Utility tariffs: AD calls for national protest

albert leone ganado

Oct 29th 2008, 22:49

I would have expected that a so called green party such as AD claims to be would have put as its first priority educating maltese households on how to save energy.

With very little effort I managed to cut down my home consumption by almost 40%. In the process I hardly felt any change to my standard of living , nor has my level of comfort been affected in any significant way. In the process I saved tonnes of CO2 emissions besides leaving hundred of euros in my pocket.

Certainly AD has gone down quite a number of notches in my esteem after their statement which effectively ignores energy waste ( electricity consumption in Malta has been going up by about 8% per annum) brought about by having some of the cheapest tariffs in europe.

N.Azzopardi

Oct 29th 2008, 21:52

@I.Galea
Hedging is good when you do it with your own money, and not with the taxpayers money. Hedging is a gamble, and no serious government has the right to gamble with the taxpayers coffeurs. Also for you to note the minority is the MLP, that's why they are in the opposition. Thank God we have GonziPN when the whole world is passing through all this turmoil,otherwise I don't know what would have happened. Maybe another Iceland ??????

Marcello C. Savona

Oct 29th 2008, 19:14

@kieth Davis...

are you an Austin Gatt supporter or what.....
money for subsidies comes out of the governments pocket... ie your taxes.... you also pay for inefficiencies at enemalta, or when someone does a mistake and buys oil at a high price.
The problem here is that I cannot change supplier, becuase I am truly not happy with the current supplier, let alone the NEW PRICES!!!!

l Galea

Oct 29th 2008, 18:03

N.Azzopardi
Your Gonzipn Government is a totally arrogant MINORITY Government because it is not only disregarding all the people and NGOs but is doing exactly the opposite of what other governments in the erst of the world are doing.
Of course hedging is good, but you have to be good at choosing the correct time to buy not buying when the oil was at its highest.
What the Gonzipn MINORITY Government has done shows its incompetence beyond any shadow of doubt.
Do you want Malta to continue to have an incompetent MINORITY Gonzipn Government to totally destroy Malta?
If you do we don't.

N.Azzopardi

Oct 29th 2008, 18:01

@Claire Bonello
Yes in Sant's time the oil was $12 a barrel. You should try to apply for Minster of Finance and I guarantee that you get Malta bankrupt in few months.

N.Azzopardi

Oct 29th 2008, 17:56

@I. Galea
Keep hoping for new elections. Yes you are right. The elections will be in 4 + years. Be patient and wait. By the way. It seems that you have forgotten that up till a few months ago the MLP leader was howling about hedging. Hopefully next orders for fuel will cost less.

Claire Bonello

Oct 29th 2008, 16:44

Oh what fun - E Gatt has popped out of the woodwork to join Keith Davis in praising the PN government for having allowed the situation to get out of hand and to increase utilities prices simply to make up for Enemalta inefficiencies and its lack of resources in alternative energy over the years. It's funny how things change - 10 years ago, the Nationalists were screaming blue murder because Sant increased the rates (remember the boxxla socjali?) - now they're telling everybody to buck up and put up with the situation

Phil Press

Oct 29th 2008, 15:38

Why no install a key meter, in every household. Where you recharge the key, as needed. Therefore No One get's a subsidy. It is done in other European countries to help the needy??.
Another benifit, no meter readers and no ESTIMATES!!.

ray mangion

Oct 29th 2008, 15:32

@ keith Davies

Well done Keith! You have just shown your true colour. Maybe you are quite well off and don`t mind paying anything extra. So in your opinion it is ok for the government to put up utility tariffs overnight and if the government does what was suggested by me that wages should come up at the same percentage, you think there will be bankruptcies? it hurts doesn`t it? Have you thought that people too can go bankrupt and lose their home if their wages do not match up with the ever increasing taxes? Companies reap their rewards and make huge profits when the going is good, but when there is a crunch, they have a choice and cut down on labour, The general puplic does not have a choice. Wake up man.

