Updated: PM willing to meet unions on tariffs

lgalea

Nov 17th 2008, 07:44

albert leone ganado
Good, but the subsidies are there because with the wages and salaries that we have in Malta they would not otherwise be affordable. So do away with the subsidies, but increase the wages and salaries, and we must also not forget the pensioners, to make good for the removal of the subsidies. That's the minimum requirement to at least maintain the same standard of living which is continuously being eroded to the extent that either you are extremely rich or poor.

J Martinelli
"The NP always had the luxury of choosing from more capable individuals than the MLP ever had. Think about it and compare!"

That clearly explains why we are presently in such a dire situation!

Paul Zammit

Nov 16th 2008, 21:06

May I offer my suggestion about the new domestic tariffs. Introduce a new sheme wherby those households who consume less than the average(which is around 1500), say less than 1000 units per year are given a discount of 50%, and those who use between 1000 and 1200units are given a discount of 25%, This sheme will incentivise energy saving, and will eradicate waste.

J Martinelli

Nov 16th 2008, 20:06

@ M Buhagiar

Notwithstanding your claims that we have a 1/2 PM and a 1/2 AG, put together the answer is 1.

The MLP's formula still works out to one big fat zero and that's throwing in the two deputy leaders..

The MLP apologists' problem is that sometimes they accuse the NP as having two captains, Dr. Gonzi and Dr. Gatt and at other times that we have two halves. Can you make up your mind?

The NP always had the luxury of choosing from more capable individuals than the MLP ever had. Think about it and compare!

vincent magro

Nov 16th 2008, 19:33

jiena nifhem li il-gvern ghandu spiza ghall-energija u minn x'imkien irid jigbora.
sa llum ghadni ma fhimtx il-unions x'iridu ezatt,jigifieri minn fejn se tigi dik il-parti ta l-ispiza
li huma jriduha tmur f'sussidju.jien izda ghandi suggeriment li nixtieq nitfghu ghad- diskussjoni.
persuna wehidha jkollha 2500kv fis-sena.
2persuni jkollhom 3500kv
3persuni 4500kv
4persuni 5500kv
5persuni 6500kv fis-sena u r-rati ta dan l-ammont jibqghu kif kienu qabel iz-zieda mhabbra.
minn dak l-ammont sa 500kv aktar ghall kull persuna jizdiet b'20%
it-tieni 500kv aktar ghall kull persuna jizdiet b'40%,it-tielet 500kv b60%,ir-raba bi 80% u il-kumplament b'100% ta l-ammont li konna nhalsu sa settembru.jien nemmen li dan ikun verament incentiv li jista jhalli rizultati ghall kullhadd,min juza bil-ghaqal se jhallas l-istess,
min jahli aktar se jhallas ghalieh u l-gvern jigbor kemm hemm bzonn ghall-ispiza kollha.
din tkun sistema li tohrog mill-gustizzja naturali fejn, minnhabba l-gid komuni, jithallas prezz differenti ghall-istess servizz minn persuni li juzawh aktar.

Byron Camilleri

Nov 16th 2008, 19:22

about time!!!

P.Schembri

Nov 16th 2008, 19:11

@C. Galea. What we didn't realise then, is that we were living in a fool's paradise! Now that paradise has turned into living hell!

j. cassar

Nov 16th 2008, 18:51

May i remind all you readers what Hon. Misister Austin Gatt said about the surcharge. "Do not expect the surcharge to go down unless oil prices are less then $82. Well, now that oil price is well below that i believe surcharge should go down, and under NO CIRCUMSTANCES go up.

May i also remind you of a Maltese saying, "Vapur b'zewg kaptani ma jimxix" So Please decide who the Prime Minister is, Dr. Gonzi or Dr. Gatt?????

albert leone ganado

Nov 16th 2008, 18:32

At last the tariff debate seems to start being chanelled along the right direction and which could form the basis of agreement by all the social partners namely

(1) that the principle that subsidies must be eliminated must be agreed to

(2) that a more scientific study is needed to establish a reference figure for a fair normal consumption of households.

(3) that in view of the fortunate circumstance of continuing current decrease in oil prices a recalculation of tariffs is justified.

fredmallia

Nov 16th 2008, 18:21

what type of consultation gonzipn+gatto are offering? their way take it or leave it but we impose - pls gonzipn+gatto stop joking

Mike Farrugia

Nov 16th 2008, 18:12

The Government should, as a compromise, establish a level of usuage deemed necessary for a family of four. Then charge this usuage at 61% surcharge. Any usage above this threshold will be charge at a much higher level. This way Mr. Gonzi's claim that the people cannot be allowed to waste energy will come true.

lgalea

Nov 16th 2008, 18:09

Do you call running around in a new Jaguar guzzling petrol normal, sensible and careful economical usage or blatant wastage Agostino Pio?

