Kurt Sansone
'PM cannot be trusted'
Muscat calls for corruption to be tackled
Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday warned the government not to repeat last year's mistake when it raised the water and electricity tariffs, which created big problems for businesses and families.
"Those who are advising you have driven you into the wall. Do not let them drive the economy into the wall. Don't repeat the same mistake twice," he warned the Prime Minister as he called for a maximum ceiling to be set on all government tariffs and licences.
Speaking during a mass meeting at Żabbar, bedecked by Maltese and EU flags, Dr Muscat repeatedly told his audience that the Prime Minister could not be trusted. From managing the economy to the issue of black dust, from the Nationalist Party's internal squabbles to the ballooning deficit, the Labour leader constantly emphasised the issue of trust.
Talking about the forthcoming budget, Dr Muscat expected a responsible budget that tackled the high cost of living, job creation and corruption.
High inflation and corruption, which he described as a tax on everyone, were threatening jobs, he said, listing 10 proposals Labour would like to see implemented.
Dr Muscat called on the government to establish beforehand the maximum rates for water and electricity consumption for next year to do away with the uncertainty.
Similarly, he said, the government should freeze all charges, licence fees and tariffs to create stability.
He then called for the creation of an agency for consumer protection with its first remit being to investigate the price of medicines. In a bid to address the high cost of fruit and vegetables caused by what the EU Commission described as market imperfections, the Labour leader urged the government to tackle the "abusive" situation at the vegetable market (pitkalija).
Dr Muscat said the tourism sector had to be helped and called for the removal of the accommodation tax on tourists announced in last year's budget and which will come into force in 2010.
He reiterated his call for the reduction of the VAT rate on tourism-related services and restaurants.
Taking a leaf from the proposals made by the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU, the Labour leader called for a revision of the eco-tax system. He did not give details on how it should be reviewed but insisted it should not weigh down businesses while still serving as an environmental incentive.
Dr Muscat said banks should also do their bit for the economy and urged the government to start negotiations with them to lower their exorbitant charges.
The Labour leader also called for the introduction of a legal provision under which anybody losing his or her job would be entitled to benefit from a moratorium on home loan repayments for a period of time.
Finally, he also suggested a revision of the 12 per cent tax on property sales to make it easier for young couples to buy their first home.
Anticipating the government's criticism of his proposals, Dr Muscat said the money to finance the suggestions could be found by tackling corruption and waste.
He cited as an example the shipyards' Fairmount contract, which on its own cost the country €40 million in losses.
"Leaving more money in people's pockets would stimulate the economy and I trust you with money more than I trust Dr Gonzi's government," Dr Muscat told his audience. He reminded them that the Nationalist Party had promised to cut income tax to 25 per cent at a time when Dr Gonzi had said he was already seeing an economic storm coming.
The Prime Minister could not be trusted, he repeated, since there was no visible and plausible explanation for the ballooning deficit which reached €345 million in August.
"The government spent less money in capital projects this year and it cannot claim to have spent the money on subsidies for water, electricity and gas because these were removed."
The government was unstable and Dr Gonzi was more concerned with his party's internal problems than the problems faced by ordinary people, he added.
"The Prime Minister does not know when the budget day is, let alone what measures it will take to help people in these difficult times," Dr Muscat said, describing the government's problems as the "Gonzi crisis".
With reference to the concern of many people in the south about black dust, which has been plaguing the region for years, Dr Muscat said the government was taking people for a ride.
He also referred to the new power station in Delimara, which is expected to produce 31 tonnes of toxic dust a day, insisting the government had changed its policy to go for cleaner technology that ran on gas and instead opened up the possibility for a Danish company to win the tender with antiquated technology.
Referring to the Finance Minister's trip with two prominent businessmen, Dr Muscat again called the Prime Minister's judgment into question.
"The Prime Minister chose to act one way with one minister and another way with Tonio Fenech," he said with obvious reference to John Dalli's resignation in 2004.
"How can we trust Dr Gonzi to act in a just way when he even makes distinctions between his own people?" the Labour leader asked.
Dr Muscat said the new movement spurred by the Labour Party was attracting more people to its fold. He called on people to look ahead towards the "future that united" them rather than the "past that divided" them.
Earlier the crowd was addressed by the two deputy leaders Anġlu Farrugia and Toni Abela.
Dr Farrugia accused the government of employing a number of people irregularly with Air Malta after the election by manipulating the records at the Employment and Training Corporation.
