Rebekah Borg is shadow environment minister and is a Nationalist Party candidate
Election campaigns are often dominated by slogans, promises and political noise. But behind every election there is a more important question: what kind of country are we building, and who are we building it for?
For me, this election is about Malta’s next chapter; about whether we continue reacting to problems only after they become crises, or start planning seriously, responsibly and with a long-term vision.
My professional path has never followed one narrow lane. I first trained as an electrical engineer, before specialising further in biomedical engineering at Oxford University and later in building services engineering.
That technical background brought together energy, infrastructure, buildings and the practical systems people depend on every day. It also taught me that decisions which may look simple on paper are often more complex in reality.
Later, I turned to law, with an interest in planning, property, construction and environmental matters. This was a natural continuation of the same work: understanding how Malta is built, regulated and developed, and how decisions affect people, businesses and communities.
Coming from a business family has taught me that behind every business there is risk, sacrifice, investment, responsibility and people whose livelihoods depend on decisions taken properly.
I have already had the privilege of serving in Parliament, and that experience has confirmed something I have always believed: good politics cannot be built on slogans alone.
It must be built on evidence, preparation, listening, and understanding how decisions affect people and businesses in real life.
The conversation around the economy must mature. Malta cannot keep measuring success only through growth figures, permits and population.
A successful economy must give businesses the confidence to invest, workers the dignity of a decent quality of life, and families the reassurance that their children can build a future here.
During this legislature, as Shadow Minister for the Environment, I have worked to place the environment, planning and quality of life at the centre of the national discussion.
The environment is not only about trees or open spaces, important as these are. It is about the air we breathe, the sea we swim in, the waste we generate, the noise we tolerate, the buildings we approve, the infrastructure we depend on, and the character of the communities we live in.
Business and the environment should not be treated as opposing forces, but must work together. A country that protects its environment, plans properly, invests in infrastructure and gives certainty to investors is also a country that creates better conditions for sustainable economic growth.
In Parliament, I have tried to bring this practical approach to my work. I have scrutinised environmental permits, questioned delays in infrastructure, raised issues on waste management, sewage treatment, planning decisions, green open spaces, energy resilience and environmental enforcement.
I have pushed for greater transparency, better regulation and long-term planning. Not because these issues belong to one political side, but because they affect everyone.
Malta needs a new approach to development. Malta needs enterprise, investment and innovation. But growth must be guided by standards, supported by infrastructure and respect communities. And it must be planned in a way that does not shift today’s problems onto the next generation.
This means taking planning reform seriously, giving local communities a stronger voice, and ensuring environmental regulation is clear, fair and enforceable.
It means investing properly in energy resilience, water management, waste infrastructure, open spaces and cleaner transport. It means cutting unnecessary bureaucracy so serious businesses are not trapped in endless administrative delays.
I want to bring this practical and balanced approach to Parliament.
As a mother of two young children, and like many parents, I ask myself what kind of Malta they will inherit. Will they grow up in a country where ambition is rewarded, public spaces are protected, the air is cleaner, the sea is respected, businesses can thrive, and success is not built at the expense of people’s well-being?
Election 2026 is an opportunity to choose that direction: a Malta that is more efficient, liveable, accountable and more prepared for the future. That is the Malta I believe in. That is the Malta I am ready to keep working for.
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