Andrea Vella

Oct 29th 2008, 14:07

@Keith Davis
I can understand your point (slightly) but answer me this. When the price of oil goes up, fair enough, so does the fuel. However when it goes down, the fuel doesn't! Isn't that extra revenue for the gov. What happens to that money. Don't try to tell me about surplus fuel bought at a certain price it's all bull. In other EU countries the price fluctuates with the cost. Currently the price of petrol in Holland is 1.39 euros, in Malta it is 1.19 euros. 20 euro cents less considering their wages and ours is a total and utter disgrace. Or do you think that is fair of the gov. too? Any well done here as you seem to know so much?

l Galea

Oct 29th 2008, 13:19

malcolm seychell
Joseph Muscat was on Super 1 at 1235 and is getting the people ready for mass protests against the MINORITY Government arrogance.
People get ready.
You will shortly have your chance to show the MINORITY Government that we are fed up with its arrogance.
We want a NEW ELECTION NOW

Antoine Grima

Oct 29th 2008, 13:11

This is what happens when you get the same party in government for so long . I am not saying that it is the wrong choice , but politicians become greedy and arrogant . It;s happened before , it is happening again . WHO SUFFERS ????????? The working class people suffer , because they struggle to make ends meet. I agree , we should show our disgust at these newly imposed tariffs by protesting and striking if needs be , then maybe the government will remember who put him there in the first place .

E Gatt

Oct 29th 2008, 13:11

So AD, the “Green” party now want to protest against realistic utility rates.

What are they proposing? Subsidies to create an illusion of lower costs and consequently increase consumption and income tax? What about the increased carbon emissions that subsidies would result in?

AD’s environmental origins are clearly become a distant memory as their political frustration takes hold. It is also not surprising that pointless protests is all that Prof Cassola can up with after flirting unsuccessfully with Italy’s Left.

D.MANGION

Oct 29th 2008, 13:00

The government is saving at least 20millions a year from subsidies no longer given to the drydocks. He's also saving millions of subsidies previously given to Air Malta. .He will be saving millions from subsidies now being given to enemalta cum its gas division.

All these subsidies used to come from our pockets. So the equation should tell you that, the government does not need to dig so deep in our pockets any longer.

Yet the obscene utility tariffs show exactly the opposite.

When are we going to see the fruit of the governments' savings from subsidies that are no longer given. Maybe in the last year before next elections?

Yet ...we are just reaping what we have sown. Had PN or MLP needed a coaltion with AD in order to govern, this is where it would have all stopped. Profs Cassola is showing it here and now. AD would have voted against these obscene utility tariffs, and GonziPN would have been forced to re-think.

Hopefully by next elections all Maltese people would learn how to re-think.

Keith Davis

Oct 29th 2008, 12:57

@Marcello ...what extra money? The money will go to pay energy costs whereas before it was being subsidised therefore difference was paid by different taxes.

Alex Ellul

Oct 29th 2008, 12:54

The problem has three sections, namely:

1. Enemalta
2. OPEC
3. Free lunches

All three have to end.

George Attard

Oct 29th 2008, 12:53

keith you are not reading my msgs right! do you believe that this problem cropped up in the last few days? where was PN govt when it all started years back? why wasn't any action taken then? why did PN critisised MLP when they were taking corrective measures way back in '96? when will we enjoy the reduced present cheap oil prices...when?

joe deidun

Oct 29th 2008, 12:52

The Government's decision to impose the new water and electricity tariffs may be nothing but a demonstrative and crystal-clear exercise of ineptitude. Due to this reason, I fully concur with the Government's decision to raise the tariffs because there seems to be very limited alternatives and factual creative resources (not artificial) to help the country overcome its financial burdens.

michael fenech

Oct 29th 2008, 12:44

The only way this government (and others to come) is going to solve this problem of high bills (tariffs) and other taxes is by introducing PROPERTY TAX.

In order to make it fear for all citizens your HOME,YOUR RESIDENCE will be TAX FREE, any other property that one owns should be taxed according to it's value.

