Updated: Utility rates to be eventually lowered - PM
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this morning that the time will come when water and electricity rates will be reduced.
Speaking during a dialogue meeting at Balzan, Dr Gonzi said decisions had never been easy - the government had to show its backbone and the people had to change their behaviour.
The revision of the water and electricity rates was a difficult decision the government had to take to prevent waste as much as possible. At the same time it was helping families in need.
However, “if God wills, even because price of oil has gone down, the time will come when the tariffs will be reduced”, Dr Gonzi said.
He pointed out that the price of refined oil dropped at a later stage than that of crude but the price for water and electricity would go down eventually as had already been the case with the price of fuels.
Referring to the global financial crisis, Dr Gonzi said that Malta was one of the countries which was riding the waves.
Maltese banks had been classified as the third strongest in the world and the European Commission had said that Malta was one of nine countries which would see their economy grow in 2009, albeit at a slower rate than projected.
Dr Gonzi expressed surprise at the Opposition’s behaviour, which, he said, invented all kinds of initiatives to alienate people at such a serious time.
Towards the end of his address, Dr Gonzi said he had ambitions regarding Malta’s potential in tourism.
This could be developed further in certain areas, such as higher education. The collective agreement the government had just signed with UMASA and MUT could be first step towards embarking on this route, he said.
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paul camilleri
Jan 27th 2009, 22:10
I don't blame Gonzi for all this mess the country is in but will definitely blame it on those gullible people who keeps on voting for this government. Shame on you and stop blaming the Prime Minister ... remember ... THAT WAS YOUR CHOICE !!!
G.HOARE
Jan 27th 2009, 20:33
@ A MIZZI and who thinks the same . If last September you went and bought a barrel of oil for €100 and come March a barrel of oil cost you now €50 , what are you gonna do return the €100 barrel back ?or all you have to do is use it and be glad that now it gone down again . that is the same for the goverment here if it goes up you pay more when it goes down you will pay less , it is common sence really
Maria Dolores Fenech
Jan 27th 2009, 13:32
When will this U-TURN take place GonziPN, GattPM?
David Reiling
Jan 27th 2009, 08:00
so this whole thing is about reducing waste??? - so what about the waste of time effort and paper etc that enemalta perpetuate by producing estimated bills one week then sending a "read" bill the following week......what a waste!!!!!
methinks the governemnt and enemalta need to put their own house in order.
A.. Mizzi
Jan 26th 2009, 17:39
...Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this morning that the time will come when water and electricity rates will be reduced.
When ? On some election eve?
Why doesn't Dr. Gonzi present us with the audited accounts of Enemalta to justify increases in tariffs?
Has an H.R audit been ever made at Enemalta to justify promotions and new jobs within the company especially during the last pre-election period?
We have had enough of subsidising through our taxes pre-electoral promises. Give us justification for the high tariffs and not talk. Substantiate your claims and give us time-frames of when tariffs will be revised and reduced.
Joe Galea
Jan 26th 2009, 13:28
This prime minister is a definite joke. He promised us a lot of things and when he does I become wary of them as he does the right contrary. So it would probably end up to higher the tariffs and introduce some other tax. He promised us not to raise the VAT and he did. He promised not to raise the tariffs and he did. He promised the restructuring of Crafts Village and he retracted it. What a joke!!!! I am amazed at how some people still believe him!!
joanna farrugia
Jan 26th 2009, 12:25
lies lies lies and more lies another example is when this gov sent a letter that the dock workers their jobs are secured.ghax tant ahna fini li nuzaw zejt raffinat qal!!!!
C.Sapiano
Jan 26th 2009, 09:12
If the tariffs are lowered, it would be a very positive move, considering that the Maltese economy is relatively not in a bad shape at all, when you consider the very bad situation in much more advanced countries.
D Curmi
Jan 25th 2009, 21:13
Is this the same Prime Minister who promised to lower tax bands in his first budget?
Is this the same Prime Minister who promised the crafts village in Ta' Qali?
Is he the same one who defended JPO?
Is he the same man who spent millions before the last election in just three months?
Is he the Prime Minister who is responsible for Minister Austin Gatt (or vice versa??)
Edwin formosa
Jan 25th 2009, 21:07
@ john debono: ""12 years ago the price of crude oil was only $12 a barell when compared to $46 a barell of today, and we still received increased tarriffs and we had to pay out for an increase of water and electricity bills! And what is all the fuss about sewage tax about? when 12 years ago we weree not in the EU and the sewage tax was also introduced together with the door tax! Do we all forget? Do we have a short memory?"""