On his part, Dr Abela accused the Prime Minister of not wanting to face reality, using the global recession as an excuse for bad governance.
Reacting to Dr Muscat's comments, the Nationalist Party said the PL has yet again confirmed how detached it was from the world financial and economic reality. The message given by its leader was that no international banking crisis and economic recession existed.
The PN added it was easy for Dr Muscat to insist that tax be reduced without having to shoulder the responsibility to see from where to get the money to keep the country's finances and confidence on a sound footing.
Dr Muscat preferred to be superficial without committing himself on anything, as he had done last June when he said he could give no guarantees on water and electricity tariffs if he were in government, the PN said.
47 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Christian Sciberras
Jan 6th 2010, 15:20
1. No politician is ever honest, the positive honesty is just what the politican wants it's supporters to believe. As such, there's very little politiciansthat I trust, and I'm afraid, I don't fully trust Mr Muscat.
2. My point still exists. The EU is an international effort. Not my fault that some country didn't grasp the concept and is still divided between some paries (not talking about politics at this point). The key point is how you deal with competition; you could fight it off or you could actually make a difference (see the development of Google for an example).
3. The point is whether it's the PN / MLP / AD / ... in the Government, the party would have the same kind of financial pressure.
"25,000 floating voters, the people that REALLY make a difference in this country. "
So you think you could do a difference just by voting to a different party? I don't think so.
Especially in Malta, where a broken lightening pole has to fall and kill a person for anyone to consider fixing it.
As to your own free will, come say that again next time a political party bribes you.
Roderick Micallef
Oct 28th 2009, 20:07
@ Christian Sciberras,
1. Joseph Muscat looks promising because he has a young fresh outlook towards politics in Malta which is very well needed. Has worked in the EU and has personal experience as to what it entails to be involved in it, ans is honest enough to admit that the EU is not just sunshine and glitters as most people think it is, doesn't mean it's only negative either.
2. I am well aware that we joined in the EU but THAT has got nothing to do with it, political parties will still stay, irrispective whether we joined the EU or not, opposing political parties will be present and will compete against each other. If that had to stop then we might as well call ourselves a communist country and not democratic, I am sure that the hardcore partisan voters wouldn't mind that and that's where we come in, the 25,000 floating voters, the people that REALLY make a difference in this country.
3.I didn't really get your point to be honest
'U didn't tell me to vote anyone' I know you didn't, you don't need to I told you myself on my free will dear Christian!
Mario Bonnici
Oct 28th 2009, 19:54
@Giov De Martino
???!!!***///???
Did I mention a general Election in my comments??
Muscat. Pat
Oct 28th 2009, 16:10
After twenty years of PN administration Malta needs change and Joseph is a natural contender to act on this change. Truly he is young, but the young offer ideas and intellectual vitality, and vigour, unconstrained by past failures or patronage. And in a world dominated by young people, Joseph can provide pragmatic insights into Malta's problems.
Politics is not the only sphere where young people assume heavy responsibilities; the army, navy and airforce are all manned by young people. In the Usa, by the time CEO's are 45 years of age, they are already considered static and now, this culture of youth is entering the sphere of politics. True he has no experience to date,but lack of experience does not disqualify someone for holding important office if vitality, honesty and hard work compensates.
In this age where the triumph of youth is very evident, recycled old fashioned Prime Ministers cannot be expected to solve today's problems. Gonzi is good in rhetoric and behind the scenes manouevering, but such acts, as we have seen, bring about divisions and cliques inside the administration.When such acts are the talk of the nation, its time to bring in a new leader.
azzopardi mario
Oct 28th 2009, 15:57
The crux of the matter is how will Jm perform in a crisis? will he perform better or worse than Lg? Another consideration is will he come up with new ideas and how well will he implement them. These are the basic factors that will decide the next election. Bla bla from LG or Jm will not be enough to sway us one way or the other.
Christian Sciberras
Oct 28th 2009, 15:16
"it's a pity comments are made by those who obviously only listen or tune in to one line of news!"
How about those who don't trust news at all? Especially "news" passed through Maltese voices?
"55% of the maltese already did last June."
Quoting a friend of mine; "Democracy wasn't for between vote counts of between 40% to 60%". Any country which typically has such figures is, in all aspects, a *political wreck*.
Omar ellul - Do you want to honestly vote for a better country? If you do (which I doubt), don't vote for MLP nor PN. Instead, think forward.
