MLP demands explanations over the surcharge
The government has a lot of explaining to do before raising the surcharge “without any consultation whatsoever” the Labour Party said today.
In a statement issued hours after the government discussed the issue with the social partners, the MLP said the government at that meeting had again shirked its responsibility to present a plan of action to ease the burden of the cost of living from Maltese families.
The meeting, as in the one in December, only served for the government to give a presentation on the cost of living aimed at trying to justify itself.
Finance Minister Tonio Fenech’s claim that the budget measurers had helped cushion the impact of rising prices only confirmed that the government was cut off from realities, the MLP said.
What the people had expected was concrete proposals on how living standards would be raised, the MLP said.
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C.Pace
May 24th 2008, 22:13
The goverment cannot be blamed for the increase in oil prices which ultimately result in higher energy bills.
However, should a socially responsible goverment be actually gaining from the situation ? As prices surge, the Govt's VAT income also increases. Unlike the price of oil, the Government can influence the amount of VAT charged on water and electricity.
May I suggest, therefore, that the surcharge be VAT-free.
mark tanti
May 24th 2008, 22:06
Dear NP supporters do not try to convince labour supporters by facts and valid arguments. These people have always been like that. Their TV sets and radios are only tuned on their party stations. Do not try to convince them to follow CNN/BBC/EURO NEWS/CNBC/RAI or other stations. At 7.30 pm there they are infront of ONE news watching their favourite station spreading only gloom and doom. These people never change just follow what is happening in their party to elect a new leader. In just two days J.Muscat stabbed in the back the other four contestants for the leader ship by bringing to Malta Mr Shultz to speak in his favoour and the election defeat commission stabbed M.Falzon in the back by reporting that one of the reason why MLP lost the last election was because of the additional hour on elect. day. So this is why I am so convinced in my theory that these people NEVER CHANGE.
Jennifer Cosaitis
May 24th 2008, 21:07
Mr Debono, this is a problem affecting the whole country, the whole world even. Is the Opposition only suitable for warming up the benches in Parliament and being a source of amusement for the country? Get real - the price of oil is hiking up continuously, does the MLP have reasonable suggestions to present to the country for the benefit of all? No it doesn't - thats why all it does is criticize.
JOHN SCERRI
May 24th 2008, 20:41
Seems like my comment lit up a very large number of mainly RED lights.
Many thanks for your feedback . never before have I felt so popular :)
Healthy discussion is a major part of Democracy.
Intollerance is only part of stupidity.
My original comment regarded mainly the frequently used verb 'DEMAND' in many of MLP related articles on this site - MLP demands this, MLP demands that. How better would it sound if the articles read 'MLP suggests' or MLP proposes'.
Whoever is elected to power will have a plan . The plan is not a static document.
Such a plan is normally a five year plan not a 3 month plan as some are expecting .
The plan is subject to priorities and unfolding global economic changes which effect us all.
Am I happy that surcharge will increase? someone asked - Not at all. Better no surcharge at all.
I shall never be apologistic for any party whether PN or MLP or other.
I shall continue to voice my opinion when i feel that some party is not ready to give its share for this country to move forward.
Michael Debono
May 24th 2008, 20:11
Jennifer Cosaitis.
Does gonzipn have no ideas how to solve the problems that have been created before the elections because it expected not to be reelected, and it would be for oithers to solve the problems. Losing the elections by 1500 votes is God sent or the MLP.Winning the elections with 1500 votes only has created more problems than expected to gonzipn. There is surely someone watching Malta from above. In Maltese we say"Min xarbu l'bakaljaw ikollu jieklu".
Congratulations gonzipn for you Pyrrhus victory.
A.Vella
May 24th 2008, 19:41
MLP demands explanations over the surcharge?????
I suggest to the MLP to tune up to CNN or BBCnews, every half an hour or so both channels air their buisness news, they explain in detail the reasons behind the oil price hike. If that may prove too short then I suggest Bloomberg or CNBC they are more specialised and cover this issue in more detail. The internet may also prove useful for this kind of information...
Jennifer Cosaitis
May 24th 2008, 16:18
Criticizing is easy - suggesting for the benefit of the country is what we want to see. We're all ears to hear your ideas as to how we can make good for the escalating price of oil.
