Unions present tariffs report to President

Aristotle Demicoli

Feb 27th 2010, 00:21

I earn well above €100,000 per year from the business which I set up from nothing.

However, I insist that I am entitled for any reduction in the tariffs like anybody else in this country. I will not accept any preferential treatment (tariffs) being given to other members of the community on the grounds of income. THIS IS DISCRIMINATION!

I will insist that the Constitutional Court ensures that my human rights are safeguarded. I expect to be treated like every other citizen in the country - Not better, BUT certainly not worse!

I don't mind that people with low income receive special SEPARATE social assistance. BUT any differences in the actual energy and water tariffs are unacceptable and completely unconstitutional. Having a low income doesn't automatically give anybody the right to balloon their carbon footprint or squander electricity at preferentially low rates.

james grech

Feb 26th 2010, 21:08

@Joseph E. Briffa
why don't you ask Minster Fenech to clarify this for you?

Lawrence Cutajar

Feb 26th 2010, 19:54

Jista xi hadd jispjegali kif il-protesta li ser issir nhar il-Hadd f'daqqa wahda giet wahda partigjana favur l-MLP. Jien nazzjonalist u kont lest li nattendi ghall protesta izda issa li din il-protesta hi wahda tal- MLP u l-GWU jien zgur li mhux ser nattendi. Ghalfejn l-MLP qieghed ihejji l-coaches ghan-nies biex jattendu l-protesta u ghalfejn il-park ta' minfejn der jitkellem Tony Zarb ser ikun armat mill-impjegati tal-Partit Laburista? Inhoss li l-Unions li ghamlu din il-protesta dahqu bijja u b'hafna ohrajn. Imisskom tisthu.

Joseph E Briffa

Feb 26th 2010, 19:46

@ James Grech..where did you get this idea that the increase in tariffs - some 30% - is due to the deficit? The two things are completely different.. The tariffs reflect the cost of production of energy i.e. the price of oil, labour costs, amortisation of loans incurred by ENEMALTA for investment in production plants and distribution equipment etc The deficit is the shortfall between GOVERNMENT's revenue and expenditure (recurrent and capital). Every service must be self-sufficient and production costs have to be met by the consumer; subsidies are a thing of the past. Besides encouraging waste, it's not fair for somebody who does his best not to waste energy made to pay high rates simply because others waste energy and refuse to lower their consumption. Government has already exempted 30 000 households, the needy ones, from the increases; one fifth of the total. The rest can cough up a Eur1 a day to meet the rise in tariffs. Smokers spend some Eur4 a day on cigs. Car owners, practically, every adult, spend some Eur3 a day on fuel and Eur1 on circulation tax.. Yet, the number of cars on the road is always going up

J Martinelli

Feb 26th 2010, 19:16

Sewwa, il-Grecja qed jinqala l-inkwiet ghax il-gvern qed jitfa n-nies il-barra u qed inaqqas il-pagi, u ahna qed nipprotestaw ghax ghola l-kont tad-dawl!

c. camilleri

Feb 26th 2010, 19:14

@ camilleri charles . Where is all this poverty ? I read the statistic and find record no of cars on the road, record no of tv sets and cordless telephones, record no of Maltese going to Gozo for the week ends, record no of home owners etc etc etc. You and those who talk like you must be living in outer space and not in Malta. Even the foreign visitors acknowledge opulent life of the Maltese. You are just victims of your political propaganda.

james grech

Feb 26th 2010, 18:50

If Gov. has a deficit to control the use of the tariffs on W/E is not the right way to decrease this. Some common sense, which does not seem to be common at all in the Gov. spheres.
First it should replan and spend less from the ppl's money on futile and badly planned projects. There are projects that have been mentioned in budgets over and over again, with little being effectively carried out, but the money still somehow being spent. Government should stop thinking big with regards to certain projects unless these give a fast return on investment.
Secondly Government should increase taxes to the upper classes, this will ensure that those situated at the middle and lower ends are safeguarded. Luxuries such as yachts, very expensive cars, villas, properties etc. should be the source of this tax.
The use of the tariffs as a means to control the deficit is wrong, water and electricity are basic needs, these tariffs should scrupulously reflect the price of oil and maintenance due to use. Investment should not come from the tariffs. Gov should tap EU funds and complement these with the local/private investment for the future.