GiovDeMartino@M Bonniici
Oct 28th 2009, 14:50
So according to Mr. Bonnici, Joseph Muscat is Prime Minister and we have a labour govt. So all our problems are now solved.!!!!!!!!!!!Stop moanng about the cost of living, potholes, corruption, etc etc. We have alabour govt. According to Mr. Bonnici. Dream on Dream on/
Omar ellul
Oct 28th 2009, 13:36
@JOE E GALEA
" The more you criticise the more it means that this demonstration and whatver JM said, pinched hard your political sentiments as deep down you know that your GonziPN is a continuous big time failure."
What is JM doing.... when he said that the "PM CANNOT BE TRUSTED".... mhux criticizing????..... so i think that the PM is the one that we shall believe.
Always the same story from opposition leader of PL.... Do that, do this , we can do that.....but they forget to give us the HOW to do that, how to do this???..... the 10 points that Muscat gave are not sufficient....do you think that with the points muscar gave will decrease or increase the deficit???
mario Bonnici
Oct 28th 2009, 12:13
@ Giov De Martino
"Who can trust labour in general and Joseph Muscat in particlar when we come to the EU? Or to the Euro? "
55% of the maltese already did last June.
Monica Pace Bonello
Oct 28th 2009, 12:04
.....who said that the recession is over?
dream on!
it's a pity comments are made by those who obviously only listen or tune in to one line of news!
GiovDeMartino@J Spiteri
Oct 28th 2009, 11:48
Who can trust labour in general and Joseph Muscat in particlar when we come to the EU? Or to the Euro? @ Roderick Micallef:"reduce corruption and expense" Give concrete examples please. Then we can talk better.
Christian Sciberras
Oct 28th 2009, 11:16
@Roderick Micallef -
1. Promising in doing what?
2. Maybe you haven't noticed, in the past years different european contries joined a single effort we call EU, rather then "fighting competition".
3. What has that got to do with anything? If it were true, either type of party would end up in the same crap.
4. Good for Mr. Muscat. Hope he's not yet another politician with exagerated/impossible/eluding ideas such as other politicans' we've got these last ~100 years.
I didn't tell you to vote anyone (or any party) so spare the argument.
If you want a change maybe you should stop relying on politicians doing the baby-sitting for you.
Regards,
Christian Sciberras.
S Pace
Oct 28th 2009, 10:01
We are living the future because we had great leaders who were wise enough not to take the PL recommendations and move on: this applies to opening University, modernising the education system, joining the EU, developing Malta's infrastructure (Power Station, Airport, Roads, Reverse Osmosis, Mater Dei, Old People's Homes, MFSA, Valletta Waterfront, Telecommunications, etc.), etc, etc, etc, etc......and finally closing down the Dockyard (which has drained hundreds of millions from our taxes)!!!!!!!!!
Roderick Micallef
Oct 28th 2009, 07:12
I am 31yrs old and am not partisan, so I am one of around 25,000 people on this island (and this number is evidently on the increase) that truly votes depending on the performance of that particular 5yrs term. However, I can already forecast that my vote next election will be going to PL for the following reasons:-
1. Joseph Muscat is the only leader that was never in power so far, and is looking promising.
2. He looks promising because he has fresh ideas, is relatively consistent and is not afraid to fight his competitors i.e. PN
3. Personally I've had enough hearing the excuse that all the issues we have are 'because of an international financial recession', this is of course not true because the recession is now over and the issues our country has are actually getting worst and definitely not any better.
4. Joseph Muscat gave 10 very valid points and said that the funds needed for these 10 points can come from reducing corruption and expenses, to this, PN reacted that Joseph Muscat is superficial, this means, that PN are not willing to even try to reduce corruption and expense, prosit PN!
Mary Ann Borg
Oct 27th 2009, 23:01
.... Labour trew George Abela out of the window and chose Joseph instead. Labour is trying to make of Joseph an idol, much like they did with Mintoff (traditur or salvatur, your choice), KMB, then Dottor Alfred Sant and now Joseph who is certainly bringing back people from the same past that the socialists here want us to forget. This is the present PL. This is the present PL that has the booted ex-secretary calling his successor a liar. The Labour that will not even offer an apology for Black Monday. The Labour that wants us to forget even the present world economic crises. The present that is clearly showing that Malta did fairly well, much better than most countries, in riding this difficult economic wave. The present that sees Gonzi saving thousands of jobs with his direct intervention to assist companies in distress. The present that sees Gonzi succeeding in stopping the money-down-the drain that the Drydocks was all about. The present that sees Gonzi taking head-on the public transport challenge. As for the future, I see no bright future with Joseph. Things would have been different with George Abela.
