Christian Peregin
Extra charge for sewage possible
The Malta north sewage treatment plant, which started operating at the end of September, was meant to have been completed in 2007. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.
Taxpayers will soon have to fork out an additional tariff to cover the full cost of sewage services; ominous news for those worrying about the recent rise in water and electricity rates.
Worse news is that water users might have to pay extra due to EU-imposed deadlines that the government has missed. Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt confirmed last week that a sewage tariff would be introduced from next year, as the government comes in line with the EU's Water Framework Directive.
The directive gives EU countries a 2010 deadline to stop subsidising the collection, treatment and disposal of sewage. It calls for full-cost recovery from taxpayers.
The bulk of this cost is to treat sewage before it can be disposed of into the sea. This must be done through specialised plants that require millions of euros to be developed.
For the most part, the construction of such facilities is meant to be paid for by the EU but Malta has already missed several deadlines and is running the risk of being fined and losing the funds altogether. In that case, the taxpayers will also have to pay for the investment rather than just the running costs and operations.
The deadline for the construction of the plants was last year but so far only two small sewage treatment plants were built: one in Gozo and one for the north of Malta.
A third, which will cater for the south, was planned for what is now the SmartCity site in Ricasoli, so these plans had to change, delaying the construction considerably. It has been relocated to Ta' Barkat, Żabbar and this shift may result in a larger cost than planned.
The Sunday Times revealed last May that the EU was threatening to withhold the funds due to the delays.
"All three projects had to be completed by March 2007. The Gozo plant was inaugurated only last January, the one at Ċumnija in Mellieħa is still under construction and the south plant has not even started being built. This is very serious and we are considering taking action, including withholding some or all of the EU funds dedicated to this project," sources close to the European Commission had said.
However, a spokesman for the Infrastructure Ministry said that Malta was "not too late" and that funds for the first two plants were secured while negotiations were ongoing for part-financing of the third plant.
This plant is estimated to cost €57 million and according to the spokesman works are in their initial stages. The plant is expected to be completed within an 18-month timeframe.
He added that it was too early to speculate on the rates of the tariffs, adding that a detailed analysis was under way.
According to hydrologist and environmentalist Marco Cremona, the sewage tariff may be substantial, especially if taxpayers must make up for lost EU funds. He said that, in some European countries, the sewage tariff is even higher than the cost of potable water. But this may not necessarily be the case for Malta because a significant amount of potable water comes from expensive reverse osmosis plants and not from rivers and lakes, as is the case in mainland Europe.
Mr Cremona pointed out that, since the government will not be investing in infrastructure to reuse the treated sewage, the tariffs will only cover the cost of treating the sewage for disposal into the sea.
He predicted that another tariff will eventually be introduced to cover the cost of waste collection and disposal and treatment of solid waste, something the government is subsidising.
The government was investing heavily in solid waste infrastructure, such as landfills and waste treatment plants, through EU funds but the taxpayers would eventually have to pay for their running and maintenance costs, Mr Cremona noted.
"The situation with the Water Services Corporation and WasteServ is no different from that of Enemalta and I expect a similar uproar from consumers and social partners when they are faced with these new tariffs. Unfortunately, the government is keeping everybody in the dark on these issues. There is no discussion or consultation taking place," he concluded.
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84 Comments
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Mark Piscopo
Dec 8th 2008, 08:28
An Extra charge for sewage will be the maximum of taxes possible in this island.The new utility tariffs which will drastically increase , the new car circulation tax, apart that we have the lowest wages in Europe.How can we survive with the introduction of and Extra charge for sewage. Monthly we have to pay our home loans also apart from the daily expenses. The cost in fuel in Malta also had a drastic increase.Honestly to say that my family friends and I are suffering and hope that there will be one big voice to stop the government from introducing all these taxes.
Chris Ripard
Nov 26th 2008, 23:35
Dear Mr Pace, you mentioned joining the EU and I simply pointed out that it would have been disastrous for Malta had the NO vote won (really won, that is, not as per Dr Sant's outer space fantasy reasoning).
As for "failing dismally", well, I guess you'd know all about that (1981/1987/1992/1998/2003x2/2008)- so I bow to your superior knowledge and experience there and accept your expert judgement!!
David Gatt
Nov 26th 2008, 21:47
Flimkiien kollox possibli
Charles Zammit
Nov 26th 2008, 20:59
charles j zammit who told you to associate yourself with me. and as for calling other people names without even knowing them, i do not know what the likes of you qualify for in this world of me being holier than thou.
Mattias Agius
Nov 26th 2008, 19:22
some time ago i remember gonzi pn accusing the labour government on extra charges for sewage. not to mention water and electricity bills. i also do recall that when labour added a minimal fee on medicine, all hell broke up....a month ago the curia acknowledged the fact that a minimal fee should be introduced on medicine. it is not the song but the singer......
philip pace
Nov 26th 2008, 18:25
To Mr Ripard,
Did I mention Iceland or Dr.Joseph Muscat in my blog?
