Energy reform will be country's biggest - Prime Minister

Sandro Galea

Oct 24th 2008, 04:36

@V Fenech

It is one thing for politicians to express themselves in their official capacity , another matter altogether for me to believe them! I sincerely hope you are being sarcastic-with Germany, the UK, France and Italy ( four countries we heavily depend upon for our tourism-oriented economy to thrive) going into a period of 'economic slowdown', how long will it take for tourist numbers to start plummeting? It would only make economic sense for citizens of these countries to start opting for internal tourism, however, I still wish, for the good of my country, that my reasoning is flawed....

V Fenech

Oct 22nd 2008, 16:51

@ Sandro Galea

Please be reminded that the prime minister and Tonio Fenech themselves have said that due to our strong economy we will be affected in a marginal way!!!

Rachel Galea

Oct 22nd 2008, 13:35

@ P. Schembri

Yes, unfortunately I am too young to remember that, but thirty years down the line it is worth giving it a second try........... just like an exam, you fail the first time and you may pass the second time. You'll never know until you try.

Sandro Galea

Oct 22nd 2008, 06:44

@ Jimmy Sammut

As per prior comment, I once again say that I AM aware of what happens in Malta, having lived there the first 30 years of my life , I guess I know of all the decisions (good or otherwise) which political leaders have taken over the years. Unfortunately people like you like to give others' comments a political twist . At no point I was trying to defend the government ( I never felt the need to, much to your disappointment ), I was just stating some facts happening around us.
The way I see it ? The Nationalists have only been in power for such a long period of time because of the lack of a credible alternative, the latter strongly undermines the basis of a healthy democracy. So I guess if the new Labour leader proves to be a realistic option and not just 'a good first impression' on Xarabank) , it will benefit the Nationalist party in the long run.

@ V Fenech

Hard to believe that there are people in Malta who still believe that their country will be immune to the global credit crisis - global economics would suggest otherwise!

Joe Vella

Oct 21st 2008, 23:49

@ Joe Galea

Electrical energy cannot be stored it has to continue to travel along a power grid. And yes, once we are connected to the European Grid. why not sell our access electrical energy to the Europeans at times when demand is low here in Malta?

Joe Vella

Oct 21st 2008, 23:36

@ D. Zammit

Time, and time again Joseph Muscat and the MLP have been proven wrong that on fundamental issues have been proven wrong. I am not mking up this, Joseph Muscat himself have acknowledge this. He just wish that the Maltese electorate want to suddenly forget his past bad judgement and take him at his word. Well, if Joseph Muscat is a fool. I can guarantee you that the vast majority of the Maltese electorate is no fool.

M. Grech

Oct 21st 2008, 22:09

Some people asked for a solution. Is it us consumers who should come up with a decent solution?. Even though there are lots of intelligent people around, the solution must be suggested after serious studies, taking into consideration multiple factors, know the business and have sense of consiousness towards families and industries. It is like a consultant asking his customer for an advice!

It is a disgrace to hear that families must share such a burden due to lack of financial planning and to sustain the BIG companies. It should be the other way round. So yes, I have to fork out extra hundreds of euros per year just to make the big guys profitable!. They should do there own homework!. And ...who will make sacrifices to save these extra euros???. Families...What else.....shall we all go to work to pay your taxes and your bills mr. gov!

Bottom line - I can't imagine what will happen to this tiny island in 5 - 10 years time!!!!...really I an't...

M. Grech

Oct 21st 2008, 21:54

The windfarm story is another ficticious project. Even so, this won't happen until the next 1000 years. This is simply a means to distract Joe and Mary from the real problem. It gives the illusion that - ok we are going to pay extra to get something in return.
Just a pure illusion!.

If we had the leisure of an extra xxxx km2 on this tiny island then the story would have been more credible. Implementing wind farm technology on sea beds means alot of money plus we don't have know-how. We are not even capable of building the simple structures. Look around!.

Well the impact of thse measures are darn BIG compare to the past AND the inflation rate is going up MONTH after MONTH (not years!!).Everyone tries to carnibilize each other to reap an extra cent here and there. Who will suffer at the end?. Families!.My salary still the same!.

...And in order to impose efficient use of energy - lets impose a 300% equivalent surcharge.
I can assure you that i tc of enery consumption @ home! Shall I switch off the main switch GONZ? Hallina..

P.Schembri

Oct 21st 2008, 18:59

One thing is for certain. The government can no longer point its finger at the opposition. It's been nearly 21 years since the opposition was in government, apart those 22 months. So the government is reaping what itself had sown. And the best thing about is, that we're having to pay for it.

P.Schembri

Oct 21st 2008, 18:56

@Rachel Galea. Remember in the '70's when Mintoff did just what you proposed, all hell broke loose. Or you're still too you to remember that?

Marco Spiteri

Oct 21st 2008, 15:34

It was increadible watching the prime minister on Xarabank last Friday. He was not even aware that the price of oil had gone down below 75 dollars. and this is the man to catch the bull by the horns. Actually it is not a bull it is a monster created by the PN administrations who have been running the country to whom he was a party.

Some years ago Labour actually caught the bull by the horns and yes revised the tariffs but they were nowhere close we face today. Unforualey for us all the "wise" PN let it lose and went to sleep. Finally the prime minter and co woke up and suddenly found out that the bull became a monster and it is going to hurt us much much more to tame. It is going to cost much much more hard earned cash from our already picked pockets. That's really paternal planning for the future. Thank you dear prime minister your incompentance has cost us dearly.

Kemm konna ahjar meta konna aghar.

Joe Galea

Oct 21st 2008, 08:22

This Gonzi is hilarious. He said that the windfarm can generate electricity for 21000 families and if there is a surplus (a word which has got stuck in his mouth) he said he would sell it to ther countries. LOL. Why, if there will be a surplus, don't use it to supply other local households? And if some four years ago the country was riding the wave due to the right decisions, why are we in this crap situation, having you dictatorially imposing hefty utility tariffs without any consideration of their effects? It clearly seems that our belove Gonzi is in a panic state where he doesn't know how to control the country's finances and don't know how to patch the holes left by his same administrations, incompetency after incompetency without any accountability. Gonzi's only hope to be a hero is on Xarabank where miraculously he is always the most preferred country leader.

Paul Muscat

Oct 20th 2008, 20:35

Hopefully it wan't be an other Mater -without financial control.....-.windfarm!

Anthony Mizzi

Oct 20th 2008, 18:18

Dr. Gonzi is hastily becoming the BURDEN we have to SHARE..

