Access to energy should be a basic right - Joseph Muscat

Enzo Caruana

Sep 10th 2008, 23:56

@C. Scerri

Forget Utopia. We are living in the real world. It is up to government to weed out the lazy,the irresponsible and those who do not declare their income. A responsible government should never be held hostage to the political favour of people who live off our hard earned taxes. Unfortunately, the track record of successive Nationalist governments shows that it has allowed many persons who fall in these categories to run away with murder - metaphorically of course - but this is the harsh truth and a zillion miles way from Utopia.

S.Sammut

Sep 10th 2008, 23:48

And how about legislating a law which compells all those so called developers and construction magnates who have been allowed to build sky rise multi storey edifices thus depriving their adjacent neighbours from a fundamental right to sunshine and access to solar energy sourcing so that the construction magnates would have to install photovoltaic apparatus, solar panels etc to generate electricity to the neighbouring afflicted families and the expense to be charged to the construction developers and provided free of charge to the neighbours.. This would be a partial compensation for the harm inflicted upon the families who saw perpetual darkness suddenly replacing the previously well lit inhabitances they had invested their money in. Or perhaps they can beam sunlight back to the neighbours by installing large specific mirrors on the towering constructions to give back what they have through their deeds stolen from their adjacent neighbours. Can any of our MP's pick up the gauntlet please?

wally vella-zarb

Sep 10th 2008, 23:24

C.Scerri, by and large I agree with what you say.

However, there is the factor of social solidarity. As a caring society, we are bound to assist THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED. (please excuse my use of capitals but I have no way of underlining). The cost of modifying a public building to provide access to those with special needs would not break the bank.

As for the oft-quoted figure of 17,000 households, I too find it difficult to accept that figure. The solution, however, is to make doubly sure that those who are abusing the system are found out AND punished. That would leave a smaller number who are in real need and, yes, we should, as a society, provide all the assistance that is necessary.

The same reasoning should be applied to all forms of social assistance, be it free medication, unemployment benefits, allowances, or what have you.

C. Scerri

Sep 10th 2008, 20:36

Enzo Caruana - if we live in Utopia, then your reasoning is perfect and I would be the first to join your chorus.

Unfortunately how can you identify those in need from the just lazy (I know a number) , the irresponsible and those that do not declare their income?

Kevin Borg

Sep 10th 2008, 20:34

@ I.Abela

I think that it is in the interest and duty of the opposition to come up with plans even if the goverment those note consider these options. Why? Because in five years time it will be election time and people like me who are becoming tired of always voting PN, assess the opposition on the proposals it has fowarded throughout the five year term. That is why we are asking for plans and not because the goverment is not doing enough. We want to hear different ideas.

The problem with Dr. Sant. was never substantiated his ideas and when he did he always wrecked them. I hope Dr. Muscat does not follow in his foot steps or else he will face the same end, although I doubt it how much he can deviate because he is coaching the same team Dr.Sant had.

As for the surcharge, I agree with you that it should be reduced when enemalta buys the next batch of oil. Right now, and I stand to be corrected, Enemalta has bought a supply that will last till the end of the year because it feared the $200 dollar a barrel price hike.

Enzo Caruana

Sep 10th 2008, 19:58

@Kevin Borg

Thanks for a civilised exchange of comments. I think that we should not allow political partisanship obfuscate our thoughts. Like you I have little pity for those who are reckless and irresponsible with their finances but the harsh thruth is that many, many young families and pensioners are hardly making ends meet and beleive me I know young couples who are literally breaking their backs to cope. It is the duty of the government of the day to care for these categories and balance its financial policy on a scale of social priorities

C. Scerri

Sep 10th 2008, 19:55

Wally Vella-Zarb - Yes you are basically right - but taking your example of access to theater etc for disabled means that either the state (=you and me) or the theater clientele (that would include the disabled clientele) are paying for the amenities. Energy is not free, it has to be paid by someone - so it is either that everyone pays what one utilises, at rates that encourage reduction of use, or else part of the society shall be paying for what others are utilising but not paying for.

Just a very crude calculation - if 17000 households are not paying the surcharge, then the rest are paying almost 20% more in surcharge to cover this expense!

I Abela

Sep 10th 2008, 18:50

Joseph Muscat is merely trying to stir up debate. Everyone should stop and listen, not just criticise. All those who are critising Joseph Muscat for not coming up with a plan, are only strenghtening the fact that PN is not doing enough. I beleive it would be stupid for Joseph Muscat to come up with a plan now. Why should he anyway?? PN is governing so its up to them to come up with a plan. What we should really ask ourselves is, why did the government mark up the surcharge at 95% when oil was at $147 and now that oil is at $104 the government has no intention of reducing the said surcharge. So much so that in a couple of months the government is going to issue new energy tariffs which would have the surcharge incorporated. ??? Anybody care to answer me??

M Camenzuli

Sep 10th 2008, 18:47

From Mr Vella-Zarb's comments I am now understanding
what Joe Muscat meant when he was talking about energy "rights" -
that when we apply to EneMalta we get the meter and supply
and that when we fill up at the pump nobody blocks us.