I think that you have have to remove your ULTRA BLUE blinkers and be sensible in your defence of this Government.
You are trying to make a negative solution positive and you have failed dismally.
Remove your blinkers and re read my blog with clear glasses.
J Abela
Nov 26th 2008, 15:44
Ahem. One question, if I may, please.... will the tax be levied on the basis of the volume of what is deposited? Or the size?
As someone wrote, if I am constipated for a few days, can I claim exemption?
:-p
A. Mizzi
Nov 26th 2008, 12:54
As long as it is Gonzipn or the P.N. that proposes it and does it, it is acceptable by all.
Way back in 1997, it was quite another story altogether, but than the Malta Labour Party in power.
Two weigths two measures or just plain two faced Gonzipn.
J. Schembri
Nov 26th 2008, 12:43
Weren't we told that the sewage tax was included in the water tarrifs? There is a relation between water consumption and sewage outflow.
Go back to the drawing board, before you are kicked out Dr Gatt. No one likes these tactics.
Joe Galea
Nov 26th 2008, 12:24
taxes taxes taxes taxes and more taxes.........
The government should issue a competition for who comes up with a new tax idea, wins a Jaguar like GATT. He came up with a lot of TAXES ideas and he won himself a jaguar (paid by us).
.....and the salaries remain the same!!!!!
James Muscat
Nov 26th 2008, 12:09
Come on everyone.
Every time you do poooh and flush, just put 10 euros cents in a piggy bank, to save for the tax or tariff whatever...
or else don't flush at all...
E Gatt
Nov 26th 2008, 11:56
A few years ago, Malta together with around twenty other Mediterranean countries (not solely EU member states) signed an agreement acknowledging that the water in the Mediterranean Sea gets replaced every 80 years, that the pollution levels were alarmingly high and that this is having an adverse effect on the sea’s biodiversity and health of the people bordering the Med. An action plan was drawn up to combat pollution and one of the major requirements was to stop all untreated sewage entering the sea by 2005.
Malta did not meet the 2005 deadline but we are finally meeting our international commitments and building sewage treatment plants. We are doing this not to please some bureaucrat but because it should make sense to everyone that we need to look after our Sea. We would still have had to pay for the sewage plants whether we joined or remained out of the EU. Because we are now members, Malta can benefit from EU funds. Naturally we should get our act together and get as much financial help as possible, but remember even if we get €1, it would be €1 more than if we were not EU members.
M Xuereb
Nov 26th 2008, 09:00
"If the plant in the south had to be moved because of smart city, let the ones financing that pay for it."
Fair enough.
"These charges should have been imposed upon us by the government years ago. We still paid from them instead of directly indirectly through our taxes. Therefore we would expect a tax reduction...."
Makes sense.
"All the EU countries are giving their citizens loads of incentives to make sure they have some money left in their pockets to spend this Christmas season and in the coming months due to the credit crunch that will hit everyone, everywhere."
Let's be clear on this one: countries the world over are doing so not for charity, but to oil the economic wheel and keep it going. It's basic economics, yet we seem to be doing things in reverse.
"Can we make better economic use of the treated sewage than pour it back into the sea?"
Precisely. Or at least explain to us why not!
"Why is the construction of these sewage treatment plants late?....the Government has a lot to answer about this issue if it wants to be credible!" Yes, someone has to be accountable for this. And we're waiting.
ANTHEA PRESTON
Nov 26th 2008, 08:06
Now all you need is the council tax - which you pay on empty properties too incidentally (see Mr Morana's comments) and you will have caught up with us in Britain for the way we are charged for everything....... we in Britain have paid high sewage charges for years. The cost of the utilities alone gas, electric, phone, water (including sewage charges) and council tax take up 40% of my monthly wages and that is BEFORE mortgage payment! Mr Camilleri is right, I have commented on this site before, Maltese people, do something, stand up for yourselves. Take to the streets if you have to. Your beautiful island is predicted to be the most expensive piece of rock in the EU in a few years time.... a place that is merely a retirement venue for the rich.
Pierre Portelli
Nov 26th 2008, 08:01
One starts wondering...what do we, the employed, unmarried & salaried middle class, pay nearly 35% of our earnings in income tax for? Austin Gatt and the government talk as if subsidies are coming out of their personal pockets and not from the taxes we pay. If we are no longer to expect subsidised anything and as Mr. Gatt says everyone has to pull their weight; then what are these taxes being paid for? The answer is obvious to me but it would be nice to hear an official nonsense reply! :(
E Camilleri
Nov 25th 2008, 18:21
Why is it that after reaching this important milestone of having to treat sewage before dumping into the sea, now we expect that this will be free? Someone has to pay for running these plants, and paying from our taxes does not make sense.