Rachel Galea

Oct 20th 2008, 11:11

Everybody is up in arms about the new w/e tariffs without offering solutions. Whilst I do not relish having to pay them, I also realise that government cannot continue subsiding Enemalta to make life easier for Joe Citizen. The shortfall has to be made up somehow. Here are some suggestions:

Commercially: Why do showrooms have to leave their premises fully lit throughout the night.
Anything more that one light in the centre of the premises is enough for security reasons. If they choose otherwise then they should pay a higher rate ... say after 10.30pm

I imagine street lighting adds considerably to overall energy consumption. This can be reduced by switching off alternate street lights after 1am.

Domestic: This is purely in Joe citizens hand. It is upto him to economise as much as possible. If he chooses to leave his heating/cooling on all day then he can very well pay for it.

These small, but important steps, will reduce consumption overall, reducing the fuel bill for Enemalta meaning eventual reduction of tariffs.

These simple solutions are for the here and now. Long term energy saving planning must follow.

Joseph Vella

Oct 20th 2008, 10:35

Whilst I am extremely happy that the government has taken the decision on a wind farm, as a taxpayer I am more than extremely concerned that this project might turn into something like the Mater Dei were the costs will gradually climb up until the project will be so costly that is is not viable and in turn will be another tax burden.

Re: the help given to families in investing in alternative energy a typical example would be the waiving away of VAT and controlling the prices that suppliers demand for these products.

James formosa

Oct 20th 2008, 10:30

@DCG (Darren not Defsa ;) ) Good comments - well said.
I have a wild idea too Mr.G!!
Wind farms!!! X'wind farms!! It's time to start pumping up the oil that has been there all this time that we knew about since the 70s and that we didn't start pumping because we're too afraid to pump because of Gaddafi!! Mintoff, KMB, EFA/Guido, Sant & Gonzi (& friends) must have got something out not touching this oil. OK. So now we decide to start pumping that oil (no impact assessement required), then in 5 years time we can start reaping somthing and in 10 years time we can start building wind farms with the money we get from the oil and more importantly the Government will generate enough income to throw away the millions spent annually on ineffeciency and waste and ridiculous projects without taking taxes from us!! If this was done 30 years ago.....

Albert Ellul

Oct 20th 2008, 10:28

This is the future: CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) plants on less than 0.3 percent of the desert areas of North Africa and the Middle East could generate enough electricity to meet the needs of these two regions plus the European Union. Realizing this, the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation—an initiative of The Club of Rome, the Hamburg Climate Protection Foundation, and the National Energy Research Center of Jordan—conceived the DESERTEC Concept in 2003. This plan to develop a renewable energy network to transmit power to Europe from the Middle East and North Africa calls for 100,000 megawatts of CSP to be built throughout the Middle East and North Africa by 2050. Electricity delivery to Europe would occur via direct current transmission cables across the Mediterranean. Taking the lead in making the concept a reality, Algeria plans to build a 3,000-kilometer cable between the Algerian town of Adrar and the German city of Aachen to export 6,000 megawatts of solar thermal power by 2020.

Manuel Micallef

Oct 20th 2008, 10:06

To me the main points are the following:-

1. In which other country in the world apart from Zimbabwe, do we have a proposal to raise 300% the electric to industry and people overnight?!

I never heard this happening anywhere before. Have you?! Don't you ask yourself whether this is bonkers?

2. How come, if just after 6 months of the election, when we were given the impression by PN that "finanzi huma fis-sod", we have to now raise the electric by 300%!!

This is happening at a time when foreign governments are pumping in their economy money to revive industry and markets. PN is doing just the opposite!

You don't need to be a genious to understand that this government has lost it!! It has lost credibility and track of what is going on.

I see some blue eyed persons here, who have their fingure in the pot, trying to defend the government at all costs, but these nowadays are the very few.

e.bartolo

Oct 20th 2008, 09:24

A few calculations:

Sun's intensity at ground level 1500 W/m^2
Solar Cell efficiency 30% (assumed)

So, to generate 1 Mega Watt:

Solar irradiance needed: 1 MW / 0.3 = 3.33 MW

This is equivalent to an area of:
3.33 x 10^6 / 1500 sqr m
= 2220 sqr m or a square of side 47.12 m

This area is needed for just 1 Mega Watt and assuming, highly efficient solar cells. This of course, applies only when the sun's irradiance is at its peak.

To generate 100 MW one would need:
47.12 m x square_root(100)
= 471.2 m

The calculation shows that solar energy can never go big.

And the same exercise can be used to show that wind energy suffers from the same problem.

e.bartolo

Oct 20th 2008, 08:50

@Antoine Vella (Balzan):

You don't need to attack me personally to make your point. If that is "your argument", you have failed miserably.

I challenge you to prove me wrong, genius.

l Galea

Oct 20th 2008, 08:08

Mark Anthony Sammut
Those 57 million were debts which had been previously contracted by the Nationalist Government.

As regards the 500 million, they were reserves which were built by the Labour Government because the Nationalist Governments had left Malta bankrupt, so much so that the 1971 Labour Government had to seek aid from Gaddafi to have money to pay the Government employees.

Those 500 million were left when the world had gone through two major oil crisis and the Labour Government had to face continuous undermining by the PN. Remember the infamous Malta File? Remember PN members encouraging factories to get out of Malta? This is history.

Those billions?? of foreign reserves which you refer to are now deposited at the eu european central bank and it is no longer the Maltese people through their Government that are getting the interests, but the eu petty dictators. National debt today is BILLIONS not millions.

That is one of the results of being eu members.

e.bartolo
Other countries have windfarms. While you may not have enough wind in one area you will have it in another, while today's turbines do not need a lot of wind.

Albert Ellul

Oct 20th 2008, 07:52

@ Those who think that wind energy is not viable please visit the following :

http://www.earthpolicy.org/Updates/2008/Update77.htm

You will find that wind and solarpower are going big, really big and that we are seeing the end of oil power. Oil is already down to $60 and it will continue to crash.

justin fenech

Oct 20th 2008, 07:42

It is worrying hearing the nationalist general council yesterday . they where a bunch orchestrated to play the same song like when we had Sant in opposition

these people have not realised yet that they are dealing with another leader and it looks that doing this against is getting stronger and stronger

Joseph seems well prepared on issues whilst gonzi is always in defence

M.Bezzina

Oct 20th 2008, 06:20

Dear Mr.Zammit
I dont know how much you can afford paying from yr salary water and electricity bills.By no means I am saying leave the light on etc etc.I prefer to waste my money in a holiday rather than paying bills. Gonzi himself said that this issue is getting frustrated so yes this has to be treated ASAP.Besides that in my opinion the issue for global warming if you look at the very back you find out that the world climate has been changing since 1970s and not now!

Carm Vella Diacono

Oct 20th 2008, 05:48

The sole reason why the government wants to impose such excessive tariffs is for the sake of votes.

Actually the government would start to pride himself on lowering his deficit - BUT that will be from the people's money.

After three years or four, Gonzi would then reduce the tariffs back and when the time of another election comes his party would come out with another slogan like "Finanzi bis-Sod", "Biex int tghix ahjar" or "Biex nirnexxu lkoll".......

