Where is Labour on electricity bills?

Galea. L

Jun 30th 2009, 09:33

Salvu
JM was right in saying that had he been in office the rates would be lower because the price of oil had dropped to a quarter of the price when the rates were fixed by Gonzi. What the people are being charged for is the incompetence of certain people and the inefficiencies in Enemalta and the interests on the outstanding €200 MILLION left outstanding by the PN Governments.
How can you expect JM to guarantee lower prices following next election which according to pn apologists will be in four years time when your own Gonzi does not want to give a similar guarantee for a couple of months time?

J Martinelli

Jun 30th 2009, 00:29

@ D.Spiteri

At $12.00 a barrel in 1996, the bull had no horns!

v.vella

Jun 29th 2009, 21:48

@j.Vella.Which are your facts the one you tried to pin The PN Astronomical Defecit on Mintoff
when he was in govt over 30 years ago.The facts you mention are all twisted spinned and weaved in order to try to get to your agenda but your effort is useless as today everyone can
conclude the good and the not so good of both parties.In your case you try to paint everything white were pn is concerned and everything black were pl is concerned,which fool is going to concur to this line of reasoning.If you call your writings as facts youve got something that is way out of line.As no party has everything right or everything wrong.FACTS DAMDIMA FIRST CLASS FOR GONZIPN and with people like you in their ranks a bigger one is on the way.

P. Schembri

Jun 29th 2009, 21:22

@J.Vella. And in not so many words so is Tonio Fenech saying, like Mintoff said in the early '70's. NISSIKKAW IC-CINTORIN. He has too now, because there is nothing left to spend. The country has reached rock bottom in finances. As the Maltese saying goes "Li Taqla' Tieklu".
As for the 1998 Labour debacle, it was the Cottonera Project that brought down the MLP government, because Dr. Alfred Sant in all his wisdom wanted that the vote be tied with a vote of confidence. But the PN were a step ahead, and managed to get John Dalli in parliament on time to vote and therefore, the vote came out as of no confidence. I know it quite well Mr. Vella. The PN hired a private jet to bring John Dalli in time to vote. That's what tipped the scales. And of course, the PN withdrew the pairing to make sure that the Government will have a hard time.

c. camilleri

Jun 29th 2009, 21:21

Writing in an other English newspaper Alfred Mifsud an other labour exponent wrote the following " The Times could have been fairer if it stuck to the argument that labour's criticism of the Govt.' s policies in energy matter is unfair as this problem has an international dimension beyond the control of any Govt. This is an argument which could be made with a certain amount of validitiy" Adding this to what Profs. Scicluna, Louis Grech said and other level headed labour spokesmen (not J. Micallef) said one is justified to accuse labour of hypocrisy when making the energy tariffs an issue before the E. Election.

Joe Vella

Jun 29th 2009, 20:43

@ P. Schembri The most famous quote I remember by Mintoff is the one "Hemm bzonn nissikaw ic-cinturin". Where it started or not, doesn't make a difference, The vote was on the Cottonera issue. I talk about facts and not about ifs' and buts'. In regards to my political affiliation frankly, I do not give a hoot if you believe me or not.

P. Schembri

Jun 29th 2009, 20:15

@J. Vella. About your political affiliation, now pull the other one. About Labour's downfall in 1997-1998. It all started with the w&e tariffs. From there on, it was downhill all the way. In a way, yes the tariffs were a result of the Labour Government's downfall. If you remember correctly Mr. Mintoff's speech centred about the tariffs and told more than once that the Labour Government had lost its social soul.

Joe Vella

Jun 29th 2009, 18:46

@ P. Schembri For your information I am neither a committee member of the PN Mellieha; neither am I a member of any political party.

Joe Vella

Jun 29th 2009, 18:43

@ P. Schembri In your post you were talking about the price of Oil and W&E Tariffs. Then you mentioned Alfred Sant downfall. What is one to logically conclude?

