A new disaster recovery fund could help Malta face future crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a government document published on Wednesday.
The fund is part of the governments post-pandemic strategy that was unveiled on Wednesday (see PDF below) by Post-COVID Strategy Minister Owen Bonnici.
Announcing the governments plans at a press conference, Bonnici said it was important to learn from the pandemic and take action to increase Maltas ability to respond to future crises.
This document we are presenting today is not the work of one ministry but of an entire cabinet of ministers and a whole government, he said.And thanks to this collective effort we have come up with a strategy to ensure our country is secure and has solid foundations for the years to come.
To this aim, the government will draft a framework for the setting up and financing of a disaster recovery fund that can provide a safety net for unforeseen circumstances.
While no figure is given for the proposed fund, the strategy document says the government will work to enhance disaster-recovery capabilities and establish "long-term plans for more robust sea, land, air, energy and digital connectivity".
The government says it will also explore how to tap pools of retired professionals, which could be brought in to support specific situations and be continuously trained in emergency preparedness.
In 2015 a study had found that just one in 10 Maltese has faith in the countrys ability to cope with a large-scale disaster.
Malta will also begin to repair public finances, which underwent severe strain during the pandemic.
In particular, it will "work to sustain the National Development and Social Fund over the medium term".
The fund is financed from the sale of Maltese passports to wealthy investors. The scheme is currently the subject of possible EU court action.
RELATED STORIES
According to the strategy document, the post-pandemic era began in 2020 when the COVID-19 virus first landed on the islands shores.
While we recognise that the crisis is not yet over, it is no longer at its height and now is the right moment to start planning for the future, the document reads.
The strategy document was drafted after some 80 meetings with stakeholders and is based on a number of expert reports, including on the state of the economy.
Bonnici said the strategy seeks to answer three key questions:
Straight off the bat, the document concedes that assessing the full impact of the pandemic on Maltese society is a sizeable task.
To this aim, the government plans to launch detailed studies to understand what assistance different segments of society need and how best to provide it.
Malta will also support students to catch up with lost learning.
To maintain the sense of community spirit that came to the fore during the pandemic, the strategy seeks to foster social cohesion and equity across Maltese society.
Illustrating how this can be done, the strategy says Malta will give vulnerable people greater access to training and employment opportunities and strengthen integration programmes.
Now, the document says, is the time to help businesses restart, restructure and transform their operations to a more sustainable model.
The government plans to develop programmes that guide and support businesses and workers to get future-ready and to help them embrace new technologies and working systems.
Malta will also refocus and integrate education, labour and economic policy, modernising educational curricula.
The government says it will foster public-private collaboration.
It also plans to facilitate business investment and channel funding into start-ups.
The strategy says it is important to learn from the pandemic and take action to increase Maltas ability to respond to future crises.
To this aim, the government will enhance disaster-recovery capabilities and establish long-term plans for more robust sea, land, air, energy and digital connectivity.
Malta will begin to repair public finances, which underwent severe strain during the pandemic.
It will also create a framework for the setting up and financing of a disaster-recovery fund that can provide a safety net in the years ahead.
Resilience to future shocks also relies on protecting the islands natural resources, the document says.
We will focus on systematic education, conservation and a shift towards a more sustainable way of living in harmony with the environment for the benefit of current and future generations, it says.
More concretely, the strategy calls for a push towards eco-tourism and heritage as a new direction for Maltas touristic offering.
The document says the government will also seek to instill a culture of ethical behaviour, from school-age upwards, to ensure all members of society can contribute to the common good.
Independent journalism costs money. Support Times of Malta for the price of a coffee.