(I had to leave out "b'Gonzi Mohhok Mistrieh" because we aren't at all, even though he said that Malta has placed among the most secure countries!!)

Denis Catania

Oct 20th 2008, 00:00

@Joe Vella: If a surcharge and a few wind mills is needed to keep the country from going bankrupt, Malta is in trouble. These choice of words are troubling.

P.Schembri

Oct 19th 2008, 23:56

@ J. Bonello. You're wrong here. The Serb ex-president was in Libya. Check this link and you'll know if ifs true or not. Am sorry to say that this piece of non-news boomeranged back to your party.
http://en.ljbc.net/online/var_details.php?id=834

George Cremona

Oct 19th 2008, 23:52

The biggest problem with the MLP is that instead of seeking to be serious particularly in times as the ones we are encountering, instead of facing courageously the challenges ahead like the PN does and come out with concrete proposals, they prefer to ride on the sentiments of the electorate to gain popularity. In short they seek to gain without pain only to end up as the sole losers with lot of pain without getting any gain at all. They've been repeating such mistakes for too long and yet throughout all these years they have not learned anything.

P.Schembri

Oct 19th 2008, 23:52

@I. Galea especially from our local politicians!

Antoine Vella (Balzan)

Oct 19th 2008, 23:52

E.Bartolo
"Wind farms? Are they viable for the Maltese economy??"

They will diversify the agricultural sector (a farm is always a farm after all).


"So, I suppose, they need batteries.... :("

Oh no! If we're going to have a farm with batteries we might as well set up a chicken farm (what with all the bird-brains clucking away).

Charles DeMicoli

Oct 19th 2008, 23:28

One way to cut down on the Malta's dependence on oil is to subsidize automobiles with fuel efficient drive trains, such as hydbrids and LPG (liquid propane gas). (Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Dom Mintoff introduce legislation in connection with the size of engines in cars and motorcycles, when he was Prime Minister, with the intention of cutting down on fuel use?)

Another suggestion is to give incentives for lower monthly electrical consumption, let's say if you use less than a set amount, your bill is lowered by 2%, etc.

In regards to the windfarm, apart from the ecological impact, how long is the payback period? How much will each kilowatt generated by the windfarm cost, taking into account the installation cost and periodic maintenance over the expected life of the equipment?

@Godwin Pullicino: yes, the prices at the petrol pump did go down (in NYC). We're paying a dollar less a gallon than 10 days ago. A gallon of regular is now close to or below $3. It was over $4 3 weeks ago.

M D Fenech

Oct 19th 2008, 23:25

@m farrugia
Funny you mentioning how companies did not adopt any energy saving plans.

Did the govt do this when he built Mater Dei? Where are the solar water heaters?

Lately the govt resurfaced/rebuilt main roads around Malta. What kept him from using solar lights to light up the streets?

Biex tiskongra trid tkun pur!!

D. Micallef

Oct 19th 2008, 23:19

Energy? after 20 years... do you expect us to clap, Dr. Gonzi?

@m.farrugia

Can you give me your address? I will forward my bills if you're so happy with the surge in prices. the capping was given to the businesses prior to the election so that the PN will get their support for the general elections. Now we are saying that it is unfair that people are financing big businesses; i.e. jobs.

I wonder who's making a toy out of politics now.

Joseph Falzon

Oct 19th 2008, 23:14

Hej people

Are you not happy that finally we have a Green Prim Minister?

Joe

Mark Anthony Sammut

Oct 19th 2008, 23:06

"the government was not ready to take the country to the brink of bankruptcy"
What do you call wasting Lm500 million left in Malta's coffer by the Labour Government in 1987!

Just for your info this is taken from the MLP electoral manifest of 1998: "In 1987, the National Debt stood at Lm57 million."

Ok, it is not as high as the hundreds of millions it is today, but just to stop this common misconception of 'millions left in maltese coffers by labour government in 1987'. Those Lm500 million are Central Bank reserves which today run into billions.

e.bartolo

Oct 19th 2008, 22:53

"Batteries do not enter into the equation and we have a lot of wind in Malta"

Wind is very unstable. How can it be a reliable source of energy without batteries? I am still convinced this is no more than day dreaming...

Europe together with the other countries, should make more effort to create reliable energy sources. Wind can only supply a small fraction of what, in reality, is needed. And, the cost? I think, it is better to think of something else...

Paul Muscat

Oct 19th 2008, 22:41

Dr Gonzi has all the confidence and all the solutions during elections time, or during the debate with the opposition leader. Come a veritable crises like the energy hikes and suddenly he has no solutions , and the blue eyed boys here there and everywhere, expect and ask us to bring about solutions! Well, here is a solution: Money wasted on Mater Dei, on Manuel Dimech bridge, on Gozo and Cirkewwa terminal, on Malta Maritime building, on Malta house in Brussels, can be retrieved and solar panels covering all the roofs of the Maltese islands, would diminish our energy bill by 40%! Dr Gonzi reminds me of MINA when she sings; "parole ,parole, parole, soltanto parole e niente altro che parole"

Brian Borg

Oct 19th 2008, 22:40

This phrase is buzzing into my ears.... "Government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem.", - Ronald Reagan - 40th US President

Jimmy Sammut

Oct 19th 2008, 22:18

@Sandro Galea
So maybe you read but you don't seem to understand, or don't want to. I said "Who has misjudged EU regulations when he signed in? Who has poorly judged the dockyard's situation and left bad management to increase the problems which that industry already had, further increasing our burden? Who has miscalculated his expenses when embarking onto new projects such as Mater Dei, new roads etc?"...this has nothing to do with the global crisis and has been going on for ages now...is this clear or what? This is an extra which our benevolent government under the really, hey what am I saying, REALLY REALLY strong hands of Dr. Gonzi, is adding to our burden. And btw it has nothing to do with ppl being abroad, only some of these, like in your case, might feel somewhat less problems on their shoulders being imposed by the wrong doings of government,and think that they can express nice words in his favour.

V Fenech

Oct 19th 2008, 22:09

@ Sandro Galea

The only thing that makes Malta different from the other affected countries is that we're only slightly affected and the government still chooses to increase the taxpayers' burden.

It would be more ideal to Joe Vella to discuss Dr.Muscat's position tomorrow. This may sound akward - I already know what would be his reaction!

D Zammit

Oct 19th 2008, 22:06

@ Joe Vell

At least your comments make me smile!! I always notice how you depict the MLP and any one of its members as people who are so incapable and litterally want to harm Malta and its people. Just one small advice, though I am no one to give advice to anyone, try to be a little more balanced in your comments.

A. Ellul

Oct 19th 2008, 22:03

@All those who think that wind is not a viable option please take a virtual trip to the USA by hitting on the following:

http://www.earthpolicy.org/Updates/2008/Update77.htm

and you will discover that wind and solar are in and oil is out. The price of oil is falling and will soon crash.