I would further recommend that the charge is made proportional to the water consumed, to help encourage water conservation. However a large part of the treated water should be re-used where possible, at least by farmers, to minimise water table extraction.
And whilst we are at it, introduce a tax on detergents to minimise their use. These are poisoning our seas.
Muscat Pat
Nov 25th 2008, 17:51
How puerile can we get ? If the sewage tax comes from the MLP is stinks, if it comes from PN it is a fragrance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marco Cremona
Nov 25th 2008, 15:33
@ Rene Micallef
You are spot on re. wastewater recycling.
Check this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cfqLrzb5Ug
Alexander Morana
Nov 25th 2008, 14:37
Mike Magri, Land Tax/ Property taxes are in the works and they will not be long in coming... Don't you worry?
Do you think that all these unsold empty properties are not an attractive source of revenues for the government’s empty treasury?
joanna farrugia
Nov 25th 2008, 13:13
Mr.Antoine Vella you are wasting your time cos the Gonzipn gladiators only surfaced when alfred sant mentioned it during his 22months as a gov.until its their gov doing it its blessed from heaven.well maybe chris ripard may help you :) no one like to swim in s*** but mr ripard may i recall how many beaches where contaminated even before all this.its a pity tourists visit venice for the carnival if they come here they see it daily.
Chris Ripard
Nov 25th 2008, 12:19
@Philip Pace
To all those who voted NO in the EU Referendum, you were conned, duped, lied to and led astray.
Iceland (island with small population, like Malta) stayed out of the EU and the Euro, now, this former "Nordic Tiger" economy is shattered and they're BEGGING for EU aid and for IMF aid.
A certain Joseph Muscat gave it as his opinion that Iceland was better off outside the Eurozone a few years back, not surprisingly, he never mentions this!
Be serious, be objective and remove the blinkers.
C.R. Taliana
Nov 25th 2008, 10:55
As long as it isn't a Labour Government then it is ok. Ghax kieku holl xaghrek u gib iz-zejt!!!
henry galea
Nov 25th 2008, 10:27
Dr. Gonzi, one flop after an other, from were are you going to get money for oil drilling. If we start drilling it takes 25 years before a drop of oil reaches enemalta . So stop now and help the country from these problems. It's not time to invest in new projects. You already already over done it with EU funds and these have dead lines, that's why we in a mess. Knowing you country, nothing moves ahead unless a great tourmol is first cleared. The country was all united to enter the EU and the people were ready for the changes but you maid a Mess.You and the gange of theives were greedy, you tought you were God, to change the country in 5 years.
Antoine Vella
Nov 25th 2008, 09:45
Well , well , well ! Were are the Gonzipn gladiators that usually blog here???? Are you ashamed what is doing your adorable goverment under the reign of " par idejn sodi"?
I'm sorry for you people tht voted PN again , heaven on earth that was promised , will come to surface next four years like ,not that nice things that float in sewage , that we re going to pay for under Gonzi's goverment!
C.Portelli
Nov 25th 2008, 09:33
This government is constantly giving us more and more gifts......... oh yeah more taxes!!!!!!!
On a daily basis one has to be accountable for his actions and job, but it seems like its not the case for our ministers. If they are incompetent in reaching the targets set by the EU then Gonzi should remove them immediately and mean business. Malta joined the EU and instead of making use of the EU funds, the maltese population is just being taxed so hat the governement can pay back for the funds not used due to incompetence at the ministries........
Well done !!!!!!
philip pace
Nov 25th 2008, 08:06
To all those who voted YES to the EU referendum, you were conned, duped, lied to & led astray.
Any fool could clearly see that Malta was not ready to join Mount Olympus.
This is one of the many rewards.
Do you remember the little book full of drawings full of many IFs, the one with the maroon cover that was sent to each household about a fortnight before the referendum? I am sure that you threw it away in a fit of raging desperation when you discovered that you were tricked.
I kept mine to remember on how easy the YES voter sfell into the trap.
You were triply mypoic when you voted yes,
Unfortunately those who voted NO have to share this cancerous burden as well. For us there is damnation to live with and anger.
I'm sure that there shall be more taxes to follow to be revealed by a helpless wafer thin majority EU servile of a Government whose only way out of the Gordian mess is to resign.
The EU and our Government are providing us with a great future!
Well done.
Carry on with the show!
What's next?
Mike Magri
Nov 25th 2008, 07:39
It All Boils Down to One Thing.... THE COUNTRY IS SO MUCH DEEP IN THE S**T.... OOPS, IN THE RED, THAT WE MAY EASILY COMMERCIALLY CONSIDER IT AS BANKRUPT..
