Updated: Discussion is more productive than protests - PM
(Adds PL statement)
Those who wanted to protest against the increase in water and electricity tariffs were free to do so but it was more productive to discuss problems around a table, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this morning.
Speaking in Xaghra, the Prime Minister referred to the protest against the water and electricity tariffs being held by the Ghaqda Unions Maltin today week and said that his party had fought for the people’s right to protest and no tear gas would be sprayed on protesters.
However, instead of discussing the problem around the table, the General Workers’ Union, which was a member of the GhUM, had walked out of a meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development which had to discuss the tariffs.
Dr Gonzi pointed out that in the last budget, the government had allocated €17 million to mitigate the effect of the increase on the people.
He said it was true that bills were increasing for small shop owners but following consultation with the GRTU, a scheme were drawn up to encourage these businesses to invest in energy saving measures giving them a 40 per cent tax reduction on their investment. Gozitan businesses were getting a 60 per cent tax reduction.
Discussions had also been carried out with the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and others.
Dr Gonzi said that the real interest of workers had to be sought.
“We are ready to listen, to discuss and work with everyone. What we want is to continue making a success of our country.”
The Prime Minister said that his government had read the signs of the times and realised that challenges were ahead from before the last election.
However, it believed in this small island which lacked resources and knew that it could compete with the world and emerge victorious due to the government’s investment in education.
The people, he said, should not take heed of those who could only complain and call them mediocre, who still believed the Maltese were small fry who would be swallowed by whales.
In spite of the recession, he said, the government had worked wisely and still managed to attract investment. The world was still in trouble but Malta was heading in a clear direction that was bearing results.
Dr Gonzi also paid tribute to the late George Bonello Dupuis who died on Friday.
PL STATEMENT
Consultation and dialogue should take place before, and not after, decisions aretaken, the PL said in its reaction to the Prime Minister's address.
It said the Prime Minister was speaking on the need to find solutions around the table when it had already taken the decisions on the water and electricity bills. It had moved the legal notice when the government was supposed to be discussing the tariffs within the MCESD.
Now that the decision was final and the government did not want to reduce the tariffs, the Prime Minister wanted to solve problems around a table.
Dr Gonzi's consultation on the tariffs, the PL said, was similar to that the government was conducting on other issues such as the roofless theatre, about which it had decided against artists' and public opinion.
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George Cremona
Feb 21st 2010, 23:49
In the past, millions of Maltese Liri were spent by Maltese governments to subsidize electricity and water consumptions. Subsidies given to the consumer were sooner or later paid by the consumer himself through taxes. Subsidies encouraged higher electricity and water consumptions which at the end resulted in higher fuel consumptions charged at higher prices paid by the citizens themselves.
These are facts known by all, citizens, politicians, political parties and Unions. Facts which, as I said before, were being putting on everyone of us heavy financial and environmental burdens which someone, some day had to face and stop them. So, for reasons I had just mentioned, subsidies were a joke and not a solution . The real, effective and lasting solution lies in having the consumer educated, by being given the right direction and financial assistance not to consume more but less through the usage of alternative and clean sources of energy.
This is what the Government has been doing during the last two or three years. Is the GWU and its affiliates including the PL against such a policy? Do they call such policy mediocrity? MEDIOCRITY AND PITIFUL IS THEIR NEXT SUNDAY'S PROTEST .
Mark borg
Feb 21st 2010, 23:34
c. camilleri
Just like you swallowed the bait with the 'par idejn sodi' motto right?
DUSTY WILLIAMS
Feb 21st 2010, 20:44
EHE! HEKK JAQBILLEK TGHID INT U L-PARTIT TIEGHEK. INSEJTU KEMM KONTU THOBBU TOHORGU FIT TOROQ META KONTU FL OPPOZIZZJONI INTOM. HEKK HEMM BZONN PRIM MINISTRU AHNA POPLU SOVRAN U HIELES JEW TAHT DITTATURA TAHT GVERN TIEGHEK? DIN HIJA DEMOKRAZIJA. MIN JAF KIEKU KIEN GVERN LABURISTA EEEEE? ARA KIEKU KEMM ILKOM TOHORGU FIT TOROQ. AHNA MA NIBZAWX MINNEK.