Read the rest here:
New disaster recovery fund proposed in post-pandemic strategy - Times of Malta
- The Principality of Sealand - Become a Lord, Lady, Baron or ... - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- SeaLand Toilets - Motorhome, RV & Marine - PPL Motor Homes - December 23rd, 2016 [December 23rd, 2016]
- Schedules - SeaLand - December 28th, 2016 [December 28th, 2016]
- Sealand man jailed for high speed police chase near Chester - LeaderLive - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- sealand | eBay - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Floatplane fuselage donated for entrance feature - Campbell River Mirror - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Burglar in 'lunatic' Flintshire police chase jailed - Daily Post North Wales - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Did you get married in this Sealand church? - Daily Post North Wales - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Global Camping Toilet Market 2017 By Manufacturers Zodi, Camco, SeaLand, Thetford Marine - NetDugout - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Sealand Natural Resources, Inc. (OTCMKTS:SLNR) Files An 8-K Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities - Market Exclusive - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Sealand - The Principality of Sealand - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Sealand of the Pacific - Wikipedia - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Gardening club launch at Sealand and Queensferry Dementia Caf - Deeside.com - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Sealand - The Principality of Sealand - thoughtco.com - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Malawi govt over paid farm input suppliers by K61billion - Nyasa Times - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- About Sealand - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- How Are Analysts Interpreting Sealand Natural Resources Inc (SLNR)'s Relative Strength? - Nelson Research - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Inquiry date for Chester flood plain homes plan - ChesterChronicle.co.uk - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- sealand toilet | eBay - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Unusual Activity Spotted in Sealand Natural Resources Inc (SLNR) - BVN - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Sealand Natural Resources Inc (SLNR) Moving -40.00% in Session - BVN - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Pivot Points in Focus: Sealand Natural Resources Inc (SLNR) - Nelson Research - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Independence Day 2017 SeaLand & Port Schedule - American Journal of Transportation - June 27th, 2017 [June 27th, 2017]
- Flooding on Chester's Sealand Road after downpour - ChesterChronicle.co.uk - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- Chester floodplain housing scheme unanimously rejected - ChesterChronicle.co.uk - August 6th, 2017 [August 6th, 2017]
- 150 years of the Shipping Forecast: The magic and poetry of Dogger, Fisher and German Bight - Country Life - August 25th, 2017 [August 25th, 2017]
- Sealand - Wikitravel - August 25th, 2017 [August 25th, 2017]
- About Us - Principality of Sealand - August 25th, 2017 [August 25th, 2017]
- About - Principality of Sealand - February 6th, 2018 [February 6th, 2018]
- Principality of Sealand - Wikipedia - June 5th, 2018 [June 5th, 2018]
- Sealand | MicroWiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia - July 29th, 2018 [July 29th, 2018]
- Sealand The Mystery Solved - Part One - YouTube - August 30th, 2018 [August 30th, 2018]
- Sealand Marine Toilet Parts | West Marine - September 16th, 2018 [September 16th, 2018]
- Search for a route - sealand.com - September 16th, 2018 [September 16th, 2018]
- About Sealand - Become a Lord, Lady, Baron or Baroness - October 16th, 2018 [October 16th, 2018]
- SeaLand is now Dometic | Dometic - Mobile living made easy. - November 24th, 2018 [November 24th, 2018]
- Sealand | Dynamic Ship Simulator III Wiki - dss-iii.wikia.com - December 5th, 2018 [December 5th, 2018]
- Sealand | Fifth World Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia - December 5th, 2018 [December 5th, 2018]
- Vacuflush Parts and Systems for marine and RV toilets. - January 11th, 2019 [January 11th, 2019]
- Sealand | West Marine - January 11th, 2019 [January 11th, 2019]
- Sealand | Hetalia Archives | FANDOM powered by Wikia - January 11th, 2019 [January 11th, 2019]
- About Sealand | The Principality Of Sealand - January 11th, 2019 [January 11th, 2019]
- Sealand Marine - 4 Locations Across Nebraska and South ... - May 14th, 2019 [May 14th, 2019]