So don`t be surprised Guys, if more taxes are in the GonziPN mill for us, as I am almost sure, that before this legislature is over, we will have to have Land Tax too...!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saviour Sam Agius
Nov 25th 2008, 06:08
This is simply a case of double taxation. We're already paying taxes on everything we consume so why should the inevitable by-product of consumption be taxed as well? Is there any alternative which the government would like to show us in order to save on sewage? Would I pay less when constipated?
So Gonzi is not only reintroducing policies by Mintoff which many had frowned upon for many years, but he's also reintroducing Sant's now. Only those with a memory capacity of a goldfish would take him seriously.
Thank you very much.
Chris Ripard
Nov 25th 2008, 01:13
If I understand correctly, most of you would prefer to swim in s * * *, as long as it's free, right?
Can we agree that sewage treatment is necessary as a starting-point? How and who pays is still to be seen. One thing's for sure, whoever is in government, once introduced, sewage ttaxes will never be removed. As proof, look at what happened to National Insurance - Mintoff iincreased it from a few cents to 1/12 of one's income, not only was it not reduced, it was eventually increased as more social services (e.g. stipends, children's allowance for all etc) came onstream.
Contrary to some of my fellow commentators' belief, I too don't like paying taxes! But unfortunately, nothing is really free. Our choice is not whether we pay or not, it's whom do we trust to make better use of our money. And we make this choice (usually) every five years.
stephen camilleri
Nov 24th 2008, 23:05
Why on earth did we lose these funds,we are just puppets in this island with the elected party is doing what they want with the Maltese people,you would not do this in France or you get the whole country on the streets,people of Malta wake up and do something,both partyies have no interest in you or the country,they think they own this island who the hell do they think they are.
Sandro Galea
Nov 24th 2008, 22:39
What about adhering to EU legislation regarding car registration tax?
p.grima
Nov 24th 2008, 22:15
One must remember, though, that Dr. Alfred Sant introduced the drainage tax, and the hefty tariffs, BEFORE we were an EU member state. (in fact, he froze our application, remember.)
Alexander Morana
Nov 24th 2008, 21:44
@I Galea, the collection of a Malta general tax prior to Malta’s membership in the EU never collected enough to cover the costs of running the dockyards and the upkeep of the roads. Thus the deficits one administration ran after the other. This has nothing to do with Alfred Sant whether he was right or wrong in going against in joining the EU. Besides he made a U-turn and in 1997 he raised the tariffs on water and electricity.
So if he is presently the PM and kept Malta in the EU, I wonder what song and dance you would come out with regarding all these taxes?
Bear in mind that these were subsidies not taxes, covered yes by you and me - the taxpayers and now Brussels wants all these subsidies removed once and for all.
lgalea
Nov 24th 2008, 21:22
Joe Vella
Do you now also want to deny the truth Joe?
H Dempster
I have already made that suggestion, and even that we may soon be having cameras in bedrooms to pay tax for you know what. Guess then we will have to change rooms for you know what.
A.E.CAMILLERI
Nov 24th 2008, 20:05
So this is the heaven on earth we were promised before the E.U.referendum...only there was a slight misprint.....it should have read HELL on earth. I wonder after paying all these taxes, oops, tariffs would there be anything left to buy some sweets for the children ?
Joseph Borg
Nov 24th 2008, 20:02
Every Country deserves the goverment it elects so all i can say ENJOY . So Alfred sant was so crazy after all.
Charles J Zammit
Nov 24th 2008, 19:58
I must write and distance myself from Charles Zammit . I would not comment in such a rather rude manner or write such a load of garbage
laurence schembri
Nov 24th 2008, 19:24
Surely Tonio Fenech knew about the drainage tax before the budget. Why not a mention?
I did a couple of days past budget day in this very paper.
Am I in the wrong job?
Joseph Borg
Nov 24th 2008, 19:09
So once again ALFRED SANT was right!!!
As I always said he was "THE BEST PRIME MINISTER MALTA NEVER HAD"
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 24th 2008, 18:52
One has to point out that running expenses for projects, whether co-financed from EU funds or not, have to be borne by the local taxpayers. One should not expect to have other EU member states foot the bill for operating the projects. If somebody helps you to purchase a new house or a car, one does not expect the aid donor to bear the expenses for running and maintaining it. It's the same thing with big projects like sewage treatment plants. The Maltese are benefiting from EU aid to the extent of 75%, but they must bear the running expenses. As for loss of funds, this happens in all recipient countries. A project could be behind schedule for several reasons. One must keep in mind that the funds are received only when the project is under way. The aid recipient country has to incur the expense first and it is only then that requests for refunds are made and the money flows in..So any delays in the preparation of plans, awards of contracts, late starts, works behind schedule, processing of bills and settlement of progress payments have an effect on the reimbursement of funds. It's not a simple process
René Micallef
Nov 24th 2008, 18:04
"a significant amount of potable water comes from expensive reverse osmosis plants [...] since the government will not be investing in infrastructure to reuse the treated sewage, the tariffs will only cover the cost of treating the sewage for disposal into the sea."
