Updated: Water and electricity rates may be rising soon

J.Camilleri

Nov 3rd 2009, 18:46

Halluhom jgholew il-prezzijiet ! YEAY !!! APPLAUSE !

Mario Cachia

Oct 20th 2009, 21:59

@adrian aquilina
If these type of things such as corruption, extreme raise in bills were done in eu countries a civil riot would have been the result. but in malta we are all too passive.

For those who are saying malta is a place subsidised i shall give you some figures. 20% of the population is considered to be living in poor standards and conditions. Statistics also show that by the end of next year the figures will have a rise of 5% bringing about a total of 25%.

This is no joke. In fact this translates that 1 in every 4 people in Malta can be considered as being in the verge of poverty.

And we know more then... we are in recession so prices went up. What is it now we are overcoming the recession and the government has no excuse to hide from. Noooo, on the otherhand, because we are overcoming the recession prices will go up.
so...

Recession = prices go up
No recession = prices go up
? = prices remain the same or go down

m Vella

Oct 20th 2009, 21:59

every one complaining they've got no money,then when it comes to enjoyment they spend every cent!! come on! stop acting foolish this goverment has done a good difference in this country and yes one should pay for the waste of electricity & water so that way we can take care of the world, where some counties there is no E & W !!
And what do you think the party in opposition would do ? there has to be some money coming in the maltese box..... if it isn't E & W bills it has to be some thing else so don't be stupid better stay with what there is then waiting for the unespected as you never know what you'll find!!! and people just watch what you WASTE!!!

adrian aquilina

Oct 20th 2009, 20:36

in a country that never protests the government do what they want...the real european countries wouldnt stand for a government like this...only people can change it..

joanna farrugia

Oct 20th 2009, 19:19

@ mark galea and what abt this one?or it so shameful to admit the truth infact you didnt answered my question.

Mike Magri

Oct 20th 2009, 16:00

IF it really happens......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THERE GOES OUR COST OF LIVING INCREASE, My Friends... Haaa..Haaa. Haaa....

But Unfortunately, DECEIVING is and has always been, GonziPN Regime`s, trade mark....

Smagro

Oct 20th 2009, 15:46

Typical! W&E 'might be going up'! WHY!!!!
so in the summer we cannot put FANS on to keep our kids cool because the electricity is so high and now we cannot keep them warm in the winter because of the 100% INCREASE in GAS & the probable INCREASE in ELECTRICITY AGAIN!!!
Thanks a lot goverment! my last bill was 1750.84c & we hardly used electricity now what I have to get a loan to pay for the increase?

Mark Galea

Oct 20th 2009, 14:13

@joanna farrugia
There was once a government that took the people for a ride and got what it deserved ... opposition benches for 20 years + 5 more.

Neville Zammit

Oct 20th 2009, 12:22

I don't want to fall in the trap of those who want to deviate the attention of the people from today's real dificulties they're facing but I must comment about what Gonzi said about Muscat's apology.

Hon Gonzi many people suffered violence caused by PN supporters, both physically, and worse than that mentally. Not everyone remeber about the episodes of the dark days of the 60's.

I condem all type of violence. Muscat apologised. I am sure you shoulf do the same.
My family suffered during those days of the 60's and the sanctions oredered by Arcbishop Gonzi!

joanna farrugia

Oct 20th 2009, 12:08

@ mark galea the docks where closed down cos it was austin gatt dream and nothing else and now he is ruining enemalta too.its better you and your party start explaining how come the docks lost 37million in the recent Fairmount contract and stop blaming the workers.this gov is incompetent in everything and taking us ppl for a ride

Stefan Engelbert

Oct 20th 2009, 11:05

Why are they always talking about the Barrel Price in Dollars? In Euro the price hardly changed due to the weak dollar!

Are we paying the utility bills in dollars or euros?

neville debattista

Oct 20th 2009, 10:19

The PN should make an apology to all and sundry ghax giebtuna nitkellmu wehidna. Hadd m'ghandu sold mgemma.

Mark Galea

Oct 20th 2009, 09:44

@Joe Galea
I repeat - the shipyards was closed down because it was 1) a threat to our economy 2) a threat to democracy. Nothing more, nothing less.

