PM still awaiting blackout explanations
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said today that a blackout of even a few minutes, let alone a day, was unacceptable. He was still awaiting detailed technical explanations of what happened on Tuesday, he said, and was not convinced by the ‘coincidences' which there seemed to be on the day.
Certainly, he said, this did not appear to an issue of generating capacity being unable to keep up with demand.
Replying to questions in an interview on Radio 101, Dr Gonzi said Malta could no longer afford to concentrate power generation on one source. It was for this reason that the governemnt had already started work to diversify the sources of generation by commissioning studies for a link-up with the European power grid and for a portion of power to come from alternative sources of energy. At the same time, capacity at Delimara power station was being beefed up so that Malta could continue to keep up with the demand which progress placed on the system.
In other replies , Dr Gonzi said the government would keep up the pace of reform in various sectors, but he warned that reforms came with a price which the people had to be prepared to bear. Funds could not all come from the EU, and the people had to be prepared for some sacrifices for the changes which everyone said were needed.
RENZO PIANO PLANS
Turning to the plans by Renzo Piano for City Gate and the Opera House site, due to be announced in the coming days, Dr Gonzi said that the designs should be acceptable to the people if everyone, like himself, was prepared to compromise. Dr Gonzi said he was 80% happy with the plans and they would meet budgetary targets and timeframes.
This, he said, was the time to take decisions and finally get this project moving.
BAHRIJA CONTROVERSY
Turning to the controversy over the permit given for development in Bahrija, Dr Gonzi insisted that should any irregularity be detected, or should any false information have been given, the permit would be revoked, as had been done for other cases. He pointed out, however, that this permit was granted in 2000. One had to be careful not to to set precedents. Should one start investigating all permits which went back 10 years, even for structures which had since been built? And did anyone want responsibility for these matters to be handed to the prime minister again?
Dr Gonzi said he remained against building in outside developemnt zones, except for particular cases such as farm rooms and reservoirs.
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Francis Portelli
Jun 21st 2009, 17:28
Dr Gonzi said he remained against building in outside developemnt zones, except for particular cases such as farm rooms and reservoirs.
So why thousands of similar applications have been turned down ???
charles vella
Jun 21st 2009, 16:43
What kind of sacrifice for the power station no , we are already passing from high billing
The problem is monopoly in ene malta own by government not much more to say.Lot of over heads and to many wages from our tax. Try to make it from the minimum wage. Cut down the minister salary and french benefit and then try to pay the bills we resive every day'.
HALLINA GOZI IL HADDIEM MASUR BIL KONTIJIET KIF MA IKUNX GHAWN TGERGIR
R.Lewis
Jun 21st 2009, 15:31
Hon PM you stated that the Bahrija permit was approved in 2000. Firstly in 2000 it was the same PN govt in force and secondly as far as I know (subject to be corrected) a MEPA permit is only valid for 5 years i.e. this permit had expired in 2005. And then people like me who used to own a catering outlet 'qlajtulna fwiedna' to take a table outside, and just decided to call it a day with the baraucracy we had. The Law should be applied to everyone and anytime, whether a month ago, a year ago or 50 years ago. That the permit was granted in 2000 dont justify nothing.
g.c.Forte
Jun 21st 2009, 13:33
A.......How many Chairmen, Directors, Foremen, Public Officers are going to resign ? Who is going to take the responsibility ? I can predict the out come of the investigations. It is nobody `s fault, it is something that can happen at any time,and it is out of our control. It is suggested that it is needed to invest more, so similar accidents will not happen again B..... Mr. P.M.Gonzi P.N..Why you are 80 % and not more than 100% happy with the City Gate & the Opera house projects. You are talking very negative on these projects. C...........You supposed took M.E.P.A. in your hands, one year ago, because of the J.P.O. case, why in just one year you are facing another similar case and another prominent person from your party is involved.
A Borg
Jun 21st 2009, 13:14
'if everyone, like himself, was prepared to compromise'
Dr. Gonzi are you serious? do you believe that we should bow down to the expectations of a foreign architect? personally speaking and i admit my ignorance in this field, but i believe Renzo Piano to be over-glorified. but being reknown or not i believe that we shouldn't just accept anything we are given, but demand only what's best.
i'm apalled that the government didn't even call for suggestions from our more than valid university architecture students who i belive could better embody and translate what most maltese would rather see in our capital rather than a futuristic-directed italian man.