Why are we not producing high-quality potable water from the plants, and pumping it back into the mains, as many big cities do (London, for example)? Are we paying double for being finicky?
We should have built treatment plants not reverse osmosis plants to start with, and spent a fraction of the money on a public awareness campaign, stating that water + sewage - sewage = water! (and that water + sewage + chlorine is not equal to pure water!... we drank alot of that before the reverse osmosis plants were built!). Unfortunately, past governments may have lacked guts to propose such an option, and nobody protested. Let us be grown ups now and face reality. We live on an arid island, surrounded by an already polluted sea ... if we don´t want to recycle water...
In any case, can we make better economic use of the treated sewage than pour it back into the sea?
Ludwig Caruana
Nov 24th 2008, 17:43
@Michael Fenech
Seems like the likes of the Martinellis, the Boccas and the Daphnes are all hibernating in their shells today. I don't blame them cause how can any sane being justify another tax to make up for the Government's gross inefficiencies?
deb bugeja
Nov 24th 2008, 17:40
I am not against Malta entering as a EU member. but frankly the PN promised us a bed of roses only now to find we have to obey certain EU rules which the PN knew about but did not mention them. Now the worker has to be skinned alive out of their pockets to pay for these tariffs.
Having such crisis with jobs is everyones worries whose jobs are at stake. Those working in factories and private entities are frantically worried as their flow of work is decreasing.
Increases in water and electricity tariffs
increases in car liscenses
Increase in gas cylinders
Increase in cost of living
Charges for sewage
What else now??
michael fenech
Nov 24th 2008, 17:31
I always said that the only problem with Dr.A.Sant is, that he is to politically advanced for Malta.
Ten years ago he saw the need to have a sewage tax,10 years ago he saw the need to introduce 50cents on free prescriptions drugs,and also he saw the need to introduce W/E tariffs.
That's how far ahead Dr.Sant was looking,if these (than) small taxes were introduced 10 years ago, Malta would not be in the MASS it is to-day.
.
charlie cauchi
Nov 24th 2008, 17:22
allura poplu hekk hemm bzonn u hekk ser issir
Albert Gauci Cunningham
Nov 24th 2008, 16:45
Ok great!!! As if the government is not getting enough justified, political flack at the moment it had (or better Gatt had!!) to come up with this............
Do you remember all the cries and anguish?? Do you remember the Nationalist Party screaming from all the rooftops about how horrible Dr.Sant was to introduce the Drainage tax?? What happened to these cries?? Why has the heartless become courageous??? How can the PN ever expect us to support it when it is asking us to pay through the nose for inefficiencies of others!!??
Don't blame the EU........it was crystal clear from the outset that EU funds are only granted when the project is ready and when the standards reach the desired level...............the fact that the government has been so utterly and totally incompetent is a mess of its own doing!!!
Roll on MEP elections.........roll on!!!
michael fenech
Nov 24th 2008, 16:36
Please GonziPN apologists tell us something,what happened none of you turned on your computers to-day?????????????? I'm WAITING.
Joe Vella
Nov 24th 2008, 16:31
@ Jacob Borg
None of the reasons you mentioned. In this instance a losing bidder went to Court, wanting to hold the country to ransom. Wonder if politics played a part in doing so. It is getting fashionable now in Malta instead of saying no all the time.
Marco Cremona
Nov 24th 2008, 16:14
@E. Gatt
"Investment in sewage treatment is a good and necessary thing but this investment costs money and that money has to come from somewhere. The fairest system would be to charge according to consumption (or disposal in this case)."
I agree that one should be charged on consumption/disposal but it is impossible in this case. Why? Because unlike potable water, sewage cannot be metered.
One may suggest pegging the sewerage tax in proportion to mains water consumption. This is a fair and equitable system, right? It reflects the uniersally-accepted "polluter pays principle", correct?
No. This will only work if:
- there is no theft of mains water
- there is no illegal extraction of groundwater, which water ends up in the sewerage system but is not recorded on the mains-water meter
Unfortunately, we have both maladies.
With such a tariff those selfish individuals stealing mains water and/or groundwater (a public resource) will register a lower consumption reading on their water meter, and therefore be subject to a lower sewerage charge.
Instead of an example of the "polluter pays principle", this will be yet another case of "it pays to abuse the system", as unfortunately is the norm in Malta.
Charles DeMicoli
Nov 24th 2008, 15:46
Ahh, it's those 'floating' voters who brought this on. Maybe in the next election, gonziPN will choose "Taxman" by the Beatles as their theme song.
M. Brincat
Nov 24th 2008, 15:33
It is a fact - the country has NOT been adequately prepared by the PN government to face the EU challenge. The government was too busy preparing to get us aboard the € train and Ministers taking photos with so many other EU minsiters that "they actually forgot who they were and with whom they took photos with" ...
