Editorial

Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt may be politically arrogant but he sure knows what he is talking about when he deals with the hottest subject that falls under his ministry: power and all that goes with it.

This contrasts sharply with the poor knowledge of the matter so often displayed by many of the opposition politicians who take him up on the electricity tariffs. Unfortunately, however, it is these who make most sound, as was the case during the campaign for the election of the European Parliament. With the rise in the energy rates hitting the pockets of so many people, Labour turned the matter into a powerful propaganda tool in their favour, as they also skilfully and unashamedly did over the health services report drawn up for the government.

In the EP election campaign, Labour gave the impression it had a solution in mind to the problem over the electricity tariffs when, in fact, they seem to have none or if they have, they have been very careful not to say what it is.

What the Nationalists should do now is to call their bluff and challenge them in no uncertain manner to spill out their "solution". This is not a trifling matter but a problem that revolves around how to pay for the oil the island needs to buy in order to generate electricity. It is a huge expenditure and the money has to come from somewhere.

There is no easy solution to the problem, which is why Dr Gatt called for a serious discussion on utility tariffs when he was winding up the debate on the estimates of Enemalta for 2009. The minister was down to earth, explaining the situation in simple language and giving detailed information about plans, including the project for the laying of the interconnector to the Sicilian power grid, now expected to be in place by 2011. Dr Gatt said Labour were purposely refraining from taking part in discussions and that, although Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat had said he had his own proposals, he had never seen them.

Clearly, Labour plan to continue taking as much advantage as they can from the matter, as shown by the way the Labour leader replied to questions on the subject put to him in an interview for The Sunday Times. But it is sheer political irresponsibility to give the people the impression that there is an easy solution to the problem when there is not.

It was only after the EP election that Labour appeared to be taking a step back and made it clear it was not making any commitment on tariffs. But by then, the votes had been in the bag already and that is what appears to matter most to Labour at this stage.

Dr Gatt said that, despite the high tariffs, it still had to fork out a sum some seven times higher than the subsidy given to the drydocks. This shows the size of the problem. It suits Labour well to stay on the sidelines but if it wants to win credibility it has to show to the electorate it does have workable solutions to problems. Uncommitted voters will not be taken in easily by sweet talk. They would increasingly press Labour to go beyond this and put forward their own proposals.

Dr Muscat's "sweet talk" strategy may have partly worked in the EP election but it will not in a general election.