JEKK ID DAWL SE JKOMPLI JOGHLA, HEKK SER NAGHMLU U HADD MU SE JWAQQAFNA LANQAS L'INTIMIDAZZJONI TIEGHEK UTA DAWK LI JAHSBUWA BHALEK. HALLINA.
Luciano Busutil
Feb 21st 2010, 20:19
yes, discussion....but before decisions are taken not after...if the PM wants discussion he should have brought forward discussion in parliament!!!!
c. camilleri
Feb 21st 2010, 20:00
I can detect a great similarity between Josep's opposition to the increase in utility bills and Sants opposition to Vat. One sincerely hope that the Maltese have learned their lesson and will not swallow the bait again and be sorry later. As happened the Vat case , there is no way out to lessen the utility bills as these have to reflect the cost of the imported fuel. I hope again that the Maltese will not be taken for a ride again.
Raymond Camilleri
Feb 21st 2010, 19:33
hehehe... Thank you Prime Minister for promosing not to use tear gas...oh thank you thank you thank you! heheheh how simply pathetic! The same old story: first accusing eveyone of being 'laburist', then raking up the past ... those of us who did not support the Labour government of the 80's have nothiong to be ashamed of and yes we will prostest againt your incompetent administration... justifying your incompetence by mentioning the past as if this is a carte blanche to do anything you want is puerile.
Joe Brincat
Feb 21st 2010, 19:19
"Speaking in Xaghra, the Prime Minister referred to the protest against the water and electricity tariffs being held by the Ghaqda Unions Maltin today week and said that his party had fought for the people’s right to protest and no tear gas would be sprayed on protesters." Give us a break Mr PM!!!!! should we thank him for not "spraying" tear gas on the protesters???? kemm qieghed sew ...
Charles J. Buttigieg
Feb 21st 2010, 19:05
People in pain can only demonstrate their anguish in the media and the streets. The main part of our media is manipulated by the government and for each citizen’s complain six government apologists come out to justify the administration’s wrong doing. Our dailies will give a cushy ride to the apologist and a hard time to the complainants. Joe public is only left with the street to drown their sorrow.
A truly democratic administration will take heed to what the people are saying and look for ways to minimise the pains of the complainants. A despotic government will roughshod over the entire population and would ignore mass demonstrations.
Come election time the people should assess the whole situation and chose a government which, to their minds, satisfy their aspirations.
Yes a mass demonstration is the best vehicle for people to show their opposition and when the government ignores the people’s voice the people will ignore the party in power at election time.
Why else would the democratic world be hitting the streets in times of political disappointments?
r cutajar
Feb 21st 2010, 19:03
With some opportunists' reasoning because obviously it suits them to the hilt, there is no need for any unions ! and
Come on let us all Sit down and Talk ---------------The Dock workers in the European Union only ( violent ) and utter rage- protests secured their positions some discussions
A Priority ministry __________should it be considered?
James Grima
Feb 21st 2010, 18:33
@J Mifsud
Well what can I say... If you, and others are just happy to go "to protest" next Sunday, well have fun. But keep this in mind. What will be the conclusion? Nothing. Mela insejnijha ir ricessjoni dinjija? Ma tafx li ahna pajjiz zghir, u ghalhekk niltlaqtu aktar, u malajr? Look around you. Look at all the progress the PN, brought. Ara l imodernizzar. Hemm min saqsieni fejn kont in the 70s, and 80s. Well I was one of those present in the demonstrations organised by the PN. I was one of those youths protesting in Valletta, back in 1978, when we were beaten up by the police. And yes I justify the PN's protest organisation back in those dreathful. You know why? Simple. At that time we were under a dictatorship, which starved us all. And now we are in a free, and a prosperous state.
Claire Busuttil
Feb 21st 2010, 17:41
@L.Gonzi ......hekk suppost li diskuzzjoni ghandha tkun ahjar minn protesta, pero` la inti tidher li ma tridx tifhem, il punt tal haddiem, li qed ibaghti min dawn il pizijiet, l uniku mod, li jibqa hu il protesta!
Susan Mercieca
Feb 21st 2010, 17:33
many results we're getting from you and your government Gonzi!!! Sorry you dont talk you just pretend to listen and than you do your own thing no matter what and we obviously pay for your arrogance and grand dreams . Time to talk is over its time to show you how fed up we are of you.