Ben Grech
May 24th 2008, 16:12
To be fair John, the government went out on a bit of a spending spree prior to the elections, with the excuse that the country's finances were well in order. Furthermore many an electoral promise included in the government's electoral manifesto was aimed at easing the tax payer's burden. Now that the election is won, the government is finally showing us that the country's finances aren t exactly as sturdy as we were led to believe. Both parties came out with unrealistic electoral promises in the face of the international situation of rising oil and food prices. This crisis didn t materialise the day after the elections, but was bubbling months before and thus such promises were gimmicks at best. However the government and not the labour party deserves the bulk of the criticism, as they had a clearer picture of the country's finances. We were taken for yet another ride... does 'finanzi fis sod' ring a bell?
A Abela
May 24th 2008, 16:00
RED LIONS??? Lions of change?? Not again Mr. Scerri.
MLP were red lions only under mintoff!
mario agius
May 24th 2008, 15:53
Regrettfully it is always the same mlp. When will they ever learn and call a spade a spade? Wake up, and stop living the sixties!
James Portelli
May 24th 2008, 15:33
"global situation as it is escalating today"... for Christ's sake where were you living in these past 10 years ? Seems like oil has only been a problem since the election. Ever tried to look the phrase Peak Oil 5 years ago ? You would have found 7,500,000 sites talking about it. Obviously at that time you were living is Alison Wonderland :)
OK one suggestion... instead of fuelling our money on Mater dejn ad eternum we should have fuelled them to START something on renewable energy. But I'm afraid it's way tooooo late :S :S
Michael Debono
May 24th 2008, 14:54
My dear mister J.Scerri.
Gonzi pn is governing Malta not the MLP. Gonzipn knows everything that Malta requires. ThePN Government does not need suggestions. It has to act, not others. According to your estimate the PN government has run out of ideas now that it is in government. Are you crying for help. Crying in both meanings shedding tears and shouting. Is the P.N. government sinking? So it appears, other wise it would not have asked the MLP to loan it a member of parliament. There is a lot more to say but why waste paper and printing ink?
james vella
May 24th 2008, 14:00
Dear Mr John Scerri:-
You want some suggestions - here you go:-
The PN have been talking about building a wind farm and better using alternative energy for decades now.
Why don't they do it, instead of talking about doing it?! that is a suggestion
Surely these would help with the oil prices as they are...
A Daley
May 24th 2008, 13:51
john scerri, look at what other countries are doing and then speak.
The first thing they are doing is reduce TAXES and not increase them! Now that's a good suggestion, right? get on with it then.
The economy is strong! YES or NO?
The truth is that there is no room to manoeuvre because contrary to what you have been let to believe, the economy is actually in a very big mess, even after 4 years of constant increase in stealth taxes. The budget deficit is going to be higher then 3% and the National Debt over 60% of GDP.
Any suggestions from your end, john scerri?
Emanuel Farrugia,
May 24th 2008, 13:22
Mr. Scerri, are you happy that the surcharge is going to be increased ? Do you believe it is the responsibilty of the MLP in Opposition to correct bad decisions taken by the Nationalist Government ?
Mr. Scerri stated " Let's all hear what MLP in Govt. wold have done ........ ". I suppose that unless you have the mentality of Mr. Scerri, it is only logical to expect that the MLP will do what it may/should or will do when in Govt. and not before. You can't have the cake and it eat !
Joseph Grech-Attard
May 24th 2008, 12:49
Oh dear. We went through all this in 1971 when oil prices soared. No one from gonzipn (then PN), some of them still alive and well, thank God, excused the then government for the measure it took, like all other countries n the world, specially Europe. We now expect the government to come out with different solutions not just increasing surcharge, which is already extremely high.
JOHN SCERRI
May 24th 2008, 12:25
'What the people had expected was concrete proposals on how living standards would be raised, the MLP said.'
Let's all hear what MLP in Govt would have done with the global situation as it is escalating today.
Come on MLP RED LIONS !!- show the people what are your ideas.
Are there any without misprints? - Or will you do this only when the so called 'gonzipn' govt's life will be shortened when you start working together as one of your prospective leaders stated in his comment.
MLP had better stop DEMANDING and start SUGGESTING.