws are no exception.

They must reflect societal changes, and it is tremendously important that they are sustainable and fair for the long term.

Over several years, and under different administrations, mistakes have been made and situations have arisen in planning and development that have caused several anomalies and injustices.

We must act

Anomalies of the past need to be sensitively addressed. It benefits people, the proverbial man in the street, when this happens.

I, like many other Members of the House, am very close to the people and to my two constituencies. I continuously meet people who have situations and ask for equitable solutions.

It is our job to provide those equitable solutions.

The government has started the Parliamentary process, which is in its first steps, to carry out a realistic reform in the field of planning so that people have their rights strengthened and past irregularities are dealt with.

Right to appeal

A point of contention seems to be revolving around the right of appeal from a third party or objector contesting the granting of a planning permit.

This Government believes that the right of people to appeal against a development permit must be strengthened.

It was a political commitment of the Prime Minister that is now being implemented and this is precisely why it is being proposed that it shall no longer be accepted that construction work commences if an appeal has been lodged against that development.

Legal certainty is equally important. It is being proposed that an appeal may be lodged on points of law, and there will be sanctions against abusive or frivolous appeals as is the case in all important legal procedures.

Therefore, in my view, the entire process will strengthen the right of the citizen to appeal while including measures which strengthen the solemnity of the whole process as it should be.

Through this proposed reform, the Planning Authority will also be giving a one-time opportunity so that, within a period of a small number of years, anyone who has carried out work not in accordance with a permit will be in a position to inform the Authority, pay for their actions and, if it fulfils the parameters set out in the proposed legislation, obtain ratification or recognition.

From my own experience as a lawyer and then MP, the reasons why these illegalities happen are various and sometimes people are victims of circumstances beyond their own immediate control.

The Prime Minister himself last Sunday on One Radio gave a number of examples which I personally encountered as well and I am sure that many fellow MPs encountered them too.

Only this morning I met a young lady who has literally inherited one such planning problem, along with a property, from her grandfather who recently passed away.

She came to me asking for a solution and is expecting one.

We listen

The government is aware that there are mixed reactions to the proposed legislation, although there is widespread agreement that a reform is needed and that it can no longer be postponed.

Apart from the criticism which was voiced by leading NGOs, I also heard criticism by other people to the opposite, essentially claiming that the punitary sum being proposed to be paid (as contemplated by the bill) is disproportionate and goes too far given the circumstances of the cases particularly in irregularities which cannot be considered grave or negatively impacting others.

We are taking note of all the criticism which is being levelled.

This is a government that listens and decides together with the people, having their best interests in mind.

This is a decisive government led by a Prime Minister who does not procrastinate.

Neither does he ride roughshod over people, as did the Lawrence Gonzi PN administration, when, despite the huge anger against its proposed water and electricity tariffs, it implemented them, causing untold financial hardships for families and businesses.

Helena

Prime Minister Robert Abela nominated Dr Helena Dalli as Acting President of the Republic.

I have known Helena for most of my life, both as a young person and an adult.

As Minister for Equality, she revolutionised Malta's civil rights sector by implementing muchneeded legislation, especially for LGBTIQ+ people.

She did so, faced with fierce opposition and antagonism from Malta's conservative quarters, led by the Nationalist Party, which, on Dalli's nomination for Acting President, came out, guns blazing, against her.

Impressive career

They seemingly still cannot forgive her for introducing LGBTIQ+ rights in Malta.

Helena has had an impressive political career since her early days in the Labour Party, as an MP, Minister, and recently EU Commissioner for Equality, where she was impressively successful in implementing European-wide legislation for minorities.

Both female

For the first time in Malta's history, the President and the Acting President of the Republic are women.

It was a Labour government too that appointed Malta's first female President, Agatha Barbara.

Labour has always been a leader in the promotion of equality and women's rights.

Anthony

This week, we bid farewell to Notary Anthony Spiteri, Malta's First Gentleman.

Anthony was a humble man who did not seek the limelight, despite being husband to Her Excellency Dr Miriam Spiteri Debono, Malta's President of the Republic.

I had the privilege of knowing Anthony, and he always struck me as a quiet man, kind, always ready to help, wise and wellread. He was an excellent First Gentleman, a loving husband and an adoring father.

My deepest condolences to President Spiteri Debono and family.