Roderick Micallef

Oct 20th 2009, 08:06

Bla Bla Bla Bla

J.Camilleri

Oct 19th 2009, 23:50

Bazwruh pajjiz.

Joe Galea

Oct 19th 2009, 13:57

@Mark Galea: As you implied the PN closed the dockyards beacuse of the then MLP stronghold in there, not mainly due to inefficiencies, etc. Also, the PN in the recent Fairmount contract made Malta lose another 37million Euros, with their incapability, and wonder of wonders no one is responsible and accountable for such blunder which we have to pay.

Mark Galea

Oct 19th 2009, 13:57

@Galea. L you say contradictions??? What about the fact that you and others (of the same political side) write on THE TIMES? The same TIMES that was burnt down by the same people (who might even be writing in this blog.) If you were not so contradictory, you would be writing only on PL websites, definitely NOT on the TIMES. My friend, you see where democracy comes from?

A Vella

Oct 19th 2009, 12:32

What a pity that the price of water and electricity is used as a political pawn - the party in opposition always says "don't raise the price", while the government always tries to raise the price to start covering part of the cost involved. Politics is the least important factor in this matter. The facts that matter are the following: we have overused our water - possibly those selling water from unregistered borehills being the ones who overused water most. Now as a nation we have to do some sacrifice, not because some politician tells us to do it, but because in ten - fifteen years time there won't be any water for our children. Also, fuel for electricity has to be paid - if not directly, indirectly through taxation and increasing national debt. Not paying the true cost of electricity and water now is only increasing the deficit timebomb for ourselves. For those who use water and electricity wisely, it's actually better to pay the true price for what we use. If prices remain below cost and overexactraction through boreholes allowed, then we will all have to pay for it and for the debt it generates through taxation.

Ernest Vella

Oct 19th 2009, 11:37

I am asking what would have Dr.Alfred done in the same situation....what Dr.Joseph Muscat have done in the same situation...maybe it would have been better for PN to loss the general election

Galea. L

Oct 19th 2009, 10:17

Mike Richards
You are even doing it in the international field by giving training to woul-be diplomats by AST...
Don't you think that you are contradicting yourself and the other pro-pn apologists when you continue to refer to the past and say that the PL has not changed and then you yourself are saying that the PL and AST are giving training to would-be diplomats?
Doesn't this mean that the PL has changed and is training its members to be diplomatic?
And can you tell the readers what is wrong if the PL is training would-be diplomats?
Or is diplomacy a reserved field for pn supporters?
You are a perfect example of contradictions galore from the pn and its apologists.

J Brincat

Oct 19th 2009, 09:34

The goverment or Enemalta should have hedged when the price of crude oil dipped below the $40 mark. Or don't we know the hedging mechanisim inspite of all the so called experts among us?

As regards the increse in the cost of living we are to expect an immediate increse in the price of most commodity items, thus pushing inflation up. Goverment should have an effective control mechanisim to ensure that price inreases are not abused.

Once elected to power Dr Gonzi had promised a new way of doing politics in . Yesterrday's statement does not show that he keeping to his promise. He rides too high a horse to apologise!

Abel Abela

Oct 19th 2009, 09:14

Spin, spin and alienate.
Families are too worried about the bills popping into their mailbox, to care in the slightest way about your definition of hypocrisy, Dr Gonzi.

Marco Cremona

Oct 19th 2009, 00:48

@ L.Galea

Under-valuating water does nothing to increase our wages/salaries/pensions.

The proper pricing of utilities will reduce wastage, enocourage investment in conservation and recycling and provide economic returns in the medium and long term, which in turn will result in the Maltese product being more competitive - thus increasing wages/salaries/pensions.

In the current scenario we are all losers.... and our childen even more so.

Pule' Carmel

Oct 18th 2009, 21:49

When young every body told me that chasing the making of a lot of money was not to be the value one should seek, so I chose to follow Ethics, and Morality and a sense of Justice.
Well, I now know how stupid I was, and I should have either come into Malta as an illegal criminal or had been an unknown father to my child, or a criminal. I just saw the latest Prison built in England for Criminals out of the taxes of people who followed moral values like me and I tell you it is much better than I could ever aford to build my own home after chasing the then published moral values, by both state and chuirch.

Galea. L

Oct 18th 2009, 21:03

Marco Cremona
Our wages/salaries/pensions are also pathetic.