g.c.Forte

Feb 26th 2010, 17:54

@ Joseph E.Briffa....Hu pacenzja, mur iccekkja sew, ghax li kieku d-deficit huwa dak li qeghed tghejd int ta 4%,( u min qalbi hekk nixtieq ) allura nghamila ta l-iblah, ghal fejn il E.U geddet sena u nofs lil gvern biex jirregola,u tigi 3%. Kieku veru 4% ma ghandux inkwiet,u mhux qeghed jgholli t-tariffi ta l-energija bla addocc li lanqas jaf x`konsegenzi ser ihallu. Kullhadd, ghanke dawk li mhux qeghedin jappoggjaw lil GhUm. qeghdin jghejdu li ser ikun hawn qaghd kbir, bl-ispejjez li ser ikollha iggorr kull intrapriza. Habib, tal Lejber kienu imorru jittalbu f`kull pajjiz sabiex igibu l-investiment ,bhal ma taf int, ghax inthom stess kontu taghjru lil Mintoff tallab. Ta billhaqq il P.N.ma jistax imur jitlob. ghax fiz zmien il Lejber kien jghoqod jajjarhom lil pajjizi li kienu jimpalawna il flus. Ibda mill Libjani,Taljani Russi Koreani, Cinizi, u kull min b`xi mod jew iehor hennew ghalina. Illum sirna tapit tal l-Ewropa.

Joseph E Briffa

Feb 26th 2010, 16:27

@ g.c forte..Min qallek li deficit bhalissa hi 13% tal-GDP? Dik tal-Grecja li qed issemmi mhux ta' Malta! Taghna qeda' mal-4%. U jekk ma nhallsux it-tariffi minhajr mal-gvern jaghti sussidji izjed, nispiccaw bhal Grecja. Bhal dak li qallu is-sussidji mhux mit-taxxi iridu jigu? Jew tal-lejber jistampaw il-flus? Mur ara li kien hemm tal-lejber fil-gvern kemm kien ikollna zejt irhis; ghax dawn jafu jixtru bil-ghaqal; tal-lejber jixtru meta l- prezz ikun l-iktar baxx, waqt li n-nazzjonalisti jixtru meta l-prezz ikun l-izjed gholi. Ghax tal-lejber ikunu jafu bil-quddiem kemm ser ikun l-prezz taz- zejt 6 xhur ohra, waqt li dal-gvern ma jarax fil-boghod, ghandu bzonn nuccali bi hgieg ohxon!. Dal-gvern ghama izraq!! Jgholli it-tariffi mas-sema meta z-zejt zdid minn 40 dollaru ghal-80 dollaru?! Ghax ma jghidx lil Joseph Muscat jixtri miljun tunellata zejt bl-irhis? U Tony Zarb, ser jerga jaghmel success iehor bhall tad-dockyard, u Sea Malta?. Tghid il-GWU irduppjat il-mizata tal-membri biex tkun tista' tissusidja l-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma tal-membri taghha?.

A. Vassallo

Feb 26th 2010, 14:57

@ g.c.Forte

"Inti tahseb li l-protesta ma issirx ghax fl`ahhar idoqq l-irtirata"

ALL WISHFULL THINKING

Mela ghid lil ghum (gwu, mut, mumn ecc ecc ecc) biex ma jiehdux il-battikata jitilghu l-belt, idumu biex jipparkjaw imbaghad jindunaw li mar sar xen.

ALL WISHFULL THINKING

g.c.Forte

Feb 26th 2010, 14:56

Meta ma tibzax ghal flus, dak li jigrilek, bhal qarnita,iddur ghal subajk. Dan il gvern bazwi BIEGH il fidda,d-deheb, u ghanke id djamanti li tal Lejber BNEW, FAQQAW il kaxxa flus li tal Lejber faddlu, u issa li ma faddalhom xejn, qeghedin iduru ghal flus li l-poplu faddal. Gharukaza dan il gvern. Nixtieq li xi hadd min tal P.N. jghedli kif dan il gvern ser inaqqas id dejn li ghamel hu stess li min 13 % irid inizzlu ghal 3% sa l-ahhar tas sena d-diehla.ghax il U.E. trid hekk u hekk ghandu isir, hux veru Sur Edwin Vassallo.

Joseph E Briffa

Feb 26th 2010, 14:27

A. 30 000 familja ma jhallsu l-ebda zieda. B: Mad -75% tal-bqija tal-familji ser ihallsu xi 25% izjed i.e. mal Eur250/400 izjed fis-sena - qisu Eur1 kuljum. C: Il-bqija tal-familja joqoghdu fi djar kbar u vilel u mhux ser ihossu zieda ta' eur1.50/2.50 kuljum. U terga, hafna minn dawn ghandhom is-SWH u photovoltaic cells, u l-konsum ta' l-eletriku qed inaqsuh b'xi 30%, jigifieri ser jiqbghu fejn qeghdin bhalissa. Ghall-ilma ghandhom gibjuni jew bjar kbar. Jigifieri il-familja mhux ser jitbazwru b'din iz-zieda li wara kollox trid tidhallas ghax il-prezz taz-zejt tela' minn $40 fil-bidu tal-2009 ghal mat- 80 dollaru. Allura minn ser ihallas ghal din iz-zieda; mhux il-konsumatur? Jekk irid inaqqas il-konsum hemm is-SWH u photovoltaic cells, u jekk hemm bzonn jara kif jiffranka imqar 2 units kulljum: 700 unit fis-sena ifissru Eur120. Insomma, dawn zmenijiet iebsa. Ir-ricessjoni ma hafritha lil hadd. Imma l-ikbar problema hija tal-ilma, ghax fi ftit snin ohra ser nixxuttaw ghal kollox, u l-anqas jekk ahna lesti biex inhallsu d-doppju u triplu tar-rati tal-lum mhux ser ikollna bizzejjed ilma fl-acquifer. Ikolna nibnu aktar RO plants; jigifieri iktar energija elettrika, jigifieri aktar Fuel Oil, jigifieri iktar spejjez u ara x'tariffi tal-ilma gholjin ser ikollna!