But don't we already have those rights?
When I applied for the meter and electricity supply,
EneMalta gave me electricity in 48 hours.
And when I fill up, nobody blocks me -
they actually seem quite pleased to sell me petrol.

No, Mr Vella-Zarb, what Joe Muscat meant was free
electricity and water and possibly free fuel!

A "basic right" is not paid for but is yours for free.
To use Mr Vella-Zarb's own example, no one pays for wheelchair access.
It's free - fullstop.

Same with energy. I can't wait for Joe Muscat to become Prime Minister
to wave goodbye to my water and electricity bills and
to freshen up my house with airconditioning to my heart's content.

I suggest Joe Muscat also gives a refund
for what we would have paid during these coming five years.
That would confirm his commitment to this brilliant idea
of access to energy as our basic right

.

wally vella-zarb

Sep 10th 2008, 18:20

Mr Camenzuli, why don't you, at least, try to read the heading of this article? It says:

"ACCESS to energy should be a basic right - Joseph Muscat"

Where is anyone saying that the energy itself ought to be free? The proper use of your cliched rights / duties scenario would be as follows:

"Everyone should have the RIGHT of access to energy; it is the DUTY of the state to ensure that energy is accessible to all".

One analogy to this scenario is the RIGHT of ACCESS to public buildings, e.g. the theatre, by people with special needs; this cannot be twisted into implying that they have the right to go to the theatre for free!

Kevin Borg

Sep 10th 2008, 18:19

@ Enzo Caruana

I can assure you I am not releived of feeding a young family. The reason that 'every day I sit down and see how to channel my financial resources' is because I am a father of two children and I can assure you I feel the financial burden. But my life moto has always been never to pity myself and work harder and I stress this point without any disrespect towards anyone.

However I think that many people do not know how to proiritise their financial needs and when I wrote 'finacially cornered' I referred to persons in this category. I can assure you I was not referring to anyone trying to make ends meet on a minimium wage. Personally I think that these persons, especially those who have a family, are living below the poverty line and the goverment should seek policies to help this category. But I am against people who demand help from the goverment because they cannot manage their finaces properly.

Mr.Caruana I apologise if through any of my comments I have been insensitive but I really belief that harder work and career development are the only means to cope in life.

M Camenzuli

Sep 10th 2008, 17:56

Every "right" has a counterbalancing "duty" on semeone else to ensure such a right.

For us to enjoy energy "rights", Russia and OPEC countries have a "duty"
to sell us oil and other energy products at plentiful supply and reasonable prices.

I just can't wait for Joe Muscat to become Prime Minister
and to see him impress on OPEC countries and Russia
these "duties" that they have towards us.

Having these new "rights" under a Labour government will mean
that we can get rid of these hated water and electricity bills.
A "right" is never paid for - energy will be rightfully yours and not bought -
especially when it's deemed to be a "basic" right.

I suggest Joe Muscat extends his energy "rights" to car fuel as well.
Then we can be like Saudi Arabia where petrol and diesel are free.

.

C. Scerri

Sep 10th 2008, 17:43

At John Hatton - I can assure you, I am nearing 50, yes have a salaried job (below 20K Euro), pay all my taxes and thanks to my Parents' sweat have passed over 30 years studying and working to arrive where I am today. Subsidies are paid by someone and that someone are us, the ones that have sacrificed our youth to obtain an educational level by which we can now earn a living.

I wonder how many of the 17000 families (~ 70000 individuals) are really in need? How many of them spend 1000's in Tombola, Lotto and super five (a past time that I cannot afford), how many go to Bugibba/Qawra every weekend or a fast food outlet or a pub on a daily basis or even worse, have very well paid, self employed jobs in the construction industry (@ rates of around 72-90 Euro per day, VAT and Tax free - that is equivalent to a lecturer at University with a Ph.D. degree) and declare no income at all - maybe also take unemployment benefits, why not , live in a govt flat or house and other social security benefits!

wally vella-zarb

Sep 10th 2008, 17:27

@ Cammenzuli

"Silly me"

Precisely! Well done for admitting - and demonstrating - it publicly.

Enzo Caruana

Sep 10th 2008, 17:15

@ Kevin Borg

I beg to differ Sir. Many are financially 'cornered' because they simply cannot cope with the inflation that is gnawing at their purchasing power. Apart from inflation, whether one cares to admit it or not, the introduction of the euro has done its fair share to put struggling families further down on their knees. Your concluding sentence about harder work and career development topped with your insensitive remark about "self pitying myself "(sic!) reveal that most probably and you do not have a young family to feed, clothe and send to school. On that score I wish you luck and a little bit more empathy with those who have.

One further point and this applies to all other commentators having a go at Joseph Muscat. It is neither Muscat's job nor his duty to "releive this burden". The onus here lies on Dr Lawrence Gonzi who promised heaven on earth before the last elections and we are already getting hints that we can wave these promises good-bye.

Keith Azzopardi

Sep 10th 2008, 16:59

In case the usual suspects ready to lambast Labour missed it, Muscat was echoing the EU Energy Commissioner on the issue of right to access energy.