Mary Ann Borg
Oct 27th 2009, 22:50
Again, Labour wants us to forget the past. Well no, we will not forget the past. And having seen Maria Camilleri and Ghirxi on Bondi+ yesterday makes us speak of the past with even more fervour, much like the two did yesterday. According to the two fellows it was the Nationalists that provoked Labour. It was the Nationalists that got beaten and arrested for holding peaceful Independence celebrations. Did the Nationalists ever attack Labour supporters for holding peaceful 'Jum il-Helsien' celebrations? Did PN ever arrest Labour supporters for forming a group of 10 or more people, as used to happen routinely during Independence celebrations? Did PN ever stop Labour from holding meetings like Labour did in Zejtun, even after having lost the court case? Was Raymond Caruana provoking anyone by having a quiet drink at the PN club and ending up dead in a sea of blood? Did Eddie insult anyone to have his home ransaked and his family attacked? That's the past the socialists here want us to forget, but no we won't. If the socialists want us to speak of the present, then here we go: ....
J Spiteri
Oct 27th 2009, 22:17
@GiovDeMartino,
" #0 years ago we had no colour TV's, no compters, no electronic equipment of any kind, no constitutional court, no democracy, no butter, no foreign chocolates...we've moved forward and we've moved fast. Only a labour government can send us back."
Yes, infact Dr. Joseph Muscat is jotting it down as a priority to remove colour TVs, computers, electronic equipment, all butter brands and chocolates once Labour is in government :))))) !!!!!
From what you've just confirmed, Malta is moving forward but it is YOU who is still living and critisizing the past!!!! It is 2009!!!!!!
Muscat pat
Oct 27th 2009, 21:02
Yesterday, its the easy game to play, if you believe in yesterday! If we are stuck in yesterday, we will never solve todays and tommorows problems ! PN apologists are stuck in the 80's because they have nothing innovative to offer. So If you receive a high water and electricity bill, think about the the 80's, if you wait for 3 years for hip replacement....think about the 80's again. If Tonio takes a free ride to Madrid think about the 80's. Is this the best that PN can offer? Probably because up to now we have been listening to different spins for same problems. It is no wonder that many people have lost faith and trust in Gonzi; with a mind set
in the 80's one can hardly expect this Prime Minister to solve todays and tommorows problems, most of which are of his own making!
GiovDeMartino@J Spiteri
Oct 27th 2009, 20:20
We HAVE moved to the future.....lead by nationalist administrations. #0 years ago we had no colour TV's, no compters, no electronic equipment of any kind, no constitutional court, no democracy, no butter, no foreign chocolates...we've moved forward and we've moved fast. Only a labour government can send us back.
J Brincat
Oct 27th 2009, 17:59
@anthony castillo
Why do you keep harping ad nauseum on the same thing?. EU is now something of the past but conveniently you keep bring the issue back and back again.
We have to look at the future, hopefully it would be brighter with a change of goverment!
Christian Sciberras
Oct 27th 2009, 16:26
I wonder if that child knows what's going on around him.
And then we wanted to lower voting age?
What a joke.
J Spiteri
Oct 27th 2009, 14:13
@Simon Christopher Scicluna
@GiovDeMartino
A major problem you might be facing is living in past!!!!!!!!! It's 2009!
Time to move on Mr Scicluna & Mr DeMartino!!!! About time indeed!
Anthony Castillo
Oct 27th 2009, 11:33
How can Joseph be trusted with a vision like the UE and EURO issue because the only issues that they can prove his trust and also ask the people of ICELAND regarding the vision of Joseph.
Mark Galea
Oct 27th 2009, 10:50
@Galea. L
you still have to wait for 3 1/2 years for your next lottery ticket. And then maybe ...
james calleja
Oct 27th 2009, 10:22
i just cant believe there are peple like m farrugia still around. i thought the days of ignorance were gone. we all know what a burden the tax on property is on developers and first time buyers alike. By reducing tax on property, the market will be revamped and given a much neede kickstart. her analysis was : as if taxpayers are ready to make good for a building frenzy which now ended up in blocks of empty apartments. what a shame! did you know that teh building industry is one of the most important sectors in the maltese economy? do you have any idea of eth multiplier effect this industry has on the whole economy. I guess not.