A. Borg
Feb 21st 2010, 17:27
Joe Vella,
Li jnaqqas il-hela li hawn,li hadd mhu accountable,li l-gvern jqassam il-miljuni minn flus it-taxxi taghna lil sezzjonijiet ta nies u l-kotra jziedilha t-taxxi u l-kontijiet,li jaghmel deals sewwa fix-xiri taz-zejt. Dan huwa dak li qal igifieri m'hemmx ghalfejn nistaqsieh. Imma int naha wahda biss tisma.Forsi wiehed mill-ftit komdi li hawn gewwa l-pajjiz.
e cini
Feb 21st 2010, 17:20
since when does our prime minister is open for discussion?
j.spiteri
Feb 21st 2010, 17:09
I don't remember the UHM discussing around the table 12 years ago when they blocked the workers from entering the Free Port. They expected a 9 Liri wage raise back then. FYI it was a Labour Government they where protesting against. I wonder where UHM's fighting spirit has gone to!
Jason Borg
Feb 21st 2010, 17:05
It is pointless to discuss when a decision has already been taken and when the PM openly declared that the new tariffs are there to stay! The only route left is for the people to protest on Sun 28th Feb 3.30pm. People shoild bring the Maltese National Flag with them, the more we are the stronger the message!
Mark Borg
Feb 21st 2010, 16:42
J. Mifsud
Nies bhal James Grima taghtix kashom. Dawk ghax ikunu komdi u qed ipappuha tajjeb huma u ma jinteressahomx min haddiehor u mil poplu malti.
S. Pace
Feb 21st 2010, 16:07
L Cutajar.
Jien ma naqbilx mieghek li din il-protesta qed issir bis-sahha tal-PL. Jekk ghandu jkun hemm bnadar, izda ghandhom ikunu jirraprezentaw it-twemmin tal-protestanti - mela jekk int laburist gib tieghek, jekk jiena AD ingib tieghi u n-nazzjonalista li xeba' b'din l-arroganza igib tieghu!
F.Bulteel
Feb 21st 2010, 14:40
Productive for who? For the government that does not care about the people opinions? How many times have there been discussions and the government just ignores the peoples opinions.Don't blame the people for taken to the streets as they have been ignored long enough.Many, many people can't make ends meet and there is nothing political about that. Startlistening to the people and find solutions. People can't afford anymore tax increases and cost of living increases.
laurence schembri
Feb 21st 2010, 14:22
"...no tear gas would be sprayed on protesters..."...childish, shallow, and, coming from a PM down right uncalled for, uniting the nation my foot, not with quotes of this kind.
Joe Vella
Feb 21st 2010, 14:22
@ Anthony Dimech
While you are in Valletta protesting do us all a favour and ask Joseph Muscat what he is proposing instead. One more thing, you could do all this without the fear of being beaten up, unless some Pl supporter take exception to asking the question to Joseph Muscat. That is if you dear to ask the question
laurence schembri
Feb 21st 2010, 14:15
"Discuss problems round a table" the understatement of the year, there are a few more ,but not worth mentioning.
james grech
Feb 21st 2010, 14:15
Coming from a man that used this as an election winning argument to then do away with any discussion what so ever and heed on everything and everyone is hilariously worrying. We've heard enough of this talk Dr. Gonzi. your credibility is rock bottom. Your carrot dwindling technique is well known. Or are you thinking you're dealing with a bunch of mules?
J. Mifsud
Feb 21st 2010, 14:04
@ James Grima
Unlike your goodself who seem to be living a special picnic 365 days a year, many thousands of Maltese are not. Many are trying hard to make both ends meet, but for most of them this has become an impossibility.
The government does'nt want to know, and as the general election is some three years from now, maybe it is still early for the PN to start easing things, with the hope that voters will forget how they were treated.
Thanks to some backbenchers, the Govt. might see the light and change course in the very near future, but I believe the PM's stubbornness will not ease due to these brave MP's actions but due to the losing of power.
Most of these backbenchers will surely not be elected come the next general elections as the Party's machine will do its utmost to discredit them when the time comes. Time will tell......