J Busuttil
Encouraged by the PN when it was in Government. The Government had every right to decide not to allow the Church to deny burial in a PUBLIC cemetery. Read Ganado's Rajt Malta Tinbidel and see how the PN used the Church for its ends. Surely Ganado was never an MLP supporter.

Mike Richards, L.Ciappara
Don't bet on it Richards. As for Gonzi and PN not apologizing, that's another reason why the PN is going to bite the dust come next election.

Martin Mizzi

Oct 18th 2009, 21:02

Taghti $6.04 ghall-gholi tal-hajja u tiehu lura min jaf kemm.

Andrew Fudge

Oct 18th 2009, 20:57

i like the way everytime one of us ex-Pats express our opinion and send in a comment and we say i am English or we are British and happen for a split moment mention the wrong thing or to the dislike of the locals, you chaps seem to jump in head first and start quoting History all over re; colonials days of the British Empire OR go back to Blighty, now whats this got to do with expressing once opinion or comment, how do you chaps expect us to integrate if you shut the door on us> we are human too you know and are not transparent. Am not amused at all and way out of order with some of the feedbacks below to Mr.Fletcher's comments. just imagine if we were to do like wise to all the immigrants in the UK, all hell will brake lose no doubt.

Mario Bonnici

Oct 18th 2009, 20:40

@J. Busuttil & A. Zahra
And who benefited from what happened in the 60's??
Archbishop Mercieca apologised for what happened in the 60's, and this was accepted by the Labour Party.
As regards to you Dr.Gonzi, the way you spoke today doesn't do any good to national reconciliation.

Marco Cremona

Oct 18th 2009, 20:33

@Hans Scerri

I suggest you check your facts. Even after lst year's increase in tariffs, Malta has the lowest water tariffs in the EU, after Italy. And this withstanding the fact that this is the 9th thirstiest country in the world, and by far the thirstiest in the EU. And Malta is the only country in the EU that does not have a sewerage tariff (even Tunisia has introduced this !).

More than half our drinking water comes from desalination (Reverse Osmosis) and yet we only pay 0.23 Euro cents (i.e. less than a Euro cent!) for each litre of water to EU drinking water standards, delivered at pressure to our roof tanks.

Really and truly, the water tariffs are still pathetic.... and this at the expense of future generations.

Joseph E Briffa

Oct 18th 2009, 19:57

@J Mifsud..and were will you land, in Utopia?

Gerard Cassar

Oct 18th 2009, 19:42

30 years ago something wrong happened. In 1933 something wrong happened too and after so many years the P.N. headed by the prime ministers E.M, GBO, EFA and now Gonzi did not even dream to apologise. A drunkard Terinu took a false oath describing Strickland as a Mason. The oath was printed and distributed in churches and the P.N. won the elections.. Since then no person in the P.N. circles has even thought to apologise. Is there a time frame for an apology.
Gonzi why don't you apologise on behalf of your past masters.
I'll bet 100 to 1 that neither EFA nor Gonzi or any one in the P.N. hierarchy will dare only remind us of that scandal and abuse of churches.
One is amazed that the TOM/STOM have forgotten the event. It is unatural.

E Gatt

Oct 18th 2009, 19:39

@Stefan Engelbert

Actually there is no Corporation tax in Malta.

J. Mifsud

Oct 18th 2009, 19:25

Dr Gonzi & Co. will definitely be remembered in our political history as the worst Government - a government completely cut off from the people's feelings.

A regime who promises heaven on earth (before general elections) and then forgets all the day after the electoral results.

This government will be remembered for the eradication of the middle class with all its repercussions, as the chain reaction will be disastrous for most businesses.

It is a shame for the Maltese people as at the moment it seems as we are being governed by a crisis management. I believe more aches are around the corner. Do not expect anything on budget day, but be on the look-out for more taxes ( excuse me....tariffs) in the next 365 days of the year.

Oh, how I wish somebody offers me a vip flight to get away from all this!!!!!!!

anne cassar

Oct 18th 2009, 19:20

Why isn't the rate of exchange also mentioned. It was 1.40 in June and now it is 1.486. I am sure that it makes a difference when you buy large quantities

J Busuttil

Oct 18th 2009, 19:10

It was the Church which refused burials in holy graves and NOT the PN. And as far as I knoe she has already apologised. On Black Monday Dr Muscat's word was not an apology. On the energy Tariffs PM Gonzi was sincere with the people. He said he was proccupied by the recent rise in International Prices. And on another note Labour criticise the Government on the deficit and then gives the impression that it wants cheap energy prices. And do not forget that when Jason Micallef said that Labour will lower energy tariffs MUSCAT later said that he has to see "things' and then decide.