M. Scerri
Oct 27th 2009, 09:49
Can Dr. Muscat please explain to me the "abusive" situation at the vegetable market (pitkalija)? Dr. Muscat should inform himself that the prices at the Pitkali Markets are established by the forces of demand and supply and that there is no abuse done by the middle men or by the farmers.
It's the street hawkers and supermarkets that are abusing the system. One box of cauliflower at the Pitali Markets is sold at €5 per box (each box contains 5 cauliflowers). From those €5, the middle men gets €0.40c, the governement gets €0.15c in taxes, and the rest goes to the farmer.
Do you know how much one cauliflower is sold in a supermarket? €3.50!! So who is abusing the system? The farmer? The middle men at the Pitkali Markets? Or the greedy street hawkers and supermarkets?
Christopher Debattista
Oct 27th 2009, 09:23
I still can't believe that there are still so many brain washed people who think that they are better off with the P.M. I had enough of seeing the manufacturing industry on its knees. Many companies closing down and everywhere you go people complain that they cannot cope with the extremely high taxes. Us Maltese are Fed up of lies ! What about the black dust in the south. Muscat has been waiting for the test results for more than four months ! We're not stupid and Muscat knows that the opposition is playing around. What about the 3 million Euros commission given to an ex-enemalta employee for handling the contract before it was even published. And all this to make a new polluting HIGH-FUEL power-station? All that ECO-TAX - WHERE IS IT GOING !? I THINK WE SHOULD BETTER CALL IT EGO-TAX . This government is being run only for personal goals and favors and not for the greater good of the country :( ... Bil-malti pur - biex titma dawk li huma min ta gewwa u li jpappuwa min fuq darna . Dawk huma li jikiritkaw lill Muscat ghax jibzghu li jaqtawlhom il-hobza il-kbira
Simon Christopher Scicluna
Oct 27th 2009, 08:37
@ J Spiteri
hahaha mela qlibtu issa? triduha bil bandiera tal-EU? Ikkonvertejtu? uleee navdaw, navdaw...
GiovDeMartino@J Spiteri
Oct 27th 2009, 07:44
"PN Cannot be trusted" But who said that? Not the majority but Joseph Muscat who did so much to keep Malta out of the EU and today his supporters are waving the EU flags. PN not to be trusted His party has NOT been trusted since 1981!
Joe E Galea
Oct 27th 2009, 07:43
@M Farrugia: Your post is just cryful. No wonder why malta is in such a pathetic state.
@all blue elves: The more you criticise the more it means that this demonstration and whatver JM said, pinched hard your political sentiments as deep down you know that your GonziPN is a continuous big time failure.
A. Mizzi
Oct 26th 2009, 22:40
Joseph Muscat is the breath of fresh air needed to refresh the administration of the country.
He has the know-how, the proposals, the leadership qualities and the vision sadly lacking in the current Gonzipn administration which is stifling the economy like the black dust and the mystery surrounding its origins , is polluting the southern part of the island ...
GiovDeMartino@J Spiteri
Oct 26th 2009, 21:07
PN CANNOT BE TRUSTED. Ahseb u ara kemm jista' jkun trusted min illum qed ixejjer il-bandieri tal-EU u erbat ijiem ilu kien jaghti l-pariri biex ma nithalltux mal-EU. After all we know who said that the PN cannot be trusted. The same person who said that the EU cannot be trusted and did everything in his power to keep Malta awat from the E U.
Galea. L
Oct 26th 2009, 21:07
Mary Ann Borg
Keep harping on the past and you will convince us more that you have no valid arguments to counteract PL or Dr Muscat in your puerile attempt to defend your incompetent darling Gonzi.
As for Martinelli, he cannot even understand the comments due to his extremely dark blue blinkers.
J Spiteri
Oct 26th 2009, 19:12
Giov De Martino: Yes, you read correctly and it's reported correctly, bedecked by Maltese & EU flags! It's not a spelling mistake, just you still living in past history (for a change!!) I wonder how people like you succeed in finding such minor and obvious details as the main subject of an article like this, entitled "PM CANNOT BE TRUSTED"!!!!!!