J.Pace
Jan 25th 2009, 20:05
It is better for the moment to forget EU rules and tourism stories (as we all here that many hotels had to close for winter) and focus on what you have in hands ( the Big companie ) and try to help them to stay here not to leave to china so that people will keep their jobs.
Marvin Mizzi
Jan 25th 2009, 19:37
However, “if God wills, even because price of oil has gone down, the time will come when the tariffs will be reduced”, Dr Gonzi said. When another election is nearing and you need to cheat again the elecotate.... The government is using the money of the Maltese to finance his inefficiencies....
lgalea
Jan 25th 2009, 18:39
Joe Vella
You are again trying to deny the truth.
The EFApn took the loan and then Labour was elected shortly after so it couldn't refuse the loan because it was already taken.
Re oil, reference was never made to refined oil but always to crude oil. The reference changes for Gonzipn to impose his exorbitant tariffs notwithstanding the huge drop in oil price and the fact that new purchases could have been made and the price averaged.
Also note that in the bills sent by EneMalta every unit is being charged at 16.8c instead of 16.1 as had been published by the Minister. This is sheer daylight highway robbery which EneMalta and conscienceless Gonzipn are perpetrating on the Maltese citizens.
Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Jan 25th 2009, 18:32
@ L Schembri
You are right, it was Iceland. And that what I meant to say.
L.Schembri, go and tell the Icelanders that not being part of the EU had no effect on the devaluation of their currency, absorbent interest rates and the economy in light of the current world economic crisis.
P.Schembri
Jan 25th 2009, 18:01
@Joe Vella. You talk about Sant wanted to devalue the Lira with 10%. Have you conveniently forgotten that John Dalli did in 1992-1996 by 10%? Or it's the case of Blue ok and Red bad. Come on Mr. Vella check your facts before coming here. And it was Iceland not Norway by the way. But as usual you say half-truths. Iceland did what Bankers did in American. It had nothing to do with the Eurozone.
j. c. cassar
Jan 25th 2009, 17:36
Can you Dr. Gonzi indicate when the utility rates are going to be loweres? We really want to know when..... In my opinion the utility rates should have been revised way back in october. In fact these were revised but in the wrong direction, cause oil prices were already going down.
Dr. Gonzi, Do you think that revising the rates just before the MEP election are going to effect the outcome ??? No this time no.
The Maltese citizens surely deserve better then a prime minister making a fool of the them. and then arrogantly ask or begs for their votes.
See you in June.............
Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Jan 25th 2009, 17:34
@ V. Fenech
"V Fenech (49 minutes ago)
Hekk taħseb Sur Joe Vella (Mellieħa)...ħares madwarek u tkun taf kemm dak li qed tgħid int huwa minnu jew le"
What I wrote is not what I think, It is factual facts. There is no room for interpretation in what I wrote.
Wasn't Alfred Sant and the MLP that advised the devaluation of the Maltese Lira by 10%?
Wasn't Alfred Sant, Joseph Muscat and the MLP/PL that fought against Malta's membership in the EU?
Wasn't Joseph Muscat who wrote and encouraged the Norwegian people not to support thier Country's membership application to the EU?
Those are facts, and not what Think or you think?
martin micallef
Jan 25th 2009, 17:18
The people will show you the direction your are taking in M E P elections.
Joe Vella
Jan 25th 2009, 17:15
@ l Galea
"Charles.j.Schembri, J bUSUTTIL, Joe Vella
Refined oil is only being used as an excuse as all countries refer to crude oil."
This is not a question what came first, wasn't the chicken or the egg.
Maltese Government purchase refined oil, ready to use, and not crude oil or Brent oil. It is a fact that the price of refined oil, up or down, always lags behind.
What you see quoted on the international markets is a future price of crude/Brent oil in a months or two months time. Delivery of crude oil is to Cushing, Oklahoma, unless renegotiated.
Anthony Paris
Jan 25th 2009, 17:10
The PM keeps telling us how well Malta is weathering the world financial and economic crisis, and how solid our banks are. Can anyone explain why the value of BOV shares, allowing for bonus shares and splits, are down by 50% from their peak.
Joe Vella
Jan 25th 2009, 16:54
@ l Galea
"john debono
The door/sewage tax were to be introduced because your beloved EFApn had taken a loan and that was one of the conditions that Labour found when it was elected in 1996"
L. Galea, no PN Government had to go and borrow on the Foreign market. Every time a PN Government issued a bond issue it was oversubscribes before it hit the street. This cannot be said for MLP?PL Government. Every time an MLP/PL Government issued a bond issue it was always under subscribed.
