A strong government

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

This week, Prime Minister Robert Abela entrusted me with the Lands Authority in addition to my current portfolio, National Patrimony, the Arts and Local Councils. 

This is a significant responsibility to which I shall give my very best. 

I am honoured and humbled by the Prime Minister's decision. His trust in me shall be reciprocated by an unwavering commitment of hard work and dedication to our beloved Malta. It is my honour to serve my country, and I do so with the love and passion that our Malta deserves. 

Having spent most of my young and adult life in politics, I know that done well, politics makes peoples' lives better. I have always given my 100% - and now I am determined to give even more. I do so humbly and with great focus. 

A word of thanks to my colleague Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, now my predecessor who did an excellent job in this role. Under his responsibility, the Lands Authority underwent important changes and reforms. Stefan's integrity and dedication to his role speak for itself. I wish him well in his new EU Funds Ministerial portfolio in addition to his Ministerial responsibility of overseeing the implementation of overseeing the PL's electoral manifesto. EU funds are crucial to sustain Malta's key sectors of the economy, from infrastructure to health, education, fisheries, and agriculture to culture and the arts. 

I also wish my colleague Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul who shall now assume responsibility for the competition regulator, the MCCAA, in addition to his current portfolio, further success in his work. 

The same goes for my other colleague Byron Camilleri, who, in addition to his portfolio, which he leads with great integrity, shall now assume responsibility for the National Development and Social Fund. 

We are a dynamic cabinet of ministers, working a team under the formidable guidance of our Prime Minister Robert Abela.

A strong government (ii)

We are a government that delivers. We keep our promises. The people trust us because they know that Labour keeps its word. 

We're far from perfect, nobody is, and we make our fair share of mistakes too. But one thing that we take very seriously, that is peoples' well-being and a better standard of living for all. 

We can afford to do so because we have the fastest growing economy in the Eurozone. This comes as no surprise. The Labour government, led by Prime Minister Robert Abela, delivers on its promises, and we have a resilient workforce. 

In 2022, Robert Abela had managed to overcome the unprecedented challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic, and he promised that our economy would bounce back - stronger than ever. 

We are in 2025 now, and the results speak for themselves. A strong economy and the highest number of people in employment. Strong public finances mean further investment in our communities and in our people. The present is bright. The future looks even brighter

Supporting communities 

Case in point: A few days ago, I announced that 83 applicants shall be awarded a sum of €800,000 between them from the Artistic Scheme for 2025. This year, the government shall distribute an "unprecedented" €1 million towards beneficiaries working to support Maltese feasts. This marks an increase of €300,000 towards the Artistic Heritage Scheme when compared to last year - a 43% increase in funding. 

In a short speech that I delivered at the event, I described the work carried out by voluntary organisations related to feasts as "invaluable". Indeed, it is - for without these hard-working organisations, the Maltese feast won't be able to happen. The government remains committed to helping them flourish in a sustainable manner. 

Our commitment to support community-led activities is as strong as ever. Our robust economy enables us to support the Maltese feast through strong and sustainable financial schemes.

Calì

Earlier this week, together with Prime Minister Robert Abela, we launched a unique exhibition celebrating the life and work of renowned Maltese artist Giuseppe Calì. This was the second instalment of Heritage Malta's 'MUŻA Ħdejk' initiative. 

'MUŻA Ħdejk' is a clear example of how art can reach people rather than the other way around. This initiative reflects a mature and inclusive vision giving people, whatever their background and knowledge of the arts, the opportunity to experience Malta's national heritage. Art should be for everyone, and this is a big step in that direction. 

Heartfelt thanks to Mario Cutajar, Director of MUŻA and Chairperson of Heritage Malta, and his team for this extraordinary initiative. 

The travelling exhibition opened at the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic in Valletta and will run there until June 4. It will then move to the Basilica of the Sanctuary of the Assumption in Mosta from June 12 to 25, with further stops in Lija and Sliema later this year. 

Palestine  

For more than four decades, Malta has supported the Palestinian cause for statehood, but it never recognized it. It will be a Labour government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Robert Abela, that shall do so - in a matter of weeks. The Prime Minister made it abundantly clear last Sunday that the Maltese government will do so. 

This shall be a landmark moment in Malta's foreign policy. As I write, Gaza is still under fierce attacks. Thousands of families have been wiped out. The infrastructure is a complete mess. Food is trickling in. It is a genocide. There is no other way to describe the situation in Gaza.

Brussels 

The European Court decided against Malta's citizenship-by-investment programme. The Prime Minister made it abundantly clear that Malta shall do its best to ensure that the proverbial baby is not thrown away with the bath water and has reassured the many service providers working in this field that the government has their back. On its part, the Nationalist Party was jubilant - with the likes of MEP David Casa, and his friend Jason Azzopardi, but also Roberta Metsola - a staunch anti-IIP programme crusader, despite the wealth that this investment programme has created for Malta and the Maltese, taking to Facebook to express their joy.  

This too was yet another case of double standards from the Nationalist Party, for it is public knowledge that a good number of PN leading exponents, including those who on the PN's media spoke relentlessly against the IIP were the very same people who, through their law firms, were actively selling the IIP programme. No wonder the people have long stopped taking the PN seriously. 

In stark contrast, the Labour government puts Malta and its people first. We want families to make more money, businesses too, and to have a better quality of life. That is why we are in government. That is why people trust us. 

We keep our promises, and we deliver on them. 

Promises made, promises kept by a strong government that delivers.