D Zammit

Oct 19th 2008, 21:57

@ J Bonello

I don't really care how Alfred Sant or J Muscat would have tackled the situation. We voted Gonzi so we judge him and his government now. If you are happy with the situation it is clear that you are one of the very very few. I can't understand how certain people are ready to excuse anything the PN does and try to deviate the problem on others!!

Joe Vella

Oct 19th 2008, 21:31

@ Denis Catania

"PM Gonzi says government is not ready to take Malta to the brink of bankruptcy. those words don't sound so good. Is Malta going to be the next Iceland?"

Perhaps if we would have taken Joseph Muscat and the MLP advice, we would. But thank God we did not.

l Galea

Oct 19th 2008, 21:21

e.bartolo
Batteries do not enter into the equation and we have a lot of wind in Malta

E. Anastasi

Oct 19th 2008, 21:18

'The Prime Minister referred to the current international situation describing it as a hurricane “the like of which the world has never seen” '

We are lucky that in Malta, government is not forced to bail out the big banks as is happening all over the world. This, however, does not grant the government a "do-as-you-please" status. Since it is quite likely that the global economy is going into a recession the increase in utility tariffs would indeed be a mortal blow. It is calculator politics devoid of any sense of social justice. If anyone has to bite the bullet at this time it is not the people but the government as all world governments are currently doing. First things first: stimulate the economy and get it back on track.

To be honest, I would not be surprised that the Government tries to play on the so-called moral high ground and presents a less shocking (and, quite frankly, utterly destructive) utility tariff scheme as J. Mifsud said below. This is one of the old tricks in the book. The same old populist politics. Hopefully, people are no longer ignorant and see the wood for the trees.

Nigel Lawrence

Oct 19th 2008, 21:11

I suppose that when everybody cuts back on their power consumption and subsequently reduces the cashflow input to Enemalta. This wonderful company will have to raise the bills yet again to pay the salaries of their bloated payroll.

Ian Degeitano

Oct 19th 2008, 21:11

@ Dennis Catania & Mario Borg.

I understand completely because i used to vote PN but i can't associate myself more to these kind of politics Lawrence Gonzi and Co are doing . On the other hand i am feeling comfortable to side with the new MLP Leader. He is bright and his vision for Malta is FAR more concrete .

J.Bonello

Oct 19th 2008, 21:02

@Toni Pace - Thank you for enlightening me. I thought that Dr.Muscat during his Libya visit, was meeting a leader who did not exist and quoting from a document published on the internet.

Sandro Galea

Oct 19th 2008, 20:58

@Jimmy Sammut

Yes, I do happen to read Maltese ( and not only) newspapers almost daily, thanks to the Internet (which happens to thrive beyond Maltese shores), and yes, I do regularly keep in touch with Maltese (first degree) relatives - why is it that every time an expatriate Maltese writes in a Times blog, there is always someone who feels the need to come up with these hollow arguments? Of course I am aware of the hard times Malta is going through, otherwise I wouldn't be bothered to write in this blog in the first place.
The point I was trying to make is that the hard times are facing everybody, everywhere, I only cited the energy crisis as an example (even in 'prosperous' Canada where I am currently residing - and Canada is supposed to have the world's soundest banking system ,according to the recently published WEF report). And unfortunately, this worlwide 'domino' effect has only just started.

C Attard

Oct 19th 2008, 20:57

On the 2nd July 2008, the TOM reported Austin Gatt saying that alternative energy was much more expensive than fossil fuel systems. This was turned down by everyone.

Now we have Gonzi promising wind farms, etc. Is this another hatchling without serious planning???

Joe Cutajar

Oct 19th 2008, 20:56

20 Years ago the PN published this proposal on his electoral manifesto . Now after 20 years in power he is still telling us the same things BLA BLA BLA.

e.bartolo

Oct 19th 2008, 20:50

Wind farms? Are they viable for the Maltese economy? I doubt it.

All I know is, that they depend on wind and wind, is a very unreliable source of energy. So, I suppose, they need batteries.... :(

This is not a solution, this is day dreaming!

Invest in more reliable energy sources.

Marcel Dingli

Oct 19th 2008, 20:44

Well, over 25 years ago i had mentioned the use of solar energy during a djalogu meeting held at the Imperial Hotel in Sliema. OK lets admit for argument`s sake that solar energy needs a big capital outlay. Is it possible that in all these years the PN never took anything seriously.? And what about the new power station in delimara ? If i am not mistaken EFA had said that it could be used on both gas and oil. So the problem is not oil but the mismanagment of funds swindled from our daily bread. Gonzi we have had ENOUGH !!!!
WARRAB GHAX TIEGHEK GVERN SFIDUCJAT BLA MAGORANZA .

laurence schembri

Oct 19th 2008, 20:39

What a waste of space and time. Mention one item that has gone up in price being what it is, that has ever come down in price. Some hope.

Ethelbert Schembri

Oct 19th 2008, 20:14

Dr Gonzi before the election you told us ‘to judge you on what you do not on what you say’

1st you say a lot and do nothing ! PAROLI !!

2nd If we were in court and you put forward the proof of what you have done , you will end up guilty of great INCOMPETENCE !!!

3rd Do you remember your motto ‘ flimkien kollox possibbli ‘ well with the arrogance of your GOV that goes all to drain !! cause you are doing everything by yourself , locked in your own ivory tower !!!

Well-done keep up the good work !?!?!?!?

andrea Muscat

Oct 19th 2008, 20:11

I have given up on this Government which just listens to the the closed box enemalta consultants who reflect what's good for the 2000 employee corporation, instead to what is good for the Maltese society.
Decades have passed and we are still scratching our heads about solving the problem through the tax payer. We are the ONLY country in the EU still without a long term plan on alternate energy programme because there was never a real good will of diversifing and dropping energy bills by 20% of a decade ago instead gov listened to the closed box anti sustainable mentality and tripled our energy costs. Lets face it, the facts of all these smug gov policy has resulted to Chaos for not listening to alternate energy studies of a decade ago. Preferring to drain all the money and giving it to the oil magnates instead of letting the free market develop alternate solutions . Results speak for themselves look at Cyprus today self sufficient look at us we are still thinking of linking to a foreign energy line. where have our real brilliant minds been buried!!

denis Catania

Oct 19th 2008, 20:09

@mario borg: you said, I deeply feel that I belonged to Edward Fenech Adami's party and definetly not this one. Mario I feel the same way. So I'm not alone.

Mary Mizzi

Oct 19th 2008, 20:05

Dr. Gonzi boasted that he reduced taxes in the last two budgets and it is not his intention to go by his electoral promise to further reduce taxes in the next budget.