A. Zahra

Oct 18th 2009, 18:38

@ R. Laurenti
Bobby it was not the PN which excomunicated your grandmother. It was the church. So how can the PN apologise for something he did not do and which the PN leader at the time did not agree with? Remember the PM is not the head of the church in Malta. It is the Archbishop and HE has already apologised.

Gordon Farrugia

Oct 18th 2009, 18:21

don't you see the manipulation here? first he lands the bomb preparing us for another hike in water and electricity rates.... Then he mentions an event of decades ago to try diverting attention (which has worked so far as the diehards pour in). That's how the Nationalist party has always worked and that's how it will continue to work.

T.gauci

Oct 18th 2009, 18:14

Does Dr.Gonzi want Dr.Muscat to bow down and kiss his toe to accept the apology ?

Stefan Engelbert

Oct 18th 2009, 18:12

With the highest coporate tax rates after italy it would help the industry to reduce them to EU average.

L.Ciappara

Oct 18th 2009, 18:08

@j.mallia -- Election?? Wishful thikings dear

john micallef

Oct 18th 2009, 18:07

tariffs were revised every 6 months, accidentally, during the last 6 months the price of oil was averaged mid $50. now that oil is rising, i bet there will be a revision every month. thanks very much mr pm

D Attard

Oct 18th 2009, 17:48

I commented in one of the TOM blogs about the PN's lack of acceptance of Muscat's apology. Labour's past has always been the fall-back plan for the PN, even if not blurted out officially. Accepting Muscat's words would be cancelling it out, so instead of showing some political maturity the Emeritus President and Gonzi have taken the decision to deepen the chasm.
Wasn't the PM himself who has stated on a number of occasions that everyone makes mistakes? It seems as if it was just empty rhetoric, and he strongly believes the PN has never been responsible for any wrong doing.

Graham Holme

Oct 18th 2009, 17:36

Another nail in the coffin of your tourist industry
Water ,Electric, increase in price,the various outlets,cannot absorb these price rises,so in turn it is passed on to the consumer, ,pricing Malta,slowly but surely out of the tourist market

Joseph E Briffa

Oct 18th 2009, 17:32

It is a fact that the price of oil determines the tariff structure once state subsidies are removed. The effect on the rates is determined by the weihjting of the price of oil in the cost of production. If say the weighting is 50% then an increase of US$ 35 on 40 i.e. approx 90% will be translated into a 40/ 45% increase in the electricity tariffs. So somebody who paid Eur500 p.a. for electricity should now pay Eur700. This is simple arithmetic.

Mike Richards

Oct 18th 2009, 17:25

May I say to those anti, you have to wait another 4 years or what remains of Dr Gonzi's mandate. This government was elected by the people and no labour mugs will tell Dr gonzi to call an election today. Dr Gonzi is not Dr Sant. And for those who are moaning for political transfers, I tell them no one has anything to apologise to you. The vindictiveness the Labour Governments caused to nationalist ssupporters, even for buying In-Nazzjon taghna, with spies in every department, you are even doing it today, by the appoiontment of special spies to screen labour councils for any murmurs against Joseph Muscat. You are even doing it in the international field by giving training to woul-be diplomats by AST who ordered our foreing embassies not to talk with PN representatives. And these are the same people who are cuddling with Joseph Muscat. So what does Malta expect with a new Labour government. More of the same vindictiveness. The labour party had better make a true apology to the Church and to the PN for the violence, the bombs and the murders committed by Labour governments. Malta and hsi wife will never forget.

marco meli

Oct 18th 2009, 17:01

thanks dr gonzi!!!! the people really appreciate. By the way, is it true this rumour i am hearing, that commercial vehicles licence is set to increase up to 700 euros?????

DMifsud

Oct 18th 2009, 16:54

So we are doomed whether or not we are in a recession. Everyone who wants to speak right knows that the problem in this country is not the recession!