What ever any PN Government debt occurred was with the Maltese individual and institutional.
Guess we all whom Party in Government the Maltese Trust.
Even one was to believe what you claim. The choice was easy for Alfred Sant and the MLP; simply say no to the loan. Thanks, but no thanks.
V Fenech
Jan 25th 2009, 16:34
Hekk taħseb Sur Joe Vella (Mellieħa)...ħares madwarek u tkun taf kemm dak li qed tgħid int huwa minnu jew le!
Ħaġa ta' l-għaġeb li minn daqs dawn Nazzjonalisti, int tkun l-unika wieħed li tibqa' tiddefendi l-frajjeġ tal-Gvern. Bħal donnu ġejt mqabbad minn tal-Pieta'!
Bsartek biex ser toħroġ ukoll...x'garanzija għandek li hekk kien se jiġri?
Wieġeb il-mistoqsija li għamiltlek fil-bidu please!
lgalea
Jan 25th 2009, 16:23
Gonzipn, we are still two months away from April 1.
However, I pity you for having to face the people yourself when the decisions are taken by PM2.
john debono
It was suggested that the shipyards build them but then Gonzipn would not be following the eu petty dictators orders to close the Shipyard to the letter.
This is apart from stepping on the feet of some of the importers who contribute generously to his party.
Charles.j.Schembri, J bUSUTTIL, Joe Vella
Refined oil is only being used as an excuse as all countries refer to crude oil.
john debono
The door/sewage tax were to be introduced because your beloved EFApn had taken a loan and that was one of the conditions that Labour found when it was elected in 1996. Now your beloved Gonzipn is introducing it because he was ordered to do so by the eu petty dictators in Brussels. That is how much your Gonzipn decides independently from the eu colonial masters.
J.Pace
Jan 25th 2009, 16:03
DR.Gonzi, It is better you reduce it quickly to help people and also try helping the Big companie (not to mention names) but sure you and many people know already about it, that it is in big problems and is considering to leave malta and leave around 2000 people unemployed..
Nicholas Debono
Jan 25th 2009, 15:41
What do you think of the maltese people Dr.Lawrence? Idiots? Ignorant people? I can assure you that they are not.. And the time will come when you go down from PM as you are only interested in you and youre people and you ignor the others. What? aren't they Maltese People as well? Aren't you their PM as well??
SHAME ON YOU.
Joe Vella (Mellieha.)
Jan 25th 2009, 15:39
@ V. Fenech
If the PN Government had listened to the advise given by the MLP/PL and revalued the Lira the price of Oil and that of Utility rates would be 10% higher then they are today.
In retrospect that wouldn't be to bad.
Considering, if the Maltese have listened to the MLP/PL and Alfred Sant and in particular also to Joseph Muscat we in Malta wouldn't be discussing the price of oil/Utility rates, but rather the meltdown of the Maltese Lira and the collapse of the Maltese economy.
Just ask the Norwegians. After all they took Joseph Muscat's advice.
Thank God the Maltese are wiser then the MLP/PL give them credit for.
V. Fenech, No matter way you cut it, the PL and Joseph Muscat have no credibility at all.
apgrech
Jan 25th 2009, 15:27
The government has to collect some money to make up for the millions he disposed off before the election to look good with the people so they can get the votes.
Ladies and gentlemen, Dr Gonzi is treating us like fools. Please remember that next time you're ready to cast your votes.
Jonathan Borg
Jan 25th 2009, 15:15
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me all the time, only in Malta.
Maria Falzon
Jan 25th 2009, 15:05
Waht are you waiting for, Doc. Gonzi.? "Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this morning that the time will come when water and electricity rates will be reduced." no need for crystal balls to predict this! Prices are down already all over the world.
mary Pace
Jan 25th 2009, 14:54
HIP HIP HURRAY!!!!!! thw w&e,are going to be reduced,so say the PM Gonzi, but WHEN!!!!! I bet it be in may! ,WHAT does the PM think,, WE"R STUPID!!!!!!!!???????????????????
P PAce
Jan 25th 2009, 14:44
X'ipokrita!!! ghaliex qalla dan it-trouble kollu. Bizejjed nghid li l'kumpaiji l'anqas jafu x' ha jaqbdu jaghmlu bil-budget taghhom fejn jidhol eletrikku u ilma
Jimmy Magro
Jan 25th 2009, 14:26
I do not believe that these bloggers are all hard core Labour or soft Labour supporters. In spite of this strong public opinion against the way citizens are being treated, the Government continue to put its head into the sand. Maybe that is why they want to extend the Mellieha Bay, as the current one is so small for their big heads.