R.SPITERI
Feb 21st 2010, 13:59
DR GONZI, YOU HAVE NO LIMIT WHEN IT COMES TO ARROGANCE. I WILL NEVER VOTE AGAIN PN REST ASSURE, NEVER AGAIN. YOU CANNOT FEEL THE PAIN. SO DOES THE SPECIAL BLUE EYES WHO GET PREFERENCIAL TREATMENT BY THIS GOV, POSH JOBS, CONTRACTS, ETC.ETC. THE PAIN IS FELT BY ALL MIDDLE CLASS, THE SAME CLASS THAT HAVE PUT YOU IN POWER FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS. SHAME ON YOUR ARROGANCE.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Feb 21st 2010, 13:55
From 1981 up to 1987 the PN organised a mass meeting practically every month. In 1981 the elected PN MPs refused to take their place in Parliament and were labelled extra parliamentarians. The PN organised a national strike to protest about the Mnarja being removed from the public holiday’s list. We also saw Tal Pepe, encouraged by the PN, to hit the streets wearing pots and pans and making fools of themselves. These demonstrations were part of the PN strategy to destabilise the Labour Government. Now that we have Gonzipn in government Gonzi is insisting on dialogue around the table instead of airing our opposition in the street. I wonder why.
Marcel Dingli
Feb 21st 2010, 13:54
Nixtieq ninzel il Belt bil bandiera Nazzjonalista u l Gakketta Blu. Telquk niesek Gonzi !
G.Schembri
Feb 21st 2010, 13:52
Since our union is not represented in MCESD, the only way we can show our disapproval for the tariffs is by protesting. Dr Gonzi can hold his discussion in Parliament on Monday. Instead of imposing these tariffs on us Dr Gonzi should have found ways of keeping the prices down.
I wonder who will be gaining from the outsourcing of the utiltity bills, certainly not the consumers who appart from paying more, will have to pay 6% more if they decide not to pay the estimated bill and opt to pay the actual bill.
L. Cutajar
Feb 21st 2010, 13:51
Din il-protesta qed issir bis-sahha tal-partit laburista. Ejja halli l-Laburisti kollha nkunu il-Belt bil-bnadar tal- MLP u l-GWU biex nuru lin-Nazzjonalisti li ahna tal-labour ghandna appogg kbir. Dan li qed jistenna minkhom Joe Muscat.
lgalea
Feb 21st 2010, 13:48
James Grima If you do not remember then read the newspapers throughout the years and see how the PN used to protest against anything under the sun whenever Labour was in Government.
Gonzi, you only discuss with those who listen not those who are so hard-headed that they totally disregard whatever others have to say. Case in point is your hard-headedness in the Gonzi-Piano vandalism project for VAlletta where if it goes ahead we are going to end up the City Gate without a gate, a parliament on stilts like clowns use in the circus and a roofless theatre. Clowns and circuses are perhaps analogous to how our country, the people and parliament are being treated by yourself.
Anthony Micallaf
Feb 21st 2010, 13:44
The Green Party (AD) had been warning that our Politicians had been EATING for years around the table.....now they want to DISCUSS around a table when matters related to environment and energy are at rock bottom.
(Anton Micallef - ex PN but not PL voter ever)
Jeremy J Camilleri
Feb 21st 2010, 13:40
James Grima..ISn't it ironic that out Prime extolls discussion and consultation, and then has a plethora of his OWN MP's complaining because they are NEVER involved in discussions or consultations?
Are you and the prime so detcahed from reality?
C.camilleri
Feb 21st 2010, 13:37
Dear Dr.Gonzi,
If you want to prove your point that discussion is more productive than protests, why dont you start by accepting the eleven unions who form the forum in the MCESD?
Actions speaks louder than words.
Roderick Mizzi
Feb 21st 2010, 13:36
It depends what the word "discussion" means for you Mr. Prime Minister. From what we have seen the definition of the word "discussion" for you means that you discuss all the decisions you have already took. In this case a discussion cannot be more productive than protests and it will change nothing!
michael Degiorgio
Feb 21st 2010, 13:28
SO THE PM RECKONS ITS BEST TO MEET AROUND THE TABLE THEN TO PROTEST WHATS THE USE HE MADE HIS MIND UP TO HIKE THE TARIFFS AND HE DONE SO WHOLE HEARTEDLY SO HE SAID SO NOW WHOLE HEARTEDLY THE MAN IN THE STREET IS GOING TO WHOLE HEARTEDLY IS GOING TO PROTEST PEACEFULLY LIKE THEY DO IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND ALL THE UNIONS OUGHT TO HEDGE THERE WORKERS TO GO AFTER ALL THEY ARE GETTING THERE SALARIES FROM THE WORKERS DUE
Carmel Dimech
Feb 21st 2010, 13:25
Discuss? Don't make me laugh you don't even know what this word means.
tabela
Feb 21st 2010, 13:25
jien diehel l belt bil qalb dr gonzi ax naflahx izjed nara l prezz taz zejt niezel u t tariifi joghlow. xi haga hazina hemm.