The last two budgets Dec 2006, Dec. 2007 were certainly pre- electoral budgets as is the usual trend for N.P. administrations to give out some freebees during the last year of the 5 year term of office.

Dr. Gonzi could just have got the much needed funds from the Government shareholding in Mid-Med, Public Lotto, Maltacom (with the added bonus piece of land costing Lm10 million in the deal) and other holdings the PN. sold off.

Dr. Gonzi and P.N. administrations were just living off investments left to them by previous M. L. P. administrations, and that is the strength of the economy DR. Gonzi is boasting off.

Take Dr. Joseph Muscat’s advice - get some funds back into our pockets through revision of tariffs and rates.

Give us a break....do not kid us anymore as you did before 8 March 2008 .

Stand by your word, and we expect you to keep it. This is what you get by splashing unfeasible promises in your electoral program .

J. Mifsud

Oct 19th 2008, 19:53

Please allow me, for a few minutes, to act as Nostradamus or Merlin:

In the first week of November, 2008, the electricity tariffs will be revised, but not as proposed by the government to the constituted bodies, but with less cruel rates.

We shall be told that this is because of the right decisions that the govt. had taken in the past.

We shall then be expected to rejoice that although we'll still be paying through our nose, though due to no fault of ours, the tariffs are less than proposed in September.

And then we'll all live happily forever.!!!

Dear Lawrence and Austin, do you really think that we are so stupid? These tactics might have worked in the past, but please grow up and act as politicians and stop taking us for a ride.

mario borg

Oct 19th 2008, 19:19

@sandro galea
I agree that prices have gone up globally but the point here is that many people are fed up of being taken for a ride i.e. not keeping one`s promises done prior to elections and energy is only one example of the promises made and not kept. This is an insult to the intelligence of many people. I deeply feel that i belonged to Edward Fenech Adami's party and definitely not this one.
This government is in power just because many did not want Dr Sant.

Carm Vella Diacono

Oct 19th 2008, 19:13

M Farrugia

Have you heard about foreign countries introducing a green policy to all private and state entities???

When Austin Gatt was asked a similar question on Bondi+, he laughed at the questioner. Even though he missed to give out an explanation of why he was laughing. I think that by now we should have become used to such arrogance. Maybe that's what Austin is thinking!

Daniel Delia

Oct 19th 2008, 19:12

I would like to see this big energy reform happening within government itself first. I would like to see it happens within government departments and government entities as well. Starting with electricity saving methods to less consumption on government motor vehicles fuel.
What is good for goose is for the gander.

Jimmy Sammut

Oct 19th 2008, 19:12

@Sandro Galea
If you think that we are not well informed about the global situation because not everyone was in the UK, well my friend, let me remind you that ppl read news papers and make good use of the internet, as u can appreciate with the comments listed below. If you think that the only problems that we have are ALL due to the global situation then I ask, have YOU been reading Maltese newspapers and articles? Have YOU been talking with maltese ppl lately? Who has misjudged EU regulations when he signed in? Who has poorly judged the dockyard's situation and left bad management to increase the problems which that industry already had, further increasing our burden? Who has miscalculated his expenses when embarking onto new projects such as Mater Dei, new roads etc? Who has not taken into consideration the fact that having a new Smart City, is not only a hype to boast around about, but a reality that needed real studies from different perspectives? Cause Gov is now panicking about energy resources and associated inefficiencies in Enemalta and wants to burden us further to make up for his failures.

Denis Catania

Oct 19th 2008, 19:10

PM Gonzi says government is not ready to take Malta to the brink of bankruptcy. those words don't sound so good. Is Malta going to be the next Iceland?

V Fenech

Oct 19th 2008, 19:04

@ Mr.Sandro Galea

Both parties have agreed that we're not affected by the global situation and that all this mess has nothing to do with the economice situation in other countries.

mario borg

Oct 19th 2008, 19:02

@B Taljana
Its not a question of blue eyed people enjoying higher bills but a question of how much income,benefits and allowances these few elite are earning through top positions. Needless to say these top jobs are very often earned unfairly and appointed by ministries ignoring any other people who very often are more suitable for the job. Obviously such people try to defend the government no matter the issue.

m farrugia

Oct 19th 2008, 18:58

The proposed tariffs could hit hard the companies who are presently subsidised like hotels, ST etc.. although a big part of businesses are not subsidised. However it is about time these entities did their part to save their energy usage instead of just rely on subsidies and now threaten to lay off workers. Do international chain hotels and manufacturing concerns use energy saving devices like their counterparts abroad? It's useless always asking the govt to its part, it's everyone's responsibility.

mary bondin

Oct 19th 2008, 18:51

@anthony muscat inglott
I totally agree. Let us unite and show that we are fed up being taken for a ride by this government and his collaborators. We are fed up being bullied around. We are fed up with the take it or leave it arrogance. We are fed up having our money used unwisely. We are fed up with the lack of responsibility that Government is showing. We are fed up with being the Cinderella in the EU sphere. We are fed up with unmonitored price hiking. We are fed up with sharing alone the burden of illegal immigration. We are fed up with a million other things because government is not there for us and for Malta. Enough is enough!!!!!!

Sandro Galea

Oct 19th 2008, 18:49

As a Maltese national who has been away from our beloved country for over 4 years, let me inform you that this IS a GLOBAL problem. I remember very well the multiple occasions in the UK when petrol / diesel at the pump would go up 3-4 times IN A SINGLE WEEK, with domestic energy prices going up by at least 25% every 12 months, year after year, the main excuse being the price hikes in the international market (so much for the multiple companies supposedly providing a competitive consumer energy market in the UK-more of a cartel, in my opinion)! And by the way, none of these energy companies would ever dare lower their tariffs in the event of a decrease in the international price of oil.
As a general comment valid for bloggers on this website, I would also suggest people should start looking beyond party politics when it comes to tackling such important issues-for the good of our country, we have to stop looking at party leaders/ministers/MPs as if they were some sort of Messiah!

V Fenech

Oct 19th 2008, 18:36

Gonzi is crying over the spilt milk. His party has done it again!!!

But as Vincent Magro previously said, we now need serious proposals. We all know that the Governments' proposals are good to the dogs; therefore we need a special programme for our islands. Not withstanding Gonzi's and Austin's contradictions and half-baked imaginary inventions, the Opposition now needs to publish alternative solutions.