P. Schembri

Jun 29th 2009, 18:30

@J.Vella. You mention the corps. So by your logic you wanted all those workers who were layed out by the British to leave them without work? Is that how you treat your fellow workers. And for today, what are you talking about treating well the workers? You must have forgotten all those transfers in 1987, 1992 after the elections. And how the worker was psychologically threatened and abused. I know, because I was one of them. The right to strike was taken to safeguard the workers' own interest, because by then it was widely know that the PN was behind all those industrial strikes especially in the late 70's. By the way, were you one of those of "Il-Kumitati tax-xoghol"? Remember those groups? They were used as spies on their fellow workers? Or have you conveniently forgotten the way information was gathered about the workers and their families?

P. Schembri

Jun 29th 2009, 18:24

@Mr. Vella. Instead of being your master's voice, why not think and act like your companions? If you read yesterday's english newspaper, not this one, you'll see what your comrades at arms are saying about your Party. They're saying it openly, that your Party has lost its social soul. Clearly, here, you're in the minority. You just ad lib your masters. Always, when cornered, revert to the 70's and 80's which you try to paint as black as can be, when in fact in those years the Maltese prospered, having their wages more than tripled, their standard of living skyrocketing. And for the first time have their own homes. Those were the black years for the PN, for it was an opposition in the wilderness. And seeing no light at the end of the tunnel, your party turned to industrial unrest and civil disobedience which nearly brought the country to civil war. That's what the PN will be remembered for in those years. Those were the PN's dark years. Hope history will be written as it was.

P. Schembri

Jun 29th 2009, 18:18

@J.Vella. If you read correctly I did not say that the MLP government was toppled because of the w&e tariffs. I said that the Labour government was toppled by the PN"s subterfuge with a helping hand by Dom Mintoff. So read carefully before jumping to conclusions. You should know, being a Committee member of the PN in Mellieha. And by the way, the PN, after the 1987 increased the w&e tariffs sevenfold. Where has all that money gone? @Mr. J. Borg. You misunderstood my logic, my friend. We're on the same side of the fence. What I was trying to say, was, that given enough time, the Labour government would have put in order the discrepancies caused the the newly set up tariffs.

Joe Vella

Jun 29th 2009, 16:52

@ v. Vella My advice to you is to comprehend what you have read first and not put words in peoples mouth. If people are up to their neck in debt is because they have the ability to pay it back. If people have the ability to pay their debt is because they are gainfully employed in productive work that is contributing to the Countries GDP, unlike those who were employed in the Korpi tax-xoghol under the PL regimes. Workers who never contributed one cent to the GDP. One might also add that the so called Defenders of workers rights took the right to strike from these workers as well. I for one need no lessons from you as to whom have treated workers with dignity and respect.

v.vella

Jun 29th 2009, 15:41

@ J .Vella.I reccomend to you to keep track on what you are writing my friend first you said people have money in their pockets then after you agree with me that maltese families are up to their neck in Debt.Which one is it heads or tails.Its nice of you to continue in this trend as this way you are helping the pl no end as floating voters can see with their own eyes that the pn never learns from the electorate messages on the contrary they increase the dosage
of arrogance because when you treat the people with your line of reasoning youll be throwing salt on the wounds created by gonzipn.Its enough for them to make ends meet but to have
someone trying to pull their legs its a bit too much.LAQWA LI FINANZI FI SOD. MY FOOT.

J.Borg

Jun 29th 2009, 15:28

@ P.Schembri
of course the price of oil was low, but enemalta was already in dire straits.
had the issue been solved in 1996, enemalta would have been in a better position then it is today.
now we are in a position were price of oil has increased, tariffs are sky high and enemalta is still with a huge deficit.......which you and me will be made to pay.
so yes for me Joseph Muscat is right in stating that he cannot gaurantee that when Pl is in power he doesn't know if he will edecrease tariff.
One question i would like you to answer me Mr.Schembri.......can you tell us if the price of oil is going to remain as it is in 4 years time.
So, please cut thus bulls...t and it is the PN that's got to solve the problems and not invite the PL to solve them for him

v.vella

Jun 29th 2009, 15:21

@j.Vella.If anyone has to avoid this topic its gonzi becauses after a lot of promises prior the election ha did a major U turn re new tariffs which unfortunely is bringing maltese families nearer to poverty line.A.Sant though not one bill was issued he shone on the searchlight on the mismanagement the pn left at enemalta and instead pn took the cue and took necessary action to remedy the situation it hid it under the carpet to gain some political milage.Now the high w&e bills is due to the outstanding debt pn brought on enemalta as stated by enemalta chairman.The banks are taking over a lot of property back as due to the situation brought
about by gonzipn payment dates are not being kept.Keep on as u r as u r helping lp a lot.