M Sammut

Oct 18th 2009, 16:40

@David Buttigieg

You are very insensitive to the plight of other people.

bzerafa

Oct 18th 2009, 16:40

tal-pn angli. m'ghandhomx minn xiex jindmu!!!. tas-sittinijiet il-vjolenza fizika u morali ma kiienux huma izda l-knisja!!. Fit-tmenin il-balavostri waqqghu wahidhoim jew bir-rih fuq il-partitarji tal-labour.
Kullhadd jizbalja u kullhadd ghandu jghid sorry. Dwar il-black monday ma rridux ninsew li kien hemm attakk fuq il-hajja ta mintoff ghalkemm b'daqshekk qatt ma kellu jsir dak li sar. Fuq kollox dawn il-ftit hadd am qabbadhom biex imorru jkissru.
Il-labour fl- 80's ghandu jibqa' mfakkar ukoll bil-bosta beneficcji socjali li kiseb ghall haddiema u plots li illum lanqas biss joholmuwhom iz-zghazagh taghna.
Il-ftit vjolenza li saret ilu li patta ghalija il-pl u pn jibqa' jirkeb minn fuq dan l-episodju 30 sena wara hija gimmick biex il-poplu jaljina ruhu mill-bosta skandli u korruzzjoni u dejn kbir li l-pajjiz jinsab wara 25 sena ammistrazzjonita tal-pn grazzi tal-par idejn sodi u l-hafna tlablib li hafna haddiema u middle class baqghu jibilghu sena wara sena. Issa daqshekk ghax is-sewwa jirbah zghur,

Joe Abela

Oct 18th 2009, 16:32

To Hon. Dr Gonzi
I want you to apoligise to me personally since I was one who at the end of 1987 I received a political transfer and after I presented my case to the Commission of Injustice, I received a compensation of about Lm3000. This transferred was promoted by a \PN Gozitan delegate who had vowed to punish me and my whole family for the only reason that we were, are and remain supporter of Malta Labour Party. Although this delegate is not yet in office, still he still enjoys these rights. Ghawdex zghir u n-nies maghrufa, Onor. Prim Ministru.

michael fenech

Oct 18th 2009, 16:21

@ Mark Galea,

Very well said Mark, you are really showing how BLUE you are.

Alfred Grima

Oct 18th 2009, 16:11

@Lorainne Vella
Li tizra tahsad they say.

Hans Scerri

Oct 18th 2009, 15:59

Water and especially electricity prices are ALREADY sky high in Malta compared to any other European countries! They still have excuses to raise the prices??? Not to forget that we have to buy the drinking water and the gas for heating extra!!! Still one cant live comfortably! In Europe the houses are nice and warm in winter and they pay a fraction- in fact a third of what we pay in Malta!

I just wonder HOW people in Malta are able to pay these bills, because salaries are extremly low! There is something very wrong here!

Galea. L

Oct 18th 2009, 15:47

Mark Galea
EFA and Gonzi destroyed our oldest industry.
If for you the price is not high enough and are willing to pay others cannot pay. Are you suggesting that they be denied water and electricity?
If the tariffs are not high enough so are our wages/salaries/pensions.
Why don't you suggest to Gonzi to increase them by the same amount that he increased his own and his ministers and parliamentary secretaries wages/salaries/pensions?
Maybe the people will not continue to grumble and be able to make ends meet.

tabela

Oct 18th 2009, 15:35

dr gonzi waqt li hu missieri kien qed jinfifen fil Mizbla, il partit tieghek kien fuq il fossos jinqeda bir religjon biex jahtaf il gvern. Fil MIZBLA gie midfun, mhux talli kien ippersegwitat f hajtu izda anki wara mewtu. how low can one go?

D.Agius

Oct 18th 2009, 15:29

It seems very likely that the PM is unwilling to accept any form of apology whatsoever, year after year. I really don’t know what sort of apology he has in mind. It is crystal clear that the PN is not really after an apology but simply wants people to remain focused on the past rather than the present and the future. As for the ‘quality apology’ he’s after …maybe he could show us what he has in mind by offering one himself for the interdiction and other nasty events happening during the 60’s.

