Today’s Editorials focus on different themes, with the pandemic retaining centre stage, with a focus on environmental concerns.
The Times of Malta considers the recent re-emergency of the utility of face masks as a tool to combat the spread of the virus. While noting that the World Health Organisation has not given its go-ahead for their use, it is also the case that the UN agency has all too often been reactive in this crisis rather than proactive. Given the urgent need of containing the spread of CoVId-19, the Editor calls on the Authorities to look at the evidence from countries where mask-wearing is the norm, or has become mandatory, rather than wait for a protocol from an organisation that has to take into consideration the resources and capabilities of all countries. However, the Editor opines that if the health authorities do take the step and enforce mask wearing on a mass scale, these masks would have to be made available.
The Independent calls for a complete departure in strategy with regards to road planning. It takes Environment Minister to ask for his recent comments related to intelligent planning, arguing that this cannot be seen when one look at the constant over development in our cities, the destruction of green areas and the lack of proper road planning. The Editor concludes that Minister Farrugia has a long road ahead of him in terms of regaining the trust of the people in the government in terms of the protection of the environment and planning – and a different strategy is called for.
L-Orizzont writes about Government’s economic aid package, which has been estimated as the seventh largest in the world. While the EU has recommended that Member States spend at least 1% of their GDP on recovery measures, the Maltese Government will be committing at least 1.6% for this objective. This was possible, concludes the Editor, thanks to sound financial management which has yielded a surplus.
In-Nazzjon calls for reflection throughout Easter Week. While encouraging readers to focus on the things that matters most in life, it ends on encouraging note, and calls on the public not to give up saying that hope is the last to fade away.
