PM wants speedier permits for capital projects

A Farrugia

Dec 29th 2008, 08:31

To answer the critique Mr. Joe Vella was kind enough to put forward allow me to elaborate,

1) When you buy oil, you only get the stock as and when needed, you don't need to provide for storing the oil as such. You should read Dr. Gatt's article on buying oil and hedging and what not. It is after all not a PL article, but one by an insider, so I doubt Mr. Vella would find it revolting or unacceptable. Read up my friend.

2) My comment was 'reduce taxation AS PROMISED'. I remember being promised reductions in the 35% bandwith, to date these have not materialised, unless Mr. Vella lives on another parallel Malta to the one I live on.

With regards Mr. Vella's comment regarding the choice of the Maltese electorate, I doubt my comment below can be taken as some 'proof' as to why the PN was once again elected in the 2008 elections. I for one believe that the MLP was not capable enough in mounting a serious challenge to the PN in winning the election, giving the PN a slim victory especially thanks to its sterling marketing with youths, particularly via electronic media.

lgalea

Dec 17th 2008, 23:35

Joe Vella
When you buy oil yo do not get it immediately but over a period of time.
That's also what we got and how we got it when we had the preferential agreement with Libya.
That is also standard practice when hedging.

"While the PN want to put money in peoples' pockets by the Dignity of work; your beloved PL want to put money in peoples' pocket by downgrading handouts."

If Gonzipn wanted to put money in people's pockets through the dignity of work he would have not only provided for decent wages and salaries, but also decent work because of his policies many are working on a 4 or 3-day week and others were discharges.

How strange it was that Dr KMB was criticized for employing people to give them dignity of work instead of keeping them on the dole!

Tax reductions are not handouts Mr Vella.

As for taxes, you seem to be the only one who does not know about the thousands of taxes through VAT that EFApn and Gonzipn introduced, including the sewage tax, tariffs and contributions which all come out of the workers pockets.

J Busuttil

Dec 17th 2008, 19:34

Those who are saying that public capital projects do not stimulate the economy do not know anything about economics. If I remember well in the 90's I listened to a lecture by Prof. Edward Scicluna who said that the then recesion will come to Malta some 2 years after the international one but the Fenech Adami Govt embarked on a capital project programm and recession was avoided. In the last 3 years The Gonzi Government poured 82 MILlion Euros of tax breaks and more money poured now will go in foreign exports. So investment projects will keep people WORKING. And yes PM make Mepa hurry up this is a matter of National IMPORTANCE.

Joe Vella

Dec 17th 2008, 15:31

@ A. Farrugia

"- buy oil now that the price is low, before its price increases again as IS PROJECTED ALREADY"

And can you tell us how far in the future the Government should purchase oil, and while you are at it can you also tell us where to store it.

" - reduce taxation as promised, in order to increase disposable income (and thus entice expenditure by Joe Public"

Where have you been in the last three years. The Government have been doing just that. Tax bands have gone up, while tax rates have come down.

Joe Vella

Dec 17th 2008, 15:24

@ l.Galea & A. Farrugia

Listening to what you have to say day in,and day out; one just wonder why the Maltese People keep saying no to the MLP, oops the PL, and yes to the PN time and time again

@ l Galea

"How about putting more money in peoples pockets as is being done in all the other countries by REDUCING taxes not increasing them Gonzipn?"

l Galea, you hit the nail on the head. That is exactly what is the ideoligical difference between your beloved PL and the PN.

While the PN want to put money in peoples' pockets by the Dignity of work; your beloved PL want to put money in peoples' pocket by downgrading handouts.

On the issue of Taxes, the Government have been just doing including eliminating a couple of Alfred Sant and the MLP taxes. Guess you have been fast asleep not to know.

aezahra

Dec 17th 2008, 11:50

How very strange. Have you not noticed that Obama, the US president elect, is copying Gonzipn by undertaking an extensive public works programme to revive the US economy and create jobs? Obama has opted to invest in upgrading the infrastructure rather than giving cash handouts to the electors. How very strange these politicians, they are all the same - they think constructively.

S Camilleri

Dec 17th 2008, 10:25

Does that mean we will soon have the legal right to do away with expensive, time consuming things like Environmental Impact Assessments, to have have public announcements instead of public consultation and to get our projects fast-tracked if MEPA deems it so? I cant really see any difference between before and after.

A Farrugia

Dec 17th 2008, 10:16

Stimulating the economy ... by speedying the tender process for construction projects? The only thing that would stimulate is our construction magnates, with little spillover effect on economy in the short term.

Let's be serious.. the capital projects mentioned by Dr. Gonzi in this article would AT BEST start to yield results in 6 months time at best (beaches), so any economic stimulus from these capital projects will probably come too late in the day!

If Dr.Gonzi is honestly concerned about stimulating the economy, then the road he should have taken GIVEN the INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE is to:

- buy oil now that the price is low, before its price increases again as IS PROJECTED ALREADY.
- reduce taxation as promised, in order to increase disposable income (and thus entice expenditure by Joe Public
- introduce new tariffs for water & electricity with no backdating, as this is highly unfair.
- address issues like the double taxation system for new cars and commence refund scheme (a little extra in the wallet for Christmas expenses would help).

Let's get serious GonziPN. If you want to stimulate the economy, try a larger feather. The one you're holding wouldn't even tickle a baby.

lgalea

Dec 17th 2008, 09:56

"He said that in the current international climate it makes sense more than ever to stimulate the economy through capital projects, and referred to over €200 million worth of roads, beaches and schools which are awaiting Mepa's approval."

So Gonzipn wants to jump the queue eh?

How about putting more money in peoples pockets as is being done in all the other countries by REDUCING taxes not increasing them Gonzipn?

Gonzipn, your capital projects will put more money in friends and friends of friends contractors pockets who employ foreign and illegal immigrants workers than in Maltese workers pockets.

They will NOT expand the economy.