As for Labour I say that this is the primary issue and they should get all their weapons out. If Prime Minister Brown has got all his weapons fighting the financial/econmic crises, OL Muscat must get out all his weapons and fight this battle first and before anything else.
As for the citizens, you have a mind, body and soul. Also a small piece of paper that comes to you every five years. Make the best of it.
john brady
Jan 25th 2009, 13:56
well done prim
take your time cause we are a living in a better world
from now onwards Mr Bundi wont sing pajjiz tal micky mouse but he is going to rephrase it
GVERN TAL MICKEY MOUSE
jipi ha jnaqsilna d dawl u lilma .
He is really kind
thank you GONZ
Antoine Grima
Jan 25th 2009, 13:42
That's nice to know.When exactly are they to be lowered ? On the eve of the next election ?THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER GONE UP IN THE FIRST PLACE
john debono
Jan 25th 2009, 13:41
Government should investigate why prices of solar heaters and panels are going up! Government should open factory (many vacant factories in Hal Far / Kordin), employ those persons who lost their job, and supply Maltese people with cost effective solar solutions. Forget rebates, it does not work. I have been waiting since May 2008 for class "A" airconditioner rebate. Government manufactures and sells cheap, this is the solution. We will then all buy solar products, wind turbines, etc. to save on our bills. Today's force 8 wind, imagine the power we would have from our roof tops, if only we could transfer this wind power into the grid. And forget permits for energy products, the sight of fumes in our roads is more harmful that anything else. If oil prices drop, governemnt should help people invest in alternative energy products, to help reduce electricity consumption and reduce emissions. Are energy efficient products VAT and tax exempt? Has the rain water we had from a whole week of rain been collected or has it gone down to waste. If only we could collect it by bowsers to store in reservoires for agriculture, or pumped back into the water table.
Charles.j.Schembri
Jan 25th 2009, 13:38
I bUSUTTIL ...oh yes there is..a big U-TURN.....funny how you protect your government...if i remember correctly, if the price of oil (at the time he did not mention any refine oil) falls below $85, Our beloved Austin Gatt would remove the surcharge, well it is $35 now, but instead we are having a surcharge of 185% true to his word.....now pull my other leg...and this goes for Mr.Vella too re his refine Oil....
V Fenech
Jan 25th 2009, 13:35
Can the blue Joe Vella or Dr Gonzi himself tells us how much does it cost the Government to refine the crude oil?
Twice the price?
Jimmy Magro
Jan 25th 2009, 13:24
The PM should have used his netbook and presentation skills to give us the facts of the prices of refined oil on the international market, the cost of transportation and refining the oil and the cost of the refined oil that ENEMALTA has purchased in 2008.
On the part of the Labour Opposition they must use the Public Accounts Commitee to dig into the EneMalta affairs and get out the information. They must also agree as from today to leave the matter to the authorities concerned and that full infirmation would be made available on the MRA and EneMalta website for everyone to read and digest.
In my opinion, all citizens should continue to pay bills with the 50% surcharge as this is the maximum that we should have paid in 2008 and 2009.
Can the NSO explain how the new rates of water and electricity affected the cost of living. When Labour as in Government thay had adjusted the cost of living when the rates where announced as they told the Government that the fact the rates were announced they should come into the cost of living index.
Or everything is played so that we meet the EU benchmarks?
Jimmy Magro
Jan 25th 2009, 13:15
The Malta Resources Authority is dead.
Had this AUTHORITY been alive it would take the initiative to request the operator (ENEMALTA) to adjust the prices of electricity to reflect the current market conditions.
It is in ONLYINMALTA.COM that it is the Government that initiate the revision of prices. In a free and liberalised market where there is the regulator and the operator, this matter should be outside the Government;s (Prime Minister and Ministers) domain.
Parliament must enact a law that the Government cannot enter into matter as the price of water and electricity has become a political ball, or an electoral carrot. The Maltese are not rabbits and everyone, PN and MLP, supporters must stand up and be counted. We do not need a bullet into our mind to open up our mind and demand a serious approach in the governance of this small island.
Once again I stress the point that the Maltese citizen is treated like a cabbage since the Government with hold all sensitive information. It would have been better for the PM to tell the people of Malta what is price of refined oil that ENAMALTA has purchased during 2008.