M.Buhagiar

Nov 16th 2008, 17:11

I wonder whether Prime Minister 1/2 Austin Gatt will let Prime Minister 1/2 Wenzu Gonzi meet the unions or will it be another QASSATA like the one of the W &E rates being back dated from the 1st of October ??!!!

Everybody listened to what Mr. Par Idejn Sodi said on Xarabank and what actually happened 2 days after !!

No wonder the people are asking who is running the Country!!

Vincent Galea

Nov 16th 2008, 17:08

If we are so smart, so knowlegeable, so capable of learning from past mistakes of history, then why do things seem worse to-day than they were before ? Why aren't they better.The truth is there are simply too many examples of how we are wreaking the world. We continue to do selfish things.If we are all so clever- and assume we are- why haven't we figured this all out and done something about it.
After consulting for advice for my ill health due to my lavish living ;is the doctor or the boy scout, who is good on first aid, to blame ?

C Galea

Nov 16th 2008, 15:51

Dear All

Leave it to the people who so far has led this litle island of ours up to the standard we presenly live in. Admittedly some do really require a little push to retain the pace with the rest of society and the the government has vouched his obligation to do so.

Change in mentality and custom is hard to accept but reality prevails sooner or later. This resourceless little nation must now defeniltley stand up and face the truth of the international energy crises. Time is up to continue hiding behind subsidy warps of everything that is essential. And energy is no exception. People must now learn how to econimise and I think this budget was a positive way forward to this direction. Let there be faith away from political egos. I am sure that the PM has the courage to amend any policies if so required.

Dusty William

Nov 16th 2008, 14:26

If it was the eve of a general election I'd say the government would find a way to please all parties but since the election is still a long way to go there will be no agreement. Fingers crossed

M.Bezzina

Nov 16th 2008, 13:29

U turn or not I appreciate that the PM has accepted again to meet the unions.The important thing now is that they find a solution of how the tariffs will be adjusted properly and not adjusted only to meet the Enemalta irresponsabilities.
If the PM decideds not to move from his decisions taken then increase the salaries because we cannot carry out this burden!For me its not a problem to pay unless all salaries in Malta meet those with cost of living!!A thing that its not equal with that of the EU places!!Because here taxes are imposed but then salaries remains the same!!

apgrech

Nov 16th 2008, 13:27

I don'[t think the PM needs to preach to people to conserve energy. I'm sure many are because the rates are way too high.

I just hope that he starts respecting the intelligence of the people. The proposed rate is legal cheating. He knows that it will put more people in the poor level category but I feel that he simply does not care.

We need a break and not a raise in w & e rates. Things are not so smooth and life is becoming more and more difficult.

alfred agius

Nov 16th 2008, 13:24

Will minister Austin Gatt arrive for the meeting on his bike, in an electric driven vehicle or in a brand new Jaquar that oozes petrol, thus wasting precious fuel.

Should have the PM , in the present circumstances, over ruled Austin`s request to procure the Jaguar or is it a case of doublefaced politics. Let Jack the plumber carry the burden of Austin`s Jaguar, as if we`re not already OVERBURDENED enough by the exagerated tariffs and also need to be led by EXAMPLE.

Paula Chetcuti

Nov 16th 2008, 13:20

Is this the same Gonzi who said:

"MELA AHNA QATT IRTIRAJNA XI HAGA?!!!"

joe zammit

Nov 16th 2008, 13:14

hawwadni ha nifhem

John A. Azzopardi

Nov 16th 2008, 13:13

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
I agree wholeheartedly that waste, of whatever nature, is deplorable and should be controlled, and contained. I was born in an era when we were constantly reminded "Waste not, want not" and that saying is still as strong now as it was 50 years ago.
However, the issue is about the definition of the threshold. Where, when does waste begin. We are constantly reminded by the incubent government that we have a high living standard, and compared with some countries that is an undeniable fact.
But a high living standard means that the threshold between "normal usage" and waste is also relatively high.
So please keep the threshold at an intelligent, reasonable and relative level to our standard of living.

g.c.Forte

Nov 16th 2008, 11:44

Is this a "U" turn ??? Which Prim Minister is going to attend Dr. GonziPn or Dr.Austin Gatt, anyway good luck and my the Lord helps you find a good solution for the benefit to every body