Mark Shaw

Oct 18th 2009, 15:28

@ S Fletcher

Can i just say as a Brit living and working in Malta, your comments are about as crass & moronic as it gets! times are tough and getting tougher..i suggest you go back to blighty and remember the hard times you had there that drove you to retire in Malta/Gozo.... maybe you will then understand why people exclaim they cant afford! ...If you're so well off then i suggest philanthropy !

M .Shaw

Lorraine Vella

Oct 18th 2009, 15:24

un ejja prim! ha tkompli tkissirna!!! so, when the oil prices decreased, we kept paying higher prices. now you come tell us that oil of price will again increase because of the world recovery! when are WE going to start recovering eh?

And forget black monday. that was ages ago! stop living in the past for heaven's sake!!! we are facing black mondays and tuesdays etc... the whole week! and with this increase, how black is our future going to be???

and just in case anyone is wondering... i am one of those nationalists who vote PN each and every time, because unfortunately our opposition is worse than the party in government ... the lesser of bothe evils i guess...

m busuttil

Oct 18th 2009, 15:23

Before last summer the price of oil went down from $140 to $40 (more than a 100% - right?)
W&E rates went down by a mere 20% - right?
So why the hike in rates - RIGHT???????????????????

michael cauchi

Oct 18th 2009, 15:23

increase rates today before tomorrow ...IL POPLU HEKK IRID !!!! u hekk haqqu !

j.mallia

Oct 18th 2009, 15:12

hallina dottor gonzi..........................zmienek ghadda ..............sejjah elezzjoni

David Buttigieg

Oct 18th 2009, 15:10

@R. Laurenti

"so you won't appologise about the fact that my grandfather is burried in a MIZBLA prime minister?"

Why should he? Please somebody answer me, why on earth should he! The Church should!

And to this so called mizbla, it is simply an unconsecrated part of a cemetry! After all, anybody buried there chose to go against church rules, no matter how stupid they were, and so shouldn't care less if they were buried on un-consecrated ground!


@Galea L

Whats a hypocrat.?

Marco Cremona

Oct 18th 2009, 15:06

This country still gets more than 60% of the water we use FOR FREE. Groundwater, whether it's pumped up by WSC for the potable water supply, or by agriculture/industry/bowsers is FREE today.

Problem is that we are pumping our aquifers dry. What happens when this strategic resource disappears in 15-20 years time? How are we going to get our water from then? Shouldn't we address this issue NOW to ensure that our children can continue to exist on this island?

And yes, whether we like it or not, any investment in sustainable solutions will hurt our pockets in the short and medium term.

One hopes that any revenue accrued from an increase in water tariffs will be used wisely by the powers that be.

A warning note : It would be suicidal to increase the water tariffs without first controlling the illegal extraction of groundwater. Last year's increase in water tariffs pushed farmers, companies and even individual households to drill more boreholes to extract groundwater - thereby excarbating the groundwater problem.

It would be very foolhardy and irresponsible if government were to make the same mistake again.

- and not because of climate change.

Mark Galea

Oct 18th 2009, 15:04

@Galea. L
if you are correct, my friend, we should soon start having maltese sleeping on the streets due to the Electricity and Water bills.
I suggest we home these people in the Shipyard's buildings ... now that they are empty of the thugs.

d.attard

Oct 18th 2009, 15:02

It is very obvious who is seeking national unity in diversity of taught and who is seeking division as a means to retain power at all costs.

The way in which I now see how these so-called nationalists and their collage of hodgepodge cronies tear into this energetic young man as tore into all previous labour leadership with the furious abandon of starving rottweilers, remind me of the words of ernst toller

And suddenly, like light in darkness, the real truth broke in upon me; the simple fact of man, which I had forgotten, which had lain deep buried and out of sight; the idea of community, of unity.

thank you dr muscat for reminding me that man can still be an agent for the collective good.

Mark Galea

Oct 18th 2009, 15:00

@Galea. L
Gonzi did this country its biggest favour by closing down the shipyards - they were a threat to our economy and to democracy (hope you remember thugs attacking people and breaking up everything)

Mark Galea

Oct 18th 2009, 14:56

@All
Although I do not like paying any type of bill, I agree that bills should reflect the true price of energy production. Else, people who are more efficient in their energy use are not rewarded. How can we invest in any type of alternative energy (and water reservoirs) if the price is not high enough to justify the expense.

Marco Cremona

Oct 18th 2009, 14:55

Of course water (and electricity) rates have to increase.

