Hoteliers propose audit of government, opposition workings

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association has proposed that both the opposition's and the government's workings on the water and electricity surcharge are scrutinised by an international firm of auditors.

The Labour Party provided the social partners with three documents on the new water and electricity tariffs to show that the new surcharge did not correspond with the increase in the cost of oil. The MHRA has told Labour that the increases, both as calculated by the government and by the opposition, had a negative impact on hoteliers and restaurateurs.

The association said hotels had already concluded contracts with travel agencies for next year with prices that did not take the increases into consideration.

It said that while any savings would help, it did not have access to the required information or the necessary competence to examine the situation.

The MHRA therefore proposed that the calculations of both the government and the opposition are scrutinised by an international firm of auditors with the aim of removing any doubt on the figures of one side or another.