Muscat non-committal on tariff reductions
'I don't think he meant to say that'
Labour leader Joseph Muscat Muscat has said he cannot commit the party to future price reductions on utility rates should it be elected to government, contrary to claims made by the PL's general secretary.
In an interview with The Sunday Times today, Dr Muscat dismissed a guarantee given by Jason Micallef on TV discussion programme Bondiplus last Monday that the Labour Party would reduce the unpopular utility tariffs the minute it got into government.
When asked whether Mr Micallef was speaking on behalf of the party, Dr Muscat said: "I'm not going to make a commitment for the next election before I have the matters in hand."
Dr Muscat attempted to defend his general secretary, saying: "I don't think he meant to say that... He wanted to make the argument that the reduction in the electricity and water rates last April wasn't enough."
The Labour leader said the guarantee he would give was that consumers would not pay for the inefficiencies of the government and Enemalta and that they should not foot the bill for agreements which did not make sense.
The electricity rates issue is considered to be one of the main contributors to the Nationalist Party's heavy loss in the June 6 European Parliament elections.
Dr Muscat skirted questions over whether he is happy with all four candidates elected on the PL ticket - particularly John Attard Montalto - and said he was happy that his party was eradicating the siege mentality.
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Joe Vella
Jun 15th 2009, 09:04
If Joseph Muscat wants to be creditable and responsible he should retract the statement that he made in regards to refunding the tax on car registration regardless of the Courts decision.
If the courts find in favour of the Government that it was within the Law to collect the said tax then Joseph Muscat and the PL would be irresponsible and in the wrong the tax as it was duly collected. Those who paid it, including Joseph Muscat, Mrs. Joseph Muscat, Jason Micallef and about 10 of their colleagues should have acted then and not make it a political ball and a way out of this issue promise to refund a tax that might have been duly collected. I will not go into the merits of the direct conflict of interest that the above named individual have in this matter.
With such irresponsible statements like the one regards the registration tax. one must ask how far is Joseph Muscat and the PL are ready to go to gain power?
O. Gauci
Jun 14th 2009, 13:04
Dr. Muscat, Jason was clear in his words: "(we will reduce the W&E bills) exactly when we will be in government". So how can you say I don't think he meant to say that? Do you think that us Maltese are stupid?
J Farrugia
Jun 14th 2009, 13:03
When Jason Micallef Gen Sec of the MLP told the maltese audience that the Labour party will reduce the w & e tariffs, and then his own MEP Louis Grech told him that this cannot be done. And then Joseph Muscat thie leader states that he cannot guarantee that his party In Government will reduce these rates, then UNDERSTAND that the govetrnment is in the right and that w and e rates cannot be reduced just for spite's sake. These depend on the price of oil at that moment in time. And enemalta does not want to lose on its consignement. Otherwise it's off with our energy supply. So dont try to con the maltese people.
Leo Said
Jun 14th 2009, 12:06
Dr.Muscat and his aides should moreover not commit themselves to guarantee eternal free health services for all.
Dr.Muscat and his aides should furthermore avoid promises that the PL would make the tourism industry better.
Dr.Muscat and his aides should explain the reciprocal dilemma between redundacy and insolvency in a better way.
But then, can party politics ever be transparent?
salvu calleja
Jun 14th 2009, 11:06
Only the PL can promise reduced utilities bills because he knows what ppl are feeling. To whom want to listen the PL simple equation is: GOOD GOVERNANCE MINUS INEFFICIENCIES MINUS REAL OIL PRICING EQUALS REDUCED UTILITIES BILLS, this is what the PL is promising and this was the base of the electoral campaign among others, so yes we do believe Mr. MUSCAT and the PL.