Energy costs should be above partisan politics - Muscat
Labour leader Joseph Muscat has written to the social partners inviting them to come forward with suggestions on how Malta can face up to the issues of high energy costs.
Dr Muscat said the MLP viewed the issue as being one of national importance in view of its impact on living standards and competitiveness, and it should therefore be above partisan politics.
He regretted that the government had gone ahead with raising the surcharge to 95 percent without consulting anyone, saying that the MLP disagreed with this style of government. The government should have carried out broad consultation, especially with the social partners, since it was clear that the surcharge decision would have a major social and economic impact.
Dr Muscat said the increase in the surcharge and the planned revision of the power tariffs would affect living standards and the purchasing power of all levels of society at a time when conditions were already difficult.
Such developments would ripple across the economy since reduced purchasing power meant reduced business.
Dr Muscat said the MLP would be preparing and explaining its position in the future and he was therefore interested in receiving and discussing proposals and suggestions on how the country could face the challenges ahead.
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JOHN SCERRI
Jul 4th 2008, 22:43
Dear Anna Schmidt
Do you have people living and sleeping in the undergound , in public parks and gardens in your country? Here We don't .
Yes the 95% will hit hard so every family has to take the necessary measures to reduce consumption. Thousands of households ca.30000 and more do not pay any surcharge. this includes pensioners, minimum wage earners. low bracket wage earners.
We can rise up to any challenge and we always win . History tells it all Anna. All our great leaders did not win battles but wars.
JOHN SCERRI
Jul 4th 2008, 22:27
There is absolutely nothing new or unknown in what Dr Muscat said in this article.
We are not all stupid.
What amazes me is how on earth is he saying "it should therefore be above partisan politics'
when it was one of the major milestones promised by Labour to win the elections .
Those who voted Labour now DEMAND what Labour would have done .
Keep the surcharge halved from the first week it was in power as promised?? as Alfred said .. no matter what the price of oil would be.....u ejja !!
Paula Calleja
Jul 4th 2008, 21:10
@anna schmidt
You're perfectly right. It's good to hear what foreigners think about the local situation and we all know something is very wrong on this island. In my opinion it all boils down to gross mismanagement by our politicians over the last few decades.
anna schmidt
Jul 4th 2008, 17:44
95 % why not 100 ? Something very wrong here! Costs in Malta are so extremly high compared to other countries! I just wonder how people cope? I feel very sorry for all the Maltese who have to have 3 jobs to feed their families! Salaries are still very low! How is this going to end? We are a family of two and our electricity bill is triple as much as the electricity bill of a family of 5 in Germany plus they have the luxury of central heatingduring winter. Imagine a 95 % charge on top of it! As I said...something very wrong on this island!
Anna Schmidt