R.Lewis
Jan 25th 2009, 13:04
Utility rates to be eventually lowered according to the PM. I think the utility rates eventually shouldn't have gone up in the first place, as oil prices have been going down since October. I myself didnt agree with certain things Dr.Sant did while in government, especially the utility rates and drainage fee of Lm150, but politics is dirty cause this government is doing the same thing. May be Dr.Sant had the same vision of Dr.Gonzi and wanted the people to change their behaviour.The difference though is Dr.Sant was on for 22 months and PN for 20 years, so no one can be excused apart from the present administration. Can the PM or Dr.Gatt try to persuade the reasonable voter how with this type of cold weather, citizens like pensioners, low income people, etc. can afford to warm their homes with these rates. I suggest that enemalta should introduce two rates, winter/summer. You can do away without air condition or pool facilities in summer cause you have alternatives, but in winter you have no alternative to keep your family comfortable unless its heating.
Michael Gatt
Jan 25th 2009, 13:04
Dr. Gonzi, you can fool the people once, you can fool the people twice but ypu cant fool the people all the time
g.c.Forte
Jan 25th 2009, 13:02
Mr.Prime Minister......Take all the time you need to reduce the tariffs. Do not worry that the families are living a doubtfully life, do not care that many workers are losing their jobs from small places of work because the unstable situation. Let me remind you that next June we are having some elections, so how about reducing them,....let say in May. Riding the waves......mamma mia x`biza.
J. Abela
Jan 25th 2009, 12:53
Is this speech a Sunday morning joke?
Enemalta is highly inefficient as it is inacabable of managing its resources properly.
The price of fuel are low NOW. So speaking about "eventually" is no breaking news nor a satisfaction to us comsumers!
And..a comment about "If Gods will" quote - the will of the government has to be considered in this situation to lower the rip-off tariffs. God in this case won't change the tariffs of course. Adding a hint of religion won't soften our anger against this rip-off.
Let me remind you once again that the tariffs were increase due to corporate inefficiences and to cover their back. The report from the auditors was proven to be "correct" against these inefficiencies not against the price current pricing trends against which the raw materials are purchased.
lgalea
Jan 25th 2009, 12:43
Hehehe, bet it will be just before the EP elections.
P.Cassar
Jan 25th 2009, 12:36
WHAT SURPISES ME IS THAT THESE PEOPLE NEVER, BUT NEVER, STOP TREATING US AS IDIOTS ALL EUROPE, MONTHS AGO, LOWERED PRICES AND WE ARE STILL BEING ONLY PROMISED LOWER PRICES. POOR MALTA AND THE MALTESE.
john debono
Jan 25th 2009, 12:36
Things take time. If Enemalta bought oil at a high price, how do you expect the price of water and electricity to drop, First Enemalta must use and consume its current stock of oil, and then when Enemalta buys oil at a cheaper price, it can then reduce the water and electricity tarriffs, which of course, we all wellcome. Hope the new hedging agreement will keep Enemalta supplied with lots of tons of oil, for many more years to come. The Governemnt should install large tanks in the dry docks or buy large tanker ships and store them in the dry dock, as the oil is cheaper than it was. However we must never forget that 12 years ago the price of crude oil was only $12 a barell when compared to $46 a barell of today, and we still received increased tarriffs and we had to pay out for an increase of water and electricity bills! And what is all the fuss about sewage tax about? when 12 years ago we weree not in the EU and the sewage tax was also introduced together with the door tax! Do we all forget? Do we have a short memory?
Joe Vella
Jan 25th 2009, 12:24
The price of crude oil has certainly came down. What you see quoted daily is the future price of crude oil for delivery in the next month or two.
Malta doesn't buy crude oil, but refine oil. So the lowering in refine oil prices always lags behind that of crude oil which it future price delivery is quoted daily on the World Markets.
R Axisa
Jan 25th 2009, 12:21
"The revision of the water and electricity rates was a difficult decision the government had to take to prevent waste as much as possible."
Meta gvern laburista ghamel 50c ghall-medicini biex jigi kkontrollat il-hela, il-PN u l-media ghamlu furur shih fuqha. Il-PN issa qieghed jghid li qed jaghmel l-istess, bid-differenza li l-flus li jridu johorgu mill-but tal-poplu huwa wiehed extravaganti, meta fl-istess hin il-prezz taz-zejt huwa 40 dollaru l-barmil. Il-gvern qieghed juza l-iskuza tal-hela. Minghalija Austin Gatt kien qal li jekk il-prezz jinzel taht il-85 dollaru l-barmil, inehhi -surcharge. Mhux talli ma nehhiex is-surcharge, talli zied it-tariffi. Allura nasal ghall-konkluzjoni li l-gvern qieghed jaghmel dan biex jibbilancja l-kontijiet tieghu. Parole se, fatti no.