Doesn't anybody know that the EU Water Framework Directive stipulates that Malta's water tariffs have to :
- incorporate all sewerage (collection and treatment) costs and
- the 'resource' cost of water which we extract FOR FREE from our groundwater sources.

as from 2010, or face fines.

The former will result in an increase of (at least) a Euro 0.50/m3 in the water tariffs; the latter, on its own will result in a doubling in the water tariffs !

And I have not touched on the fact that (in all probability) the WSC still pays a fraction of the actual electricity cost. Before the revisions in the water tariffs last year, WSC was paying around 6 cents/kWh of electricity consumed by its RO plants - when the production cost to Enemalta had already exceeded 14 cents/kWh. Enemalta was effectively subsidizing water production to the tune of millions of euros a year - which explains why the water tariffs are so low when compared to the electricity tariffs.

And this in a country which has the highest Water Competitivity Index in the world (a measure of water demand versus water availability) !!

Galea. L

Oct 18th 2009, 14:50

S. Fletcher
You yourself said that you can afford to live here.
Good luck to you, but most people do not afford to Fletcher.
As for property owners, a few people have a lot of properties, but that doesn't mean that everyone does.
If a person has 10,000,000 euros and 9 other people have a thousand euros, per capita according to statistics each has 1,000,900. Is that the truth Fletcher?
This brings me back to your statement that you could afford to live here, but you cannot afford to live in your own country. Don't you think that this may also apply to Maltese citizens in their own country? So please spare us your sermons Fletcher. We are no longer your colony of the British Empire where the sun used to never set. It has set a long time ago.

R. Laurenti

Oct 18th 2009, 14:25

so you won't appologise about the fact that my grandfather is burried in a MIZBLA prime minister?

As a young citizen; I'm ashamed of you.

Graham Crocker

Oct 18th 2009, 14:10

My hurtful comments towards some people on the comment board should have never happened, but they must also excuse themselves for their donkey behavior.

A.Busuttil

Oct 18th 2009, 14:04

I too celebrate a black day in October , this is a black day for me and my family.It was the day the Nationalist Goverment decided to put me out of business because I am a Labour supporter. It was a great suffering for my family and my staff. But God is great and did not let this happen to us. I dont excpect a personal appology,because they could not care less about me and my family ,but I excpect a general apology for those individuals and families who suffered for their believe, namely in transfers and tenders. In same time we need a garantee from the leader of the PL that justice is going to be done with the reds, I mean the real reds ,because we are seeing a lot of blue individuals and business people suddenly are becoming pink.

Darren Cassar

Oct 18th 2009, 14:00

I m sorry to say but this is one of the worst governments we had in recent history.
Honestly I never expected this from Gonzi. I remember him as speaker and seemed a man of principles at the time.
It has become habit to always blame the Global recession but sorry we are not that stupid.
I voted PN twice but certainly won't do the same in the next election especially if increase in cost of living , corruption and injustices are not dealt with.
There seems to be no conscience at all.
I also found this remembrance and recent Black Monday issue pathetic.
My family as PN supporters suffered too in those times, but please people are not stupid.
Energy should be spent on solving current problems.

Alex saliba

Oct 18th 2009, 13:59

Dr Gonzi you are still stuck in the past.. you want our nation to remain divided so that you could achieve your much desired political gain. Joseph was mature enough to start a new page in Maltese political History.

Our nation is striving to change, change the blue vs red mentality but Gonzi as a great Conservative is still trying desperately to take political mileage.

Malta deserves much better, Malta deserves a fresh government with fresh ideas and im sure that Joseph would be doing a wonderful job in achieving this!

Stephen Borg Cardona

Oct 18th 2009, 13:55

The Labor Party is as always incapable of facing facts and admitting that it is solely responsible for the violence perpetrated during the Eighties.

Joseph Busuttil

Oct 18th 2009, 13:41

How come the Prime Minister and his followers always wont to talk about the past.I think the road ahead is to the future. The only think that make sense when they talk about the past is the only way they can win. Even the Archbishop in the 1990 made an apology for all that was done wrong during the sixties so what it is wrong that Joseph Muscat said what he said. Lets go on and look to the future of Malta if the Prime Minister really mean it

joyce aquilina

Oct 18th 2009, 13:36

isthi jekk taf kif u warrab min hemm

Jimmy Magro

Oct 18th 2009, 13:36

Any increase in water and electricity rates must be compensated by an increase in wages. Otherwise the level of poverty will further increase. Decreasing the real purchasing power of the citizens is not ideal in a situation of a recession.