Joe Vella

Jun 29th 2009, 14:48

@ P Schembri

Adjust the Tariffs then many folds over to what they are today?

For your history lesson today, The Sant Government was not toppled because of the Tariffs?

Joe Vella

Jun 29th 2009, 14:09

@ v. Vella

How conveniently you run away from the topic at hand.

In regards to debt, I have one thing to say my friend. Bank lends you money for one reason, cause they are assured that you are able to pay it back. That means trust in your earning power now, and in the future.

P. Schembri

Jun 29th 2009, 13:53

@J. Vella. What you fail to understand was, that in 1996, the cost of oil was low. Quite right. And it was the right time too to adjust the tariffs, without undue shock to the economy. Of course, there were the PN lackeys, who were left in sensitive authorities to give the wrong advice to the then PM. And that's what happened. We all now know that. Apart from that, it was in the first year of the Labour government, and if given time, things would have been resolved. But through the PN's subterfuge, they managed with the help of Dom Mintoff the topple the government. But now the chickens have come to roost, and the PN is faced again with a dilemma of its own doing.

v.vella

Jun 29th 2009, 13:14

@j.vella.Regarding money in peoples pocket maybe you are refering to the few gravy train riders because most maltese families Debt they have with the banks as all the promises gonzipn made to home buyers prior to the election that they will receive the necessary help have evaporated into thin air.No wonder all credibility has benn lost by gonzipn the mep
damdima refers to what we the people are feeling which is quite different from what the chosen few are feeling.Min Tonio Fenech is already moaning that worse is to come.No amount of excuses from any pn apologists is going to alter the fact that PNs mismanagement
rendered most families very close to poverty line.Thats why gonzipn lost control on his party.

Joe Vella

Jun 29th 2009, 12:28

@ v. Vella

What v. Vella neglect to tell us is that in 1996 the average price of a barrel oil was $20.00; and that the increases the Sant Government were propsing then equal to that of today.

Perhaps, v, Vella you could go and work out and tell us how much money have been left in the pockets of Maltese families all these years.

Robert Callus

Jun 29th 2009, 11:18

AD had been talking about looking for alternative energy for nearly 2 decades when the price of oil and gas was within limits. No one cared, it's just now cause we are pinned to the wall.

Don't take this as an 'I hate to say I told you so' but use this as an example that we need to take immediate action on environmental issues, which have a direct effect to the economic and social life on nearly everyone inhabiting the island.

v.vella

Jun 29th 2009, 11:07

@s.sciberras.Whatever JM says is not going to effect the maltese families,what gonzipn has done now that is worrying and leading a good percentage of the maltese families to fall below the poverty line and this when pn promised otherwise before the election,he lost his social soul because some families are having the ELECT Supply cut as they are unable to make ends meet.This is all the result of the great OMLETTE pn cooked for us regarding the FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE NATION.This when he sold the family jewels for next to nothing and the defecit continued to raise.MIN Xarrbu Kielu Il Bakkaljaw.PN put your act together.

v.vella

Jun 29th 2009, 10:46

@ salvu sciberras.The w&e tariffs were the downfall of labour due to the spinning and weaving of the pn even though not one bill had been issued and now the Chickens came home to roost for pn and these tariffs will see the downfall of PN.This week on television engineer Tranter of enamalta confirmed that about two hundred million euros invested in the power station of delimara are still outstanding only interest are being paid.God knows what other payments are outstanding and their amount.Who in his right mind could commit on something on which he does not know what the actual position is tks to PN mismanagement

D.Spiteri

Jun 29th 2009, 10:09

Salvu, where were you back in 1996 when Sant grabbed the bull by the horn and adjusted the then electricity tariffs? It is now clear to all that in 96, utility tariffs have been made so that we will not be in the situation we are now in. So Salv, now, the government is not taking the bull by it's horns, NO! But from the TAIL!