Brian Maloret
Jan 25th 2009, 12:20
Isn't it amazing, politicians of whatever nationality or party when making difficult policy decisions blame it on the "will of God". Why don't people like Gonzi, Bush, Blair et al take responsibility for their own decisions and not pass the buck.
clive borg
Jan 25th 2009, 12:17
'time will come when water and electricity rates will be reduced' - offcourse we are paying you are living it,
'ambitions regarding Malta’s potential in tourism' - dream dream dream
Hope Hope Hope... when will you be acting when it will be too late!
tony caruana
Jan 25th 2009, 12:04
You can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all the people all the Time.
tony caruana
Jan 25th 2009, 12:03
Yes Yes we believe you Dr Gonzi. We really do.
paul busuttil
Jan 25th 2009, 11:59
Is it the people who waste water or is it the water services who takes days sometimes weeks to repair leaking / broken pipes. Check their response times in the not to distant past and at present , it is a luughing shame to watch water flow out of pipes while waiting for your report to be seen to and pipes repaired while leaving gaping holes in our roads. What about loss and stealing of electricity is this to be blamed on the tax paying public as well? why should we subsidise big companies and hotels on their electricity bills , do they share their profits with us ? We could go on and on but its Sunday and lunch time.
V Fenech
Jan 25th 2009, 11:57
Fl-2007 il-pajjiżi kollha tad-dinja basru li ż-żejt kien sejjer jogħlha. Bassru li kien ser jitla' għal $200 l-barmil. Leħaq l-aktar sa $143 u qabad jinżel sakemm qiegħed hekk baxx kif inhuwa llum! Ħadd mill-ekonomisti fl-industrija ndunaw x'kien sejjer jiġri....u llum ġewwa Malta
X'garanzija għandu Dr Gonzi lil ż-żejt ser jibqalu hekk?
Meta ser ikun kuraġġuz u joħroġ id-dettalji tal-hedging agreements?
Lil Dr Gonzi min qed jagħtih il-pariri?
Jaf x'inhuwa jagħmel?!!!
J bUSUTTIL
Jan 25th 2009, 11:56
There is no u-turns. The price of refined oil(we but refined oil not crude) fell after the crude oil price. Joe muscat have nothing to do like he had nothing to do in the choice of George Abela(a lobouite) as President) At the first meeting of MCESD the Govt had said that there will be a revision in March or around or after. What Joe Muscat and the Laburist has been left breathless by the REFORMS that this Govt is about to intrduce. The national agenda has been and is being intrduced by Gonzi and not little muscat.
Dusty William
Jan 25th 2009, 11:54
B BORG
You've guessed it! BRAVO.
Manuel Micallef
Jan 25th 2009, 11:53
Time will come - I bet they will lower them just before the MEP election. Issa drajna dejjem bl-istess storja....
P.Schembri
Jan 25th 2009, 11:52
This is good news. But do we have to wait till the Local and MEP elections for the rates to go down? Weren't they supposed to come down when the price of oil was below 85 dollars?
sarah vella
Jan 25th 2009, 11:51
When will this happen? When you would have vacuumed our savings. I'm sure it will be in time for the next EU elections. However whatever gimmicks you do this time will not sway me. From now on I'm totally anti-GonziPN.
Dusty William
Jan 25th 2009, 11:47
Of course Dr Gonzi the time will come, the appropriate time will come, I bet you it will beeeeee...???? Anyone guess when????? just before the ooooops.......
Bborg
Jan 25th 2009, 11:45
"the time will come when the tariffs will be reduced"
Will this be before the forthcoming Elections?
Joe Scerri
Jan 25th 2009, 11:43
the price of oil is around $40 and has been going down for the last few months. When the price goes up, everything goes up , but when it goes down all we hear are excuses.
Steve Calleja
Jan 25th 2009, 11:35
Finally! Thanks to Labour leader Joseph Muscat`s pressure on the government, the latter if finally changing his position!
And by the way, isn`t this a U-turn ?!!!!!!!! Gonzi definately cannot accuse the Labour party anymore of doing U-turns! He`s doing so himself!!!!
V Fenech
Jan 25th 2009, 11:34
The Price of oil has already gone down, Dr Gonzi!!!!!