Can the government publish a report on the cost measuring success by EneMalta, reduction in wastage of water and electricity and labour's productivity in both corporations before they think of increasing the water and electricity rates.

For us who do not fly on private jets, our pockets are already over-streched.

Galea. L

Oct 18th 2009, 13:31

Gonzi, you are the hypocrat.
Just two examples for you.
Remember Finanzi fis-sod?
Remember the promises to the Shipyard workers?

Michael Gatt

Oct 18th 2009, 13:25

Proset Dr. Muscat int kont kapaci tibda it triq ta rikoncijazjioni pero il message tieghek wasal zgur ghand min ghandu widnejn biex jismaumhux fidnejn min irid jibqa johlom bil passat li ma jwaslsek imkien

Gianni Xuereb

Oct 18th 2009, 13:25

@Eric Gahn: You hit the nail on the head!

I ask one question. Who is trying to unite this nation in your honest opinion ?
1) the person who is offering an apology for the second time in a row
2) the person who describes the apology as hypocritical.
Ieqaf u ahseb

S. Fletcher

Oct 18th 2009, 13:19

I am English and we came over to your country to retire cause its cheaper for us in the long run, no council taxes, taxes for this and that, besides our E&W bills are much higher then Malta's taken wages in consideration, so really the local W&E bills can go up as much as they like to, within reason cause *i can afford it and its no problem FOR MOST OF US Britains* I don't want to sound rude, but alot of you people in this country always moan you got no money, i agree some are in a poor state of affairs but this country is not as poor as they make out to be and alot do own alot of properties talking about Gozo now don't know about the main island,i wouldn't live there ieven if you pay me,however also most run or own 2-3 cars in one family, so please folks don't come out with the old cock and bull story; GOT NO MONEYEEEEEEE! PULL T'OTHER ITS GOT BELLS ON IT JOEY BOY.

Eric Gahn

Oct 18th 2009, 13:06

While the tone of Joe Muscat's apology can be debated, it is an apology nonetheless. To call it 'hypocritical' is using the same tones that divided the nation in the 80's. While Muscat is trying his best to slowly heal the nation, the Nationalists keep making sure that they keep the 80's alive in the people's minds. They know Muscat is showing great promise and they fear his every step and word.

Keep it up Joe. The people are building trust in you.

Leonard Brincat

Oct 18th 2009, 12:58

Before redusing 20% off the bill last June Dr Austin Gatt Said that If the oil goes down the 80$ a barrel line he would reduce the bill and he did so.Now how come the prime minister Dr Gonzi say that there would be a rising soon in the electricity bill when the oil did not reach even the 80$ a barrel.I think that the PN word means nothing they always take advantage before the elections and then after back to square one.L-aqwa flimkien kollox possibli.Dejjem titmejlu bin-nies ma nafx kif ma tisthux.Nahseb li ha joghla id dawl minhabba dejn li ghamel il PN 4,000,000,000 jigifieri ghandha 10,000 euro dejn kull wiehed u wahda minnha.Grazzi Ghall PN..............

A.Borg

Oct 18th 2009, 12:53

"For what did he want the PN to apologise??"

Apologise? Regret? ma tarax..

It does not even feature in the PN wikidictionary. By saying so, the PM has just insulted half the population and should apologise.

Neville Zammit

Oct 18th 2009, 12:51

Proset, proset Onor Prim Ministru, kompli kissirna b'kontijiet ghola. Tajba din, Il-Prim l-ewwel jigi jiftahar li mhux ser idahhal/izid taxxi fil-budget izda mbaghad, x hin jidhirlu jgholli t-tariffi ta xi servizz partikolari bhad-dawl u l-ilma.

G.Schembri

Oct 18th 2009, 12:47

There goes our €6.06 cost of living increase. First we are told there will be a slight increas in public transport which when checked we find it is a considerable amount then we are told there will be an increase in water and electricity rates, what next? We get a cost of living increase in the same week we find that government induced costs will be nuch more than what we will be getting.