With a property tax system the government will STOP OR SLOW speculation, solve the problem of vacant property and at the same time make housing affordable again.

Marcello C. Savona

Oct 29th 2008, 12:41

So the government decides to stop paying subsidies for electricity/water usage from our taxes.. fair enough subsidies should be there for investment.
Are we going to get this money back in tax refunds or should we all start deducting this ourselves from the taxes we pay :)
What does the government have planned for use with this extra money???
the roads are worse than what they have been for ages....

malcolm seychell

Oct 29th 2008, 12:38

Are the MLP already dead?

What are they waiting to do something.

First we had Joseph Muscat saying the illegal immigration pact was not good for malta.

Azzjoni Nazzjonali organized a protest about this pact. Joseph did not attend

Now everyone is against these new utility tariffs, and we need Arnold Cassola to ask for a demonsration.

'Vera terremot ghamel fl-ewwel ftit xhur'

Keith Davis

Oct 29th 2008, 12:21

@George/Claire/Ray
Then lets ask the government to give out energy for free because you and many non logical people are requesting that we do not pay higher tariffs!

Just one question, can any bright person from the social partners or maybe profs Arnold Cassola tell us from where we should pay our energy consumption then?!

Easy to moan and grumble, but not easy to find REAL solutions!

@Ray mangion, yes well said, the governement should impose private companies to double people's wages so in two days they can call branktrupsy and everyone starts registering for unemplyment benefits. Come on be real !

George Attard

Oct 29th 2008, 12:12

keith/joe lets not show our colours for this is a national problem. i am not saying that we should subsidise people who waste....but i WILL NOT subsidise inefficiancy either. after all if ALL parties are against these hefty tariffs, govt cannot be right.

Claire Bonello

Oct 29th 2008, 12:10

@ Keith Davis. You congratulate the government for making tough decisions. It seems to have escaped your notice that the current energy crisis has been brought about to a large extent by the present government (in office for the past 20 years) which has done close to nothing with regard to the incentives, research, energy saving initiatives you mentioned.

Anthony Formosa

Oct 29th 2008, 12:07

Well I thought that the protests were something of the past, at least this what all parties and the general public were saying when we hunters and trappers wanted to protest against the government dictatorial measures, and against the unkept promises. The par idejn sodi are on everyone, yesterday was me today is you.

Keith Davis

Oct 29th 2008, 11:58

At last the government is taking the tough decisions in the national interest! Subsidies on consumption is breaking the nation with huge debts in the long term. Tax funds should never go for subsidies but these should go for incentives, research, energy saving initiatives and to further improve the island's development. Only those declared most vulnerable should be granted subsidies from our taxes and not everyone across the board as has been practice in the past. Well done!

ray mangion

Oct 29th 2008, 11:56

If this government is going to increase the tariff for utility bills he should raise all wages and salaries by the same percentage. It is ridiculous that we have to keep on paying astronomical bills, which now the taxation is much higher than what households use, without saying a word. we all have a choice and it is time to rise up to the opportunity and do something about it. There is a huge imbalance between what an employee earns and what each of us have to pay in taxes. It`s not on. if nothing is done, then the government will keep on doing it.

J.Borg

Oct 29th 2008, 11:42

Why wait for any party to take heed.....

Everyone should spread the word on when a peaceful demonstration is going to be held and everyone meet for this protest....

joe cassar

Oct 29th 2008, 11:41

Should we subsidise those who live in luxury at the expense of the common earners. Subsidies only help those who abuse. Lets be sensible, and not just pospone the problem for a few years. Who has a better idea please come forward.

joanne scerri

Oct 29th 2008, 11:33

i think we should unite all of us and all parties in question should raise one voice and force this goverment to take off these tariffs .

this goverment should stop being arrogant with tax payers .

George Attard

Oct 29th 2008, 11:32

by the way....'it tarka tal haddiem' are going to take a solid stand on this? they should show that they mean what they say.

George Attard

Oct 29th 2008, 11:30

well done....but if the social partners don't take the initiative, AD should lead themselves! will be behind you.