Apparently the Opposition's reaction is coming in the coming days. As I have always said, up to now PN has always chosen the easy way round of a problem. Now we need to back a stronghold opposition and show this failed administration that we're fed up with flops resulting into a much greater burden onto the taxpayers!!

anthony muscat inglott

Oct 19th 2008, 18:32

the prime minister is showing that is lacking behind

apart from trying to defend himself on the xarabank programm now he is realising that the country is in a state of shock with these prices . he is trying to catch up with excuses and nevertheless he is getting critism from everywhere

this is poor politics and the priminister needs to lead the country not get critism from his own voters .

not even in his own party he is backed up cause when you see the last article that austin gatt wrote he is only blaming his own team mates . The country is in a state of disgrace and needs a hard opposition .

i think it is time to show some unity in the country and oppose certain measures .

william grech

Oct 19th 2008, 18:25

Dear Prime Minister some day you will find out that people are fed up of giving you and your party chance after chance therefore start taking action NOW and not before an election. People are getting fed up of being taken for a ride. Remember the 5 bulbs? that was the joke of the year and still where are they?

J. Mifsud

Oct 19th 2008, 18:22

The problem with Lawrence and Austin is that they think that everybody's finances are in such a good state that we can easily afford using (quote)17,000 units of electricity.

The problem with the government is ARROGANCE AND ARROGANCE AND ARROGANCE.

And the more the government find supporters like M. Farrugia, they can only increase their arrogance.

I promise the government that I will do my utmost to conserve energy by switching off my water heater, my dehumidifier, use more candles instead of bulbs, switch off my freezer at night etc.

In the end, I can say that I am proud that my standard of living has increased, thanks to our very kind government, who, before the elections, promised me heaven on earth!!!!!

M. Pace

Oct 19th 2008, 18:20

@m. farrugia

I, for one, don't pay 50euros to get my digital sports channel because it would be taking on more than I can bear...I've had to cut down on many things lately.

Jimmy sammut

Oct 19th 2008, 18:15

@vincent magro
We cannot start pointing out areas for such a project by just looking at Google earth. It is laudable that ppl have ideas and propose them (gov is lacking in this sector). However we cannot be tricked by our own lack of knowledge. I would leave such proposals to be taken up seriously by experts in this area, maybe even consult with ppl from our research sector, such as University and see their views on the topic. Gov is giving the impression that all the necessary feasibility and sustainability studies have already been conducted and that it is just a matter of Mepa doing some EIA before the project can start. But this is yet again Gonzi's way of alimenting talk and distracting ppl. He is a master in this. Remember when he mentioned Valletta's city gate and the proposal to rebuilt the theatre. All cheap talk. He is now resorting to using the 20% extra that we have been paying for god know how much against industry. He is also saying that 30000 families are being sustained, even though we don't really know how these families were chosen. We need transparency and accountability. Gonzi must go!

A Daley

Oct 19th 2008, 18:11

Ha ha ha haj!

That was a good one dear PM!

Next joke please.

matthew borg

Oct 19th 2008, 17:57

The prices of Oil are half what they were 6 months ago before the election. PN has no argument to raise the prices. Actually I expect them to reduce the price of petrol and electricity.

REDUCE PRICES NOW!!

vincent magro

Oct 19th 2008, 17:52

@jimmy sammut
jekk il-wind farms ghadhom fl-infanzja taghhom iktar jghamel sens li nibdew fuq l-art milli fuq il-bahar.jien ma ghamilt l-ebda studju dwar l-energija kif jidher li ghamilt int.kull m'ghamilt kien li dhalt fuq il google earth u fittixt postijiet f'malta li huma il boghod mill-lukandi,mill-bajjiet,mill-irhula,mill aiport,mill-power stations ecc ecc...

mattia felice

Oct 19th 2008, 17:51

Since international oil prices have gone down....It is to be rightfully expected that the result is felt at the local petrol pump! What has happened on the way???? Malta is waiting.

Jenny Borg

Oct 19th 2008, 17:50

@m farrugia
Don't u get it that this is not about MLP or PN, but about us? If you can't see the trouble that we're in mostly because gov's plans (reduction of taxes etc) went berserk after the first tempest, then I cannot but feel sorry for you. U need to look beyond the superficiality of Gonzi's arguments and doings.

Bertu taljana

Oct 19th 2008, 17:48

I am astonished by the comments downhere posted by PN supporters;

We have a situation where all the constituted bodies of this country are against the government (never happened before in the history of Malta), where each family is going to have to pay about 6 Euros more every week, and where 1000s of fellow workers can potentially lose their job.

And do you know what? These blue eyes people still don't get it!!
Sawwatni iktar halli niehu gost!!

M.Buhagiar

Oct 19th 2008, 17:45

M.Farrugia

Apart from the 5 promised energy bulbs I am expecting a rise of 9 pounds a week for the rise in tariffs as was once proposed under a labour government back in 98

Manuel Micallef

Oct 19th 2008, 17:43

M Farruga:-

Of course MLP did not win and therefore it needs to reform itself; Mind you PN did not get an absolute majority neither - and can hardly be proud of this, especially when we all know that they won by hiding issues like JPO...

But these are party politics and I don't really care.

My question to you is one:-
In which other country electricity is raised (or proposed to be raised) by 300%??!!!!
Give me one example, apart from Zimbabwe, please?

And you come here and tell us about capable PN leaders. Tell it to the marines.

Jimmy Sammut

Oct 19th 2008, 17:42

@Godwin Pullicino
OK, do you think its sensible for governments to rise tariffs overnight because Enemalta was badly managed? Do u think its responsible on gov's behalf to not identify the culprits behind the present situation whereby inefficiencies within this company have increase by 33% and those in WSC by more then 70%? Who is accountable? If the Government was not part of this situation that brought about these figures, who has? Yes, we definitely need to find solutions, which are long term, but given the doings of this government and his flawed arguments, I think its already time to switch to someone else. Let MLP and AD try out their solutions. The situation is already rock-bottom, these will only do better.

Manuel Micallef

Oct 19th 2008, 17:39

To Godwin Pullicino:-

I agree with you apart from one thing;

When international oil prices go up, the government is very quick to use these as a pretext to up the surcharge. This happened in the last, what ten years?

When oil prices go down, the government is slow to respond.

You cannot have it both ways. If there is a delay in market to stabilise and show the real price, then this should happen for both the ups and the downs. So far we saw it happen only for the Ups.

m farrugia

Oct 19th 2008, 17:35

Mr Micallef, don't worry if the PN is in trouble. The MLP has been so for at least 20 years, JM himself is admitting it with all his reforms, CEO's, kumitati etc. etc.
The only difference is that when the PN is in trouble, it always has a capable leader at hand to get it out of trouble and face the challenge.

Toni PAce

Oct 19th 2008, 17:33

to J Bonello:-

Dr Musct, from the opposition already went to Libya to get cheap oil. He is DOING something. He is showing initiative, which the goverment lacks.

PN has been in government for 2 decades now, and they left the problem to over boil. Now because of them we have to endanger thousands of jobs!!

