Decision on tariffs 'in coming days'

A final decision on the new utility tariffs will be taken "in the coming days", the Cabinet decided yesterday after discussing the government's proposals in detail.

In a statement, the government said Cabinet had discussed the new water and electricity tariffs as well as the feedback of the social partners sitting on the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech and Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said gave presentations to the other ministers.

Over the weekend, Dr Gatt had held several meetings with representatives of the MCESD organisations.

The government said it will also be deciding what investments it needs to make for the economy to move forward in view of the current international crisis.

The government also denied reports that Dr Gatt last week told MCESD members that consultations on the tariffs were closed. What he had said was that the meeting was the last one to deal with the tariffs.

The Times last week quoted General Workers' Union general secretary Tony Zarb saying that Dr Gatt had led them to believe the government's latest proposal was final.

Mr Zarb said on Thursday that when the social partners had asked to meet again to discuss their reactions to the government's proposal, Dr Gatt said: "Clearly, there is nothing to comment about and the government will implement what was presented..."

Contacted by this newspaper on Friday, Dr Said said, "nothing is cast in stone", adding that the government was ready to listen to further opinions.

However, the government yesterday insisted there was no difference between what Dr Gatt and Dr Said had said.