- Surfer cleans his playground by turning pollution into functional fashion - East Coast Radio - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Hefty bill for Sealand farmer who ignored warnings to clear waste off his land - LeaderLive - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- IN PICTURES: Terry is first person to complete nine-mile swim from Sealand to Dovercourt - Harwich and Manningtree Standard - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Great Escapes: The Pristine Shores and Year-Round Charm of Denmarks North Sealand - Barron's - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Terra Firma Imagines a Tiny Country Surviving the Rising Waters - TheaterMania.com - October 14th, 2019 [October 14th, 2019]
- Appeal launched over refusal of plans to store cars and caravans on green barrier land in Sealand - LeaderLive - October 14th, 2019 [October 14th, 2019]
- Queues on Sealand Road in Chester due to water works - Cheshire Live - October 14th, 2019 [October 14th, 2019]
- Coleg Cambria volunteers clean-up streets and rivers of Deeside for community event - Deeside.com - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- Review: In Terra Firma, a Wee Wet Country on the Brink - The New York Times - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- Appeal launched over refusal of plans to store cars and caravans on green barrier land in Sealand - Deeside.com - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- Global Smart Container Market Set to Reach $5.74 Billion by 2024 - Asia-Pacific Expected to Grow at the Highest CAGR - PRNewswire - December 18th, 2019 [December 18th, 2019]
- Panerai Celebrates the Year of the Rat With Sparsello-Decorated Luminor Sealand - HYPEBEAST - December 18th, 2019 [December 18th, 2019]
- Former football star and Telegraph photographer Gary Talbot dies at 82 - Lancashire Telegraph - December 27th, 2019 [December 27th, 2019]
- SeaWorld Prisoner Kyuquot the Orca Needs Our Help! - The Union Journal - December 27th, 2019 [December 27th, 2019]
- Somaliland in the Guide to the 'almost countries' of The World - MENAFN.COM - December 27th, 2019 [December 27th, 2019]
- All the shops and businesses Chester said goodbye to in 2019 - Cheshire Live - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- Easter eggs are already on sale in Plymouth - Plymouth Live - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- This is what was happening in Chester as the 1990s dawned - Cheshire Live - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- Chinese New Year Gifting 2020: From Gucci to Faberg, Rats & Mice Galore | Jewellery | Watches & Jewellery - Luxury London - January 14th, 2020 [January 14th, 2020]
- Sealand Community Council to decide three new positions by co-option | The Leader - LeaderLive - January 30th, 2020 [January 30th, 2020]
- Roadworks in and around Flintshire over the next few days - Deeside.com - February 24th, 2020 [February 24th, 2020]
- Photographer from Deeside on 'cloud nine' with accolade - LeaderLive - February 24th, 2020 [February 24th, 2020]
- China firms in $10 billion share sale rush as funding rules eased amid virus worries - Reuters - February 24th, 2020 [February 24th, 2020]
- Sealand reduces transit time between Chile and the US for table grapes - FreshPlaza.com - February 24th, 2020 [February 24th, 2020]
- The 72 businesses with a five star food hygiene rating in Flintshire - Daily Post - March 16th, 2020 [March 16th, 2020]
- More than three weeks of overnight closures on Cheshire roads to start - Cheshire Live - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- Flintshire man who went to see son play in band in Chester caught drink-driving on way home - The Chester Standard - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- Heres Why Sealand Capital Galaxy (LON:SCGL) Must Use Its Cash Wisely - Simply Wall St - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- Man charged with alleged offence under new Covid 19 legislation following incident in Deeside on Thursday - Deeside.com - April 9th, 2020 [April 9th, 2020]
- SeaWorld trainer torn limb from limb by killer whale turned 'psychotic' by captivity - Mirror Online - April 26th, 2020 [April 26th, 2020]
- Revamped Aldi Chester store to open its doors next week - The Chester Standard - May 11th, 2020 [May 11th, 2020]
- Weekly Update: Global Coronavirus Impact and Implications on Fresh and Naturally Fermented Birch Juice Market Analysis, Trends, Forecast, 2019-2025 -... - June 1st, 2020 [June 1st, 2020]
- Residents urged to take care after house fire in Sealand - LeaderLive - June 1st, 2020 [June 1st, 2020]
- Someone has used a chainsaw to cut down a tree in Garden City which blocked Welsh Road - Deeside.com - June 9th, 2020 [June 9th, 2020]
- Covid-19 Impact on Global Coriolis Mass Flowmeters Market (2020-2026) | Potential growth, attractive valuation make it is a long-term investment | Top... - June 25th, 2020 [June 25th, 2020]
- Sales in the Birch Water Market Expected to Grow as Demand from End-Use Industries Gathers Pace 2017 2025 - Jewish Life News - July 10th, 2020 [July 10th, 2020]
- Breaking down the top 10 LB recruits in Vanderbilt history - 247Sports - July 12th, 2020 [July 12th, 2020]