Hallina habieb;

Jimmy Sammut

Oct 19th 2008, 17:33

@vincent magro
Errm sorry, but on which studies are you basing your facts and building your argument? Wind farming is not THE solution, cause otherwise everyone would use them and bye bye problems. However these do not come cheap plus this technology is in its infancy stage so to say, and Prim's statement on Xarabank can hardly be taken seriously. Its just cheap talk to impress ppl and gain some applause. Prim's argumentation should have been more complete and built over the knowledge that such a wind farm will ONLY cater for 4% of our needs. Plans extending into 2010 should be more elaborate and serious, since by then Smart City is supposed to start functioning. This is a panic situation for gov. cause when he had the time and resources he did not invest wisely into adopting what many pointed out, including AD. I agree that he has to go...his time is up...even though this fact is hard for him and his followers to swallow. For the good of Malta, I think that he will do just that, however.

Godwin Pullicino

Oct 19th 2008, 17:29

It seems that a lot of people responding to this article seem to think that energy rates should be decimated just like that. The truth is that no government has reduced oil prices yet, simply because it takes time for the markets to respond to a fall in commodity prices. In the UK, it is only this week we saw a very small decline in the price of petrol by a few retailers, some have yet to respond. Gas and electricity prices are still very high despite the decline in the price of oil in recent weeks. In fact, the price of gas, although linked to the value of oil, has yet to decline in cost in real terms. Moreover, people should bear in mind that many companies, for instance airlines, and governments will have bought/hedged oil when it was at $120-$150 per barrel. Therefore, until that stock is utilised, prices for energy will remain high but will start falling sooner rather than later - it is a slow process.Therefore, working through simple mathematics, you cannot retail at a lower price than what you paid for the commodity in the first place.

Mnauel Micallef

Oct 19th 2008, 17:28

To M Farrugia:-

In no other country electricity is raised by 300% overnight (apart from Zimbabwe that is).

Paying for digital television is another thing; With these rises many employees are potentially going to loose their job!!! this goes beyond having a digital television at home!!!

Please don't try to smoothen this because your party is in trouble!

R.Gauci

Oct 19th 2008, 17:25

Il-wind farm se jibda jahdem bl-infieh tan-nies x'hin jircievu l-kontijiet dak li nesa jghid Dr.Gonzi!
Bilhaqq tinsiex dawk il-5 bozoz tal-kamin please !
Flimkien kollox possibli l-ahwa!!!

J.Bonello

Oct 19th 2008, 17:23

To all the commentators below - Just one question - How would Alfred Sant - or should we say Dr Muscat - have tackled the present situation? Less hot air and more meanging full suggestions, please.

m farrugia

Oct 19th 2008, 17:21

Come on guys, why all this fuss about prices of a gas cylinder and electricity rising? Prices of everything rise by time - hairdressers, cable tv, restaurants, foodstuffs. So how do we expect services provided by parastatal companies and govt to remain the same and be subsidised by taxpayers' money, especially at such a difficult time for the world economy? We should get our priorities right as a nation - we do not complain paying over 50 euros a month go get our Sport digital channel,, but we complain paying this amount for both electricity and running water in our homes.

John Grech

Oct 19th 2008, 17:19

@vincent magro
Int trid soluzzjoni minghandi? Xhini is soluzzjoni tieghek? Jaqaw l istess ta Gonzi? Li hu zgur huwa li ma tistax tfattar l affarijiet imbaghad titlob is soluzzjonijiet...jekk il kuntrattur li tqabbad biex jaghmillek ix xol fid dar ma jaghmlux sew, jew tara li ser iqaxrek haj, thallieh? Mela ejja nibdew min hemm...u btw tigix tghidli li mater dei ma kienx rip off ta...ghax nghidlek li kontijiet ma tafx taghamel siehbi.

vincent magro

Oct 19th 2008, 17:19

jista jsir wind farm fl-inhawi ta bejn had-dingli u fomm ir-rih?jekk wara EIA jinstab li possibbli,allura nonfqu inqas ghall impjant ta l-istess daqs propost fuq il-bahar jew bl-istess flus nghamlu impjant ikbar u niproducu aktar energija nadifa.

Bertu Taljana

Oct 19th 2008, 17:16

I take the posture which Gonzi have in this photo on two occassions:-

1. When I see a beautiful woman;

2. when I am drunk and I need to feel my way around.

I doubt Gonzi is doing this for the two reasons I gave above!

Jenny Borg

Oct 19th 2008, 17:12

@John Borg Galea
No he is not praying, he has turned himself into Lawrence Houdini..a descendent of Harry, the guy who died trying to trick his audience into believing that he can escape from a tank filled with water after being tied up. Hope we manage to open our eyes before the fatidical words "Sim Sala Bim".

Toni Pace

Oct 19th 2008, 17:10

Vincent MAGro hi x'soluzjoni tried???!!! Halli nghidlek:

Iz-zejt nizel inqas minn nofs il-prezz li kien u issa qieghed $70 il barrel. Ghallhekk bhal ma ghadejna snien li meta jghola z-zejt jaghmlina s-surcharge issa nistgha li jnehhi u jrahhas il-prezz mhux jghollieh!!!

Dik is-soluzjoni. Jew ghal-snin il-gvern kien qed jahbi problemi ikbar?!!!

X'qed naghmlu bil-flus li gejjien mill-EU? Ghaliex ma nibnux il-wind farm bieghhom flok ma nintaxxaw il-poplu? GHaliex ma nzelux B'Ghaddafi forsi jerggha jaghtina zejt bl'irhies bhal ma kein Jaghmel?

Taf xiex - il-PN qed issieb komda wisq li malli jsieb problema li holloq huqa stess jaqbad u jgholi il-prezz qisu n-nies saru tal-plastik.

vincent magro

Oct 19th 2008, 16:57

@ john grech
l-ezempju li gibt int ma tantx iregi.mhuwiex (like with like)ma nafx ghal xiex qed tirreferi tberbieq u hela ta flus.forsi l-bini ta mater dei?jew is-sussidji tit-tarzna?imma kien x'kien lanqas int ma ofrejt soluzjoni hlief forsi dik li jinbidel il-gvern.imma anke jekk jinbidel il-gvern min fejn se jigu l-flus ghall energija?jien bhalek nixtieq li ma jgholiex il-kont tad-dawl u fuq dan is-sit ga ktibt li lanqas jien ma naqbel mal kontijiet proposti imma lanqas jien ma tajt soluzzjonijiet.

John Borg Galea

Oct 19th 2008, 16:56

I was in the Same pose as the photo above this morning in mass
I was reciting . . . ."our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name....."

Is the man above invoking the help of our father as a last resort for our crisis?

Please don't take this too seriously, its just a joke!

manuel MIcallef

Oct 19th 2008, 16:55

PN used to say that we have to raise the electricity bills because the price of oil is up. Now the price of oil went down to $70 a barrel, so they should be talking of lowering the price not make it higher.

Did PN, 6 months ago before election, when the price was much higher, ever mention that if elected they will do this?

To me only people who live on the moon can continue to support this government.