No, the problem is not the EU. The problem is that we're paying the price of having elected a bunch of excellent salesmen in government rather than decent politicians!
J Aquilina
Nov 24th 2008, 15:28
YOU SPEND
WE PAY
should be ashamed of your selves. If you can't govern , then resign
Jacob Borg
Nov 24th 2008, 15:22
Why do we keep missing deadlines for obtaining EU funds?Paper work not being submitted on time,projects being delayed?Do we still not have the necessary infrastructure and know how on EU procedures after 4 years?Couldn't we have spent less on Dar Malta and more on steamlining operations with Brussels?
M. Brincat
Nov 24th 2008, 14:41
I will gladly pay this sewage tax or tariff, however you call it.
On one condition - that those responsible for making us lose these deadlines and therefore the funds, and therefore forcing ME and all other TAXPAYERS to fork out what they had to ensure that we got from EU funding, are immersed in the same sewage for which I'm paying the tariff, each time I fork out the money.
Seriously ... can someone answer the following:
How should be accountable for these LOSSES?
What actions have been taken against the person/s who was/were responsible (or irresponsible) for all this?
How much of his/her/their salary is going to be deducted in order to subsidise this tariff????
V Fenech
Nov 24th 2008, 14:27
As time goes by the same indication haunts our minds, Malta and the Maltese were not prepared enough to join the EU. Everything was turned into a political roulette. It became more evident that Eddie Fenech Adami's Government wanted to join the EU at all cost - one of the main reason being to make his party victorious over the Opposition.
Lets be honest with ourselves and at least respect our own intelligence; everyone knows how the system in other countries works but nobody before Malta was in was given the idea, let alone told, that the same methods were going to be introduced in our country!
If such methodology is beneficial, the Maltese people surely aren't educated enough in order to accustom themselves for these drifts. Unfortunately the public is being left defenceless against these continuous shocks that the authorities are not fulfilling their duties to make the people conscious about!
F J Brincat
Nov 24th 2008, 14:23
Whoever said "born free, taxed to death" wasn't joking by half.
"The government was investing heavily in solid waste infrastructure, such as landfills and waste treatment plants, through EU funds but the taxpayers would eventually have to pay for their running and maintenance costs, Mr Cremona noted."
And therein lies the essence of it all. The implication is (and always was if people ever bothered to read between the lines) that the EU would partly fund these projects when it came to capital expenditure. Nobody ever mentioned that the recurrent expenditure would be whaled out of our bodies did they?
Remember "Mitt miljun fis-sena!"? I always wondered how much those "mitt miljun" were going to cost us eventually. It's getting rather clearer now.
Oh well, we chalk it up as experience gained, stick our hands in our pockets and soldier on.
J.Brownie
Nov 24th 2008, 14:18
@Aaron Sammut
This is not a question of whether we are in or out of Europe - it's all about whether we want to continue to throw untreated sewage in the sea (which we eventually drink back) or not . If we want clean seas around us , we must have to pay for it and if it were not for Europe we would have never dipped our hands in our pockets to fork out the money to do it . This is all about our quality of life , we need and deserve clean air , clean seas, clean pottable water , clean environment but pretend that other Europeans pay for it . Indeed our European membership was becon of light that has shown us what is really important to our lives . Administration after administration has failed in all this miserably .
Joe Vella
Nov 24th 2008, 14:02
Where were all the little Elves in 1997 when Leo Brincat introduced a similar tax in his budget. Guess it was all OK then.
@ l. Galea
Stop blaming the PN for Alfred Sant wanting to introduce such tax in 1997 because it was being imposed on Malta as a result of a loan from the European Bank.
E Gatt
Nov 24th 2008, 14:00
Previously all raw sewage was being disposed of at sea. Apart from natural waste, raw sewage includes a cocktail of chemicals and toxins which are extremely harmful to the environment, marine life including the fish we eat and the quality of our beaches. Sewage in Gozo and the North is already being treated and the last remaining Sewage Plant is planned. Investment in sewage treatment is a good and necessary thing but this investment costs money and that money has to come from somewhere. The fairest system would be to charge according to consumption (or disposal in this case).
What I find worrying are the missed deadlines which could result in the Country loosing EU funds. On a separate article on today’s news, Philip Mifsud (PN MP) mentioned the slow applications for EU farming funds. Government Departments are not well known for their efficiency, flexibility and their accountability. Is the staff at these Departments trained in time management and are they trained sufficiently? Are half days in Summer contributing to these expensive delays? Are these people who are responsible for processing applications aware of the financial implication of missing deadlines?
Phil Press
Nov 24th 2008, 13:47
I do not suppose, this is anything to do, with an earlier statement, saying the government, were considering the new utility tariffs. Reduce those and find a new tax. So it's Status Quo. Nice wrapping but the same old sour sweet. A unhappy new year, never mind Christmas.