Joseph made that argument in his article on Monday. But then, you might be too busy to get down and read something.

Kevin Borg

Sep 10th 2008, 16:31

@ Enzo Caruana.

Life is full of tuff choices. Making them and choosing the best ones is up to the person's ability to manage his finances. Unfortunetly many are financially cornered because they made unsastainable financial choices.

What Mr. Muscat must have siad is how he is going to relieve this burden. I agree with the statment that many families are choosing between buying their everyday needs and paying their water and electricity bills but isn't energy an everyday need after all? By quoting a survey made in Scotland he will surely not solve the problem.

What I said in my previous comment is that we are already tired of Mr.Muscat's non-proposals attitude. I did not say I do not agree with his statments but there comes a point when concrete proposals are much needed than glossy comments made in a press conference.

I can assure Mr.Caruana that my head is out of the sand, because every day I sit down and see how to channel my financial resources and what options I have to increase them through working harder and developing my career. That is how a person should face a problem and not by self pittying himself.

M Camenzuli

Sep 10th 2008, 16:25

Energy is not a commodity in itself but a means to use and enjoy other commodities.

Presumably then,
airconditioners, tumble driers, dishwashers etc. have become a "right".

This is excellent news for me as I don't have any of these appliances at home.

I used to labour under the idea that it is my duty
not to use energy I don't really need and that, if I did,
I should pay fully for its cost and not expect others to pay for what I use.

But now I can see that energy has become a "right" and
that therefore I can have as much of it as I want.

I was being uselessly prudent.
Silly me.

.

m farrugia

Sep 10th 2008, 16:20

Rega Joseph, tefaghha ghal saqajha u halliha hemm

john hatton

Sep 10th 2008, 15:49

Att. Mr SCERRI.
You are not paying for others. You are enjoying what others gave you and are still furnishing
you with.
I believe you are a young naive citizen occupying a good salaried job, given to you through
your parents sweat, therefore you don't have a taught for others less fortunate than yourself
Essential commodities ( electricity / water / gas / kerosene when for home use should be
subsidized for all .
Subsidy is financied through our own institution FUNDS which are under the care of persons we elected and them persons must SERVE FIRST and FOReMOST the whole community, whatever the community call for especially life essentials.

Enzo Caruana

Sep 10th 2008, 15:42

Sometimes I wonder if certain commentators like the ones who surfaced here understand plain and simple English. Joseph Muscat is quoted as saying "It was unacceptable for families to have to choose between buying their everyday needs and paying their water and electricity bills" Do agree with this declaration Messrs Scerri, Farrugia and Borg? A straight yes or no answer is all we need here. You are trying to put a statement on its head when the stark reality is that many Maltese families are making very tough choices on their spending because energy charges - that include an obscenely high surcharge - have seriously dented their purchasing power.

Please do get down from your ivory towers or pull your ostrich heads from the sand and look life in the face as it is to-day. This organised Joseph Muscat bashing is not convincing at all.

M Camenzuli

Sep 10th 2008, 15:42

Joe Muscat should have said that
"It was unacceptable for families to have to choose
between buying their everyday needs and paying their water and electricity bills"
(the first sentence up here)
when the government he was a leading light of ten years ago
jacked up the water and electricity bills when oil was at 12 dollars a barrel.

If access to energy is a "basic right",
then someone has a "duty" to supply this energy,
meaning OPEC.

But if we go and tell OPEC this, they would laugh at us
as they did precisely this morning
when they reduced supply so that oil prices can increase even more!

.

Michael Vella

Sep 10th 2008, 15:39

Thanks Shepherd

Kevin Borg

Sep 10th 2008, 14:58

Here we go again. Right for this, right for that and no plan and idea how to achieve and retain the right in question. Mr C. Scerri in his post placed the issue in the right frame.

Does it mean that if a category of the society is not capable of paying for their energy bill others will have to pay it for them?

We already are paying for about 17,000 families who cannot pay the electricity surcharge because they do not afford it. Can anyone please explain to me how come so many people qualify for this social benefit?

Dr.Muscat is doing well when it comes to stirring up the debate but when it comes to factual proposals he is really letting us down. There seems to be no substance in his ideas. Only rhetoric to make us believe he is the protector of all rights and of our European identity. I wonder were he was in 2003 when we were all trying to convince half of the island to vote for the EU!

Ah now I remember, he was on Super one conducting a programme about the EU and how Brussels will tie us into slavery.

J Farrugia

Sep 10th 2008, 14:55

Every one wants to play santa claus with other people's taxes. Same for JM. No one owes us a living mister. We have to fend for ourselves and our families and there are no free dinners for our category of workers. We're not the elite WORKERS you know!

C. Scerri

Sep 10th 2008, 14:31

Can Dr Muscat offer some concrete and tangible ideas how we can tackle such a dilemma? How and who would be paying for this "right"?

In my books all services have to be paid by someone, and that someone is usually the law abiding, salaried citizen! I am totally fed up paying for others!