Jenny Borg

Oct 19th 2008, 16:47

I appeal to parliamentary members making up the government side to force government to resign. If you really want to be remembered as being part of the government that brought the down fall on us all, then go ahead, but if u really want the best for Malta and for the people that elected you, then think twice. Please I beg of you force the government to resign. We cannot take anymore of this insulting and irresponsible behaviour. Gonzi is gambling with our future and with our children's future. BE RESPONSIBLE!!!!!

l Galea

Oct 19th 2008, 16:26

"the Prime Minister said that a system incentivising families who did not waste energy had to be found" BY telling them to go back to candle light? Remember the programme "zmien il-lampa u l-lampik?"

"tariffs had to be changed to reflect market fluctuations" So why are they not going to be lowered now that oil is less than half its previous price?

"and investment in alternative sources of energy had to be undertaken" Wakey wakey. Where have you and your party been during the last 20 years?

"sell any extra energy the farm might produce."
Is this a Lawrence Joke?

"the government was not ready to take the country to the brink of bankruptcy"
What do you call wasting Lm500 million left in Malta's coffer by the Labour Government in 1987 and contracting more than €4000 million debt?

"new jobs had been created and new factories had invested in Malta"
Do you mean left Malta? Tell it to the thousands who have lost their job are are about to Lawrence.

"The country was riding the waves"
Like the illegal immigrants? Then why are we being asked for sacrifices?

Lawrence April 1 Joke?

John Grech

Oct 19th 2008, 16:20

@vincent magro
Sewwa....mela ragel tal familja imur iberbaq u jahli kull ma jkollu, imbaghad jigi id dar, idur fuq il membri tal familja u jghidilom, isma irridu inbajdu id dar ta gahx diehel l ilma, min ser ihallas, ax jekk mux ser naghamlu ekk ser jaqa is saqaf...ekk sew ux? din serjeta ux? Jekk Gonzi ghandu kuxjenza socjali u huwa responsabli ta ghemilu, ghandu jirrezenja...u ma joghqodx ibella ir ross bil labra u jghid ghax il poplu tellghaw....il gideb ta qabel l elezjoni kien ghamad f ghajnejn in nies, jien wiehed minnhom...issa vera nafu kemm ghandu idejh sodi l onerevoli..ghax jekk jibqa jiggverna ser ifarrakna.

vincent magro

Oct 19th 2008, 16:05

hadt gost naqra il-kummenti ta ghawn taht imma jien ma rajtx soluzzjonijiet minghand hadd.nixtieq nara kummenti li mhux biss jghidu li t-tariffi m'ghandomx ikunu daqs kemm qed jipproponi l-gvern imma min se jhallas ghall parti l-ohra.liema progett m'ghandiex nghamlu jew liema servizz socjali ghandna nnaqsu biex jghamel tajjeb ghad-differenza fl-ispiza ta l-energija.

A.Coppini

Oct 19th 2008, 15:58

@Noel Cutajar
clarification: when he says "21,000 families", it doesn't mean that Enemalta will pick 21,000 families and stick a cable from the wind farm to their house, it just means that the wind farm would have the power capacity equivalent to the load of 21,000 homes. It will be connected to the grid and the load will be shared with the existing power stations (presumably with the wind farm being given more priority).

@DGC
I agree it is hasty of Gonzi to speak about speeding up when the EIA has not been done yet, but although I am not learned enough to reach any conclusions, I cannot see how a wind farm -even if it was onshore- might be of detriment to the environment. Anyone who has seen and touched a windfarm abroad will tell you the technology is a marvel of engineering. After all, our farming ancestors had been using the power of the wind for centuries!

L.Theuma

Oct 19th 2008, 15:56

Will the Prime Minister tell how many Maltese people lost thousands of Euros with Lehman Brothers and the amount lost? Maltese Banks can easily supply him with all required data.
After all, they are maltese money. What did he do? Did he make pressure on the American gevernment to withstand with this bank ?

F. Black

Oct 19th 2008, 15:42

Talking about the present hurricane which was brought about by the greedy, selfish
corrupt and so called politicians of today which together with all the fat cats around
knew all along that with all this uncontrolled and do as you like 'modern' way of doing
politics are all to blame.
What about the hurricane of the seventies where oil not only shot up in price but was
impossible to buy and if it was'nt for the then prime minister Mr. Mintoff with his
excellent skills Malta would have suffered terribly.

Joe Buttigieg

Oct 19th 2008, 15:42

What a farce. Everything is higher than our european partners (sic). Laurence says that prices are going up everywhere, when they go up. But never says prices are coming down when they start coming down. Petrol prices in the UK went down by 6p a litre at the pumps this week. About the energy tariffs, if Laurence says that we have to put up prices like our european partners (again sic). How about adopting the system which has been going for many years in europe?. The Off Peak tariffs. When you have cheaper energy prices consumed between 6pm and 6am. No, we only adopts methods that bring misery to the citizens.

TONY PISANI

Oct 19th 2008, 15:30

are gonzi and austin of the same party ?

who read the last article that austin wrote on the times he states that out country is running after time cause the goverments before this never took this problem seriously .

Sorry , can anyone tell who where the goverments before him ?

Sorry can anyone tell us who was in charge of enemalta for the last years ?

sorry can anyone tell us what the hell do they speak about in the cabinet meetings ?

Sorry , is Gonzi the new KMB ?

does he think that we do not have brains?

Vincent Mercieca

Oct 19th 2008, 15:19

I gave up believing Lawrence.
I shall do like St Thomas whenever he says something.

Charles DeMicoli

Oct 19th 2008, 15:12

The proposed windfarm will generate approximately 4% of Malta's power needs. How do we expect to sell extra energy from the windfarm to the european grid via the cable to Sicily?

Noel Cutajar

Oct 19th 2008, 14:52

@DCG - you took my words from my keyboard!! I agree completly with what you wrote...secondly, if there will be enough power for 21,000 families what would be the criteria to have these persons making use of such source? Would they pay less since it is fossil-free form of energy. Why sell the excess? Why not transfer it to some other families?

The surcharge is at 95% (to be further increased and disguised as one tariff in the coming weeks) when the oil price is at 65 dollars...why is the surcharge still high? Again, it really shows the financial crisis we are in. The idea of PAR IDEJN SODI has a more of a resemblance of a Parkinson's disease with all the trembling once we start receiving the utility bills. GOnziPN thanks for the free ride.

albert roberts

Oct 19th 2008, 14:30

Lawrence is taking us for a ride once again .

Does he know that his party has been there for 20 years ? About time .

now that Joe is mentioning the problem , he is trying to patch up . I would invite everybody to watch the speeches made in the general coference of the pn . They hi lighted with a big letter that allthe pn supporters are sons of a better god . They are the heroes of this country and they expect that they rule the world

all this means one thing - ARROGANCE