GiovDeMartino
Oct 26th 2009, 18:24
"Bedecked by Maltese and EU flags" Correct? EU flags you said?
m farrugia
Oct 26th 2009, 17:27
JM again trying to please everybody with hollow proposals: removing 50c tax on hotel nights, as if tourists will not come to Malta because of a 50c tax - a proposal to use this tax to entice more routes to Malta especially in Winter would make much more sense Reducing vat on restaurants will probably not have an effect on restaurant business, as if Maltese go out to eat at restaurants every day or tourists are aware of vat rate when eating out, after all it's difficult to find cheaper prices in restaurants in Europe, including Eastern Europe. reducing tax on property, as if taxpayers are ready to make good for a building frenzy which now ended up in blocks of empty apartments
Michael Zarb
Oct 26th 2009, 16:57
Maximum tariff on electricity and water tariffs? Why should Government continue to subsidies the over-consumption of such utilities? What about the polluter pays principal? What about the ever increasing cost of Oil and once again spiralling deficit? No thank you Joe – we have burdened the future Maltese generation enough and its now time to live up to our responsibilities and pay our dues.
mario gellel
Oct 26th 2009, 16:56
@Martinnelli,Mary Ann THE MORE YOU HATE JOSEPH, THE MORE YOU CONVINCE PEOPLE TO BELEIVE HIM. LIKE THEY SAY-- THE TRUTH HURTS. KEEP IT UP
Paul vassallo
Oct 26th 2009, 16:55
I thought that carnival was next year and in Valletta and not held recently in Zabbar
c. camilleri
Oct 26th 2009, 16:39
Yes Stefan it was great. It was a good Sunday afternoon outing of the old days. I am sure that Joseph will give you more of this to keep people like you happy.
P. Schembri
Oct 26th 2009, 16:21
@Martinelli. I can't call you illiterate, but I can call you colour blind, or politically blind, as you like it. You can choose. But didn't Muscat yesterday proposed 10 points? Or in your haste for your destructive criticism (for that's what it is) you didn't see the woods for the trees? If you carefully inspect those proposals you'll see that if put into effect, will solve many of the country's problems. But of course, you're so comfy in Canada, that you won't mind at all of our conditions here. It's easy to criticise isn't when you're so far away.
p dimech
Oct 26th 2009, 16:06
It was only a show of force yesrerday, no substance at all.
Stefan Zahra
Oct 26th 2009, 15:10
Hey Joseph
Well done for yesterday manifestation it was graet!! hope to do it again i'm proud to be Labour!
Mary Ann Borg
Oct 26th 2009, 14:17
Oh yeah, let's all trust Joseph then. The leader of a party that is embarrassed with it's past, is living an unrealistic present and the only thing it can trick people with is the future. If this 'new, progressive' Labour is only presently capable of ditching George Abela and electing Tony Abela and Anglu Farrugia to assist Joseph tas-Super 1 with AST in the wings and exerting more pressure to turn Labour even more to the left side of Maltese politics, then we should all be jolly that we have the present Labour ready to take the reigns of this country. This is why Labour wants us only on focus on the future, because that's the only thing which is an unknown quantity, at least for those who cannot read Labour's intentions of doing everything possible to be given the right to govern our nation. Joseph cannot be taken seriously when after running a savage campaign about water and electricity tariffs during the MEP elections, he then went on record by saying that he absolutely cannot guarantee to have control on such tariffs. But of course, he only said this after 'winning' a battle. The war is different.
J Martinelli
Oct 26th 2009, 13:03
Same old, same old - what the government does, we can do better. What's missing is HOW?
What alternatives does Joseph propose? New subsidies? Higher deficit? New spending but lower taxes? Cut services, lower taxes and losing jobs?
Just a 'rallying of the troops'!
P. Schembri
Oct 26th 2009, 12:45
@J. Schembri. He came out with something better. Go to the core, and control the source of the high cost of living. Then there won't be any need for COLA. This would alleviate the burden from the employers, and ease the employees from some of their hardship. Or you don't agree with this also? If not, than your criticism cannot be taken seriously.
J. Schembri
Oct 26th 2009, 09:32
I expected Dr Muscat would come up with his proposal on the COLA debate. What is PL's line of thought , should we have the six euro fifty as a wage increase or should it be a bonus increase?
Ok I would agree that the middle men at the fish , vegetable and meat markets should be removed or controlled , but I am against the proposal of the removal of the 12% tax on property for first time buyers: it will be devoured in no time by the building speculators. From what I can understand Joseph's budget proposals are more like defeatist government 's interventions which would not create jobs .