H Dempster
Nov 24th 2008, 12:47
So now the EU is imposing on us (or so said The Hulk), a Drainage tax. It seems that the EU is just a Tax machine and invents all types of taxes so that their MEP sit and talk about rubbish and live in fairytale style.
One tax which i think will soon be proposed is. THE MARITAL TAX (i leave this to the readers imagination)
lgalea
Nov 24th 2008, 12:25
Chris Finch
It is both the Gonzipn Government and the eu fault.
Gonzipn for its incompetence and the eu for making the Gonzipn Government impose this tax.
CNI have been correct all along.
Jason Spiteri
Nov 24th 2008, 12:22
EE Sewwaaaa, Prosit komplu hekk!!!!
GODFREY GALEA
Nov 24th 2008, 12:21
I think its too much now! how can Malta survive in these circumstances! Every morning our breakfast is hearing about a new tax! Mr government give us a break! Stop taxing everything or else increase our wage more! You have already took our increase in the wage!
E. Azzopardi
Nov 24th 2008, 11:56
The citizens voted to join the EU and the governement knew (or did it ?) what was in store for the country. So why don't we abide by the rules once we joined. It seems to me we are missing deadlines and we are being warned on several issues. This is not A LA CARTE you know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember that one ?????
Joe Borg
Nov 24th 2008, 11:38
Joseph E Briffa
...and we’ll be at the end of the tunnel coincidentally only before the next election right?
Aaron Sammut
Nov 24th 2008, 11:28
Hafna ghadhom jghidu b'certu fervur "Allahares bqajna barra mill-Ewropa!!!" Qed tara x'hadna issa hux minhabba l-Ewropa, mela hallsu it-tariffa/taffa fuq id-drenagg issa u ohorgu protestaw bhalma ghamiltu meta kien ghamilha Sant u kontu ghajjartuh ghax bla kuxjenza socjali. Kuragg!!
charles zammit
Nov 24th 2008, 11:21
haha so our 2nd and 3rd prime ministers have found a scapegoat. its the eu this and the eu that. now its the sewage tax. kieku mhux ghax tal-biki tad-dahq. we will now have the usual pn apologists here trying to justify this shit tax.
R.Gauci
Nov 24th 2008, 11:21
So staying to this article the tax payers will have to pay more for Gonzi Pn Goverment bad planning and mistakes! Why is the construction of these sewage treatment plants late? The answer is that its not a Supermarket which is built on a Green area or a Hotel or a Block of flats those grow like mushrooms!
The Government has a lot to answer about this issue if it wants to be credible!
Imsomma issa mhux iz-zejt biss tiela f'wicc l-ilma imma anki d-drenagg!!
M.Buhagiar
Nov 24th 2008, 10:52
The Ivory Tower of this ARROGANT Government is crumbling down to pieces DAY by DAY !!
Chris Finch
Nov 24th 2008, 10:48
So lets tighten our belts more, let the kids do without shoes like our grandparents used to and wash only once a week. Oh and eating 3 meals a day is just greedy.
Pierre Paul Portelli
Nov 24th 2008, 10:45
I do have one main regret !
The regret of voting for the PN in the past elections and supporting Gonzipn during the electoral campaign.
I do regret following campaigning for candidates who do not even acknowledge your existence after the elections.
I do regret trying to convince the young voters to vote PN.
I do regret organising the pre and post election parties.
I DO NOT regret writing these points down.
All the EU countries are giving their citizens loads of incentives to make sure they have some money left in their pockets to spend this Christmas season and in the coming months due to the credit crunch that will hit everyone, everywhere.
But no, in the words of Dr Gonzi during a speech held yesterday in Victoria, Gozo, we just hear that Malta is strong, its not about the size of the country, but about the mentality ! Dr Gonzi have you or your €35,000 ministers a year been out and about the shops is Sliema, have you started your Christmas shopping ? If yes you'll be meeting loads of people staring at the shop windows, just staring !
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 24th 2008, 10:44
It's obvious that the taxpayer has to pay for the essential services whether it is energy, water or disposal of liquid and solid wastes. We are already paying for the services from our income tax, VAT etc. But when services are improved higher charges will follow,The 'new' taxes therefore have to be accompanied by other tax cuts. The way has already been set; income tax reductions have been introduced every year for the last three years and these measures will no doubt be kept up in the coming years. The tax cuts contemplated for 2009 are not substantial due in the main to the bleak forecast for the performance of the economy in the coming year for the Eurozone members and indeed worldwide. But when we all come out of the tunnel - hopefully not far off - we should see more substantial tax cuts which should go a long way to make up for the 'introduction' of the 'new' services taxes.
victor caruana
Nov 24th 2008, 10:41
It is not a case of 'It is a shame now... paying for everything'. It is a case of paying for government inefficiencies for joining the EU when it was far from prepared. We are ages away from reaching EU standards of management, much less can we aspire to reach their rate of wages and salaries.
