Unions say they are planning further actions over tariffs

A.Gauci Cunningham

Jan 27th 2009, 19:01

@ Adrian C ----I dont know whether after reading comments like yours I should laugh or cry!! Dictatorial?? Who?? the Unions???

Let me remind you that the dictator and the liar is the person who came infront of the people with a Hobsons choice, without a social impact assesment and without any idea of how the eco-reduction works. The dictator and liar is that person who went on Xarabank grinning and trying to ridicule JM saying that the bills were not going to be retroactive when he knew ( as all of us do) that it was a big, fat lie!! The dictator and liar is that person who didn't even have the decency to consult civil society properly and completely bypassed it as he bypassed the PN MP's about the Presidential issue, as he bypassed the environmentalists on the Ghadira Project issue, as he is bypassing the people on the Opera Hse issue and as he is bypassing the voters on the disgraceful issue of the "Hole" he and his friends want to build in valletta!!

This person is Gonzi and unlike F.portelli I have lost all faith in him.

James Saliba

Jan 27th 2009, 18:41

@J Busuttil
So you're implying that the issue of the Electricity and Water tariffs is totally due to the international crisis. So Dr Gonzi sounds his trumpet and you're playing the same tune. Have you by any chance noticed that due to the international crisis, the price of oil has fallen down? No my friend your argument is totally flawed, and similarly that of Dr. Gonzi et al. It's precisely what Dr. Portelli has pointed out further down that is causing this issue, but instead of tackling the inefficiencies by drawing up a serious plan of restructuring and sanitation, Dr. Gonzi is bulldozing over all the Maltese families and demanding payments for bills which Government and Enemalta alone have generated due to a serious lack in administration.

J Busuttil

Jan 27th 2009, 18:06

@ Dr Frank Portelli
Poor people are given discounts vouchers. The people you mentioned who are burdned with the tariffs are suffering because of tax-evasion.

lgalea

Jan 27th 2009, 17:10

Adrian Camilleri
If you are happy to pay go and do it, and you can also pay mine in the process.
You have been taken for a ride because the Minister had announced in October that the charge for the first 2000 units was to be 16c1 VAT included but EneMalta sent their bills at 16c8.

Adrian Camilleri

Jan 27th 2009, 16:34

Heheh! That's rich.
"The unions have so far directed consumers not to settle their bills in the first 45 days after receipt."
What I think you meant to say was that "The unions have so far directed their members not to settle their bills in the first 45 days after receipt."
Tony Zarb and his minions cannot even direct me to the bathroom as far as I know. Or have we somehow given the unions power quasi-dictatorial powers over the entire population ?

J Busuttil

Jan 27th 2009, 16:24

When Malta consumed the present oil supply we bought at 80 - 100 dollars a barrel and we buy and consume oil at current prices.the tariffs will go down. This is what the unions were told at MCESD at the beginning of this issue and said again last Sunday by PM GONZI. So the unions are not justified in taking any action. The National Interest demands caution from everyone especially in this time of recession. NB. Yesterday in Europe and the US a staggering 67,000 jobs were lost in ONE day.

Frank Portelli 2BFRANK

Jan 27th 2009, 16:19

Dear Doctor Gonzi
I write to you publicly because of my great concern at the effects of these tariffs on many Maltese families.
I am seeing many distraught families who cannot afford to pay these exorbitant bills.
These bills are high for various reasons including inefficiency at Enemalta, which has a monopoly in the energy field.
Today I met a lady who had to cash her savings to pay bills for a metre at an unused garage – having settled the bills she asked to have the metre removed.
She broke into tears when she was told that there would be an extra charge of 55 Euros.
Returning to the Hospital today I watched an army of men from the Water Services Corporation spend the morning doing the work one individual could have done in half an hour.
As you know I had personally had to take my case to the Office of Fair Trading and nearly 2 years later I have not been given redress.
Please take this particular bull by the horns – and alleviate the suffering
I am personally putting my trust in you
Dr Frank Portelli MD FRCS(Ed)