Ministers and parliamentary secretaries, following in the footsteps of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who kicked the practice off on 6 March, are holding press conferences to say what they have achieved and what they are working on exactly one year after the Nationalist Party was returned to government.
Over the past 12 months, the eight ministers and six parliamentary secretaries have fulfilled their role in their own different style. There is as much diversity in their approach as there is uniformity in the objectives they are pursuing as a government.
Like all foreign affairs ministers, Tonio Borg’s work is mostly away from our shores, although the groundwork must be laid here. Work to open up new embassies abroad has been one of the highlights, while great diplomatic skills have been needed to put forward Malta’s plight as it deals with the growing problem of illegal immigration.
This latter issue has been Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici’s biggest headache. Pressure from within is mounting, and he has had to juggle in between protests from the Maltese community and the need to push the European Union to do much more than it has done to help the country fight this battle.
Tonio Fenech could not have had a more difficult start in his new role as Finance Minister, with the crisis that has enveloped the financial world. The effects have started to seep in as the turmoil continues, with Malta now officially in recession after two consecutive negative growth quarters. The more recent issue on VAT paid on the vehicle registration tax has put him very much in the limelight.
Education Minister Dolores Cristina is involved in the reform being planned in the transition between primary and secondary schooling. Her luck is that on most occasions, she is surrounded by children, whose enthusiasm and colour always get the attention of the media, much to the benefit of the minister.
He who has had little “positive” presence in the media is Austin Gatt, who has been at the wrong end of the difficult situation on our roads, particularly after the heavy winter which has just ended. Knowing his resilience, he is bound to bounce back and, let’s face it, in other areas such as communications and ICT, Malta has made great strides forward.
John Dalli also had his fair share of tough times in the media, mostly as a result of the waiting lists at Mater Dei Hospital, which have grown in spite of the move to the new complex. For his part, without Mepa, George Pullicino is now responsible for an easier portfolio, and his work as resources minister is probably more appreciated.
Giovanna Debono has had to deal with the notion that the eco-Gozo tag is not as green as it should be. Her press releases to the media have been frequent, as the Gozitans always seem to want her to open this and that exhibition, or to preside over some seminar or other. Whether these releases are actually printed is altogether another matter.
She seems to be involved in an in-house competition with Chris Said, incidentally another Gozitan, for media appearances. No day passes by without the DOI informing the press that Dr Said will be opening a conference, speaking at a seminar or simply visiting a local council – except, of course, when he is abroad. Media presence is important, but over exposure could be harmful too. Dr Said’s most important assignment, the local council reform, is still under wraps.
Jason Azzopardi will be remembered for his role in doing away with the illegal occupation of public land, a difficult task carried out diligently and responsibly. Mario de Marco is facing a tough challenge in tourism, an industry that saw the achievement of records last year but has fallen into a slump because of the international situation.
The opening up of school facilities outside school hours for sport purposes is a feather in Clyde Puli’s hat, while Joe Cassar shares the Mater Dei problem with his superior John Dalli, while everyone awaits the launch of the breast screening programme.
Mario Galea has given the media the least of worries – he has by and large kept a low profile, but this does not mean that he has not worked as hard as others who want to show it off.