John Tabone
Feb 21st 2010, 13:22
Dear Dr. Gonzi I'm afraid it's too late to discuss. We need action not more bla bla bla ad nauseum. That is what lawyers are good for after all! Sorry but you have been in government for the past 7 years and websites discussing peak oil crisis have been up and running for the past 10 years. America has reached peak oil crisis in the late 70's. What have you done about it ? NOTHING. Except of course flattering that you feel like on a rollercoaster. Yeah right now that you had fun with the rollercoaster you have to pay for it. Now the country feels like on a rollercoaster but it's going downhill!!! And it seems like nothing can stop the pull of gravity. STOP TAKING US FOR A RIDE.
Mark Piscopo
Feb 21st 2010, 13:04
@James Grima
I am sure that the majority of all Maltese people are drastically effected with the drastic increase of 35% in the utility bills. I am sure that Dr Gonzi seeing a massive crowd at Valletta next Sunday will reduce the Water and Electricty Bills. Hope that it will not be a small picnin like Dr Gonzi and his supporters are saying but a strong attendance against the utility tarrifs!
Charles.j.Schembri
Feb 21st 2010, 13:00
James Grima....you seem to be a very honest man....but do you remember the Feast of St.Peter and St. Paul...(Imnarja)...when your Cappo told you all to go to the beach for a day out, even if most of you were working on that day......how time change..........enough said....................
A. Borg
Feb 21st 2010, 13:00
Nhar il-Hadd ser inkun l-Belt nipprotesta u se nkun nipprotesta bil qalb!
Se nkun liebes l-istess flokk li bih hrigt niccelebra ir-rebha Nazzjonalista ta l-ahhar elezzjoni.
Lili bhala self employed gibtni f'sitwazzjoni aghar minn bniedem jirregistra!
Dr.Gonzi bejn il-kliem u l-fatti hemm bahar jikkumbatti.
Robert Callus
Feb 21st 2010, 12:59
In the good old days when the price of oil was cheap, AD had already insisted we need to alternative forms of energy, which are abundant in Malta. Did the PN care? Did it ask for discusson? NO
Then the price of oil went up. The PN started mentioning vague proposals on wind farms and solar panels, nothing concrete. AD told you that it is not too late to take a serious committment to exploit alternative energy. Did you want to discuss? Seriously consider the proposals? NO
NOW that we are at rock bottom you want to discuss Dr Gozni?
martin saliba
Feb 21st 2010, 12:55
@ James Grima. I dont know hold old you are so i dont know if you remember the PN protesting over something or other when they were in opposition. The most rememerable of those protests is when the did not represent their supportes in 1981 by not going to parlament. How could they discuss around a table if they were not even in the room. Those who think this way from the PN are hypocrits. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander.
Mark Borg
Feb 21st 2010, 12:41
Dr.Gonzi you are only interested in monologue and not dialogue. Yes we (the people) will protest against your incompetence and dictatorial impositions. Ps I thought you abdicated since you did not issue a single word about the National Crisis at the hospital.
J Baldacchino
Feb 21st 2010, 12:39
But Dear Dr Gonzi, you adamantly declared that "Ser nivvota bil-Qalb kontra" and "id-Decisjoni diga hadta" before entering the meeting with Maltese Unions.
James Grima
Feb 21st 2010, 12:31
That's what I call a responsible man, in the helm of a mature, and a responsible party which has to continue to lead our beloved country for more and more years to come!!! Keep up the good work!!! Proset lil dawk il hafna unions li b mod responsabli mhux ser jihdu sehem :) I'm sure that both the PL, and the GWU, will be disappointed by how responsible the maltese people are, and how they are not going to turn up to their special picnic next Sunday :D