The government is very weak in absolute terms, but very strong relatively, given an opposition in coma.
Chris Finch
Nov 24th 2008, 10:37
Dont blame the EU for this. Prior to the election the PN was promising everything just so they got elected. Now in power they are laughing their socks off at the rest of us.
Can someone work out how much the sewerage tax will increase the water bills by? And I will bet 100euros to an empty crisp packet that the VAT will be added after this extra tax is calculated, making the final cost of the bills even more expensive. could we be looking at 250% surcharge??
It seems like it some sort of game for them - Lets see how far we can push the citizens!!!
If the plant in the south had to be moved because of smart city, let the ones financing that pay for it. Why should the rest of us suffer to line the pockets of already rich people?
Let the incompetant people in charge of getting these plants online in time pay - after all they were given plenty of notice to have them finished so why the delay?
LETS HAVE SOME ANSWERS!!!
Marcello Savona
Nov 24th 2008, 10:34
These charges should have been imposed upon us by the government years ago. We still paid from them instead of directly indirectly through our taxes.
Therefore we would expect a tax reduction on the amount each family will have to fork out.... it is only fair, after all,, especially now with the international crisis...
C. Darmanin
Nov 24th 2008, 10:26
@ Joe Cordina:
THIS IS NOT A TAX!!! It's a Tariff ! LOL
KCamilleri
Nov 24th 2008, 10:20
This government would not stand for a whole legislature if more taxes are introduced. It is a shame now... paying for everything, squeezing every Euro from the pockets of the citizens. Taxes go up, wages no. People who earn a minimum wage or young couples who not only have to pay their hefty loan without any help from the government (we even have to pay a hefty tax when buying a new home, as if we do not pay more than double for out small flat to the greedy banks) but also exorbitant taxes and utility bills.
GIVE US A LIFE... and a break
Joe Galea
Nov 24th 2008, 10:00
As long as it is not a Labour induced tax, then the GonziPN's accept it wholeheartedly.
By this time in 1998, the PN orchestration was 'turning dead people in their tombs' to create havoc when A. Sant mentioned the sewage tax.....and it was a tax signed up by the previous PN legislation.
So we have to end up cooking on logs, making light using candles, now we have to collect our crap too maybe we can recycle it. What's the next step?....
Joe Cordina
Nov 24th 2008, 09:53
Bring them on!! Taxes, more taxes and even more taxes Happy Xmas and a costly New Year to us all
James Sultana
Nov 24th 2008, 09:51
Sewage charges ??? I`m ready to bet that the usual band of apologists from Malta and abroad will now justify them, contrary to when Alfred Sant wanted to introduce them in 1998 !! But of course, its not due to GonziPN and his boss Dr.Gatt ... but its the EU that will impose them !!
Lost funds for not meeting deadlines ?? But its not GonziPN and his boss Dr.Gatt`s faults ! Its because of the 1996 Labour or because Joseph Muscat was against the EU .. or maybe because Dr Edward Scicluna is now not a valid person anymore !! Or maybe its because some kind of industrial action ordered by the GWU .... but surely not the government`s fault ! They haven`t been there long enough !!!
Of course, in both cases, WE will be paying .... and no, we don`t need reminding that other countries have been paying for this for ages... because when such fees were to be introduced in Malta, they were classified as unsocial !
mario mifsud
Nov 24th 2008, 09:51
just as long that this extra charge did not come from Alfred Sant then it is OK
flimkien kollox possibli
J Farrugia
Nov 24th 2008, 09:23
If Minister Gatt thinks that the people of Malta will have to pay hefty taxes on what they are consuming: water and electricity, gas, drainage etc, because the government missed its deadlines, he's joking. Or worse he is endangering the Gonzi Government. The people have had enough! And this is not coming from Labour diehards but from the common citizen who cannot make ends meet. Prime Minister Gonzi, you are not keeping in check your crazy Ministers. First your did not take action to stop illegal immigration; you are letting CMB enacting legislation to imprison the Maltese people and shackle their freedom of speech; you are letting Minister Gatt run crazy with the tariff problem, What more do you need to know that your government is going insane?
lgalea
Nov 24th 2008, 09:17
This is a charge ordered by those eu dermocrant petty dictators on the Maltese citizens when previously everything was paid through the general taxes collected.
This is what the eu means.
Taxes, taxes and more taxes to skin the people alive so that those demigods petty dictators in Brussels can live a life of untold luxury.
Where are those little pn elves who accused Dr Sant of losing his social conscience when he was going to introduce a similar tax to abide by an agreement that the previous EFApn administration had undertaken in order to get a loan from the European Bank?
Does your Gonzipn and the eu have a social conscience?