Ron Camilleri

Feb 26th 2010, 14:11

Naqbel ma' dak li qed jghid Ivan Attard. Inhallu lill Prim jaddi vot ta' fiduccja fil-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma li harbex hu u li qed jghid li qed jaqblu mieghu. Ghada ma'xebax iddur ma' l-imwejjed bid-decizzjoni tieghu mehuda minn qabel, anzi jistqarru bil-quddiem. Imma biex il-votazzjoni tkun 'accountable' irid ihalli lill kulhadd liberu li jivvota.
Il-pajjiz qed f'dak li qieghed minnhabba 'Money No Problem' li kienu jghidu kemm ilhom fil-Gvern, sa hattew is-swar u bieghu il-baqar li kienu jahilbu u spiccajna id wahda wara u l-ohra quddiem. Bhal Grecja sa jigrilna, issa rajna mhiex f'idejna imma f'idejn l-EU li diga tatu iz-zmien biex jirranga dan id-Deficit kbir l-ghandna. Il-kaxxa ta'Malta giet zvojtata minnhom u qed ma'ntliet lura. Biex nirrangaw is-sitwazzjoni l-ewwel iridu jghatu ezempju ta' fuq billi min jiflah l-aktar jerfa l-aktar, mhux bil-kontra. Miskin iz-zghir.

M Pace

Feb 26th 2010, 13:48

Naqbel mieghek Sur Attard imma il backbenchers zgur jivutaw favur il Gvern ghax parole biss. Jafu li jekk jivutaw kontra mhjux se jwaqqaw il Gvern imma tant mhumiex credibli li jparlaw biss fil vojt. Beckbenchers issa huwa ic canz li turu stoffa aqbzu ghal konstituenti tahgkhom billi tghidu le ghal tarriffi gholjin!

Joseph Grech

Feb 26th 2010, 13:44

@ Mr. Ivan Attard -
Do you really expect any government M.P.s to vote against the present administration? Sorry, but I really believe that you may possibly be living in a world of your own, quite distinct from reality. Your world and expectations might certainly be idealistic but they are far removed from the political intrigue and absolute servitude that ALWAYS comes uppermost in such issues.
Mind you it was like that during past administrations and unfortunately remains the same even today. Maltese M.P.s are certainly no martyrs! Neither it seems are they their own masters - they are wielded this way and that accoding to their party exigencies - and to hell with the interests of their constituents.

J Farrugia

Feb 26th 2010, 13:24

allahares malta fiz-zminijiet tal-lum kienet immexxija minn bniedem bhal Joseph Muscat. Kieku bhal Grecja u bhal Spanja ninsabu. F'inkwiet kbir. Dejjem taht socjalisti laburisti pajjizna mar minn taht. U kellhom ikunu gvernijiet Nazzjonalisti li dejjem solvew il-problemi kbar tal-pajjiz. Ghax il-labour ghall-paroli u t-tixwix biss tajjeb u xejn iktar.

camileri charles

Feb 26th 2010, 13:03

President George Abela is a clever person and wiser than me but if I may suggest, I think it is good to make l-istrina but it be better if we try to do something so as Malta will not get poorer. From what statistics and other able bodies are saying, and even the government agrees, there are over 60.000 people living in poverty. I go against Kennedy and say it is better to see what the country could do for these people and those who will sure be joining the poverty sector. Unfortunately this is happening when the economy is doing very well and we are even better than the rest. Thank you Mr President

g.c.Forte

Feb 26th 2010, 13:01

@ Iva Attard ............Gibt argument tajjeb hafna, u naqbel mieghek, anzi inzid nghejd, li l-Prim Ministru laqqgha lil kabinett, fiha x`tomod. Jien nahseb li l-protesta ma issirx ghax fl` ahhar idoqq l-irtirata, min habba li qeghed jibza li L- U.E. qeghdha thares lejna u tibza li ser jigri bhal ma qeghed jigri fil Grecja, ghax jafu li dan il gvern bazwi mhux ser illahhaq mal miri li inaqqas id deficit ghal 3 %.

J Martinelli

Feb 26th 2010, 12:53

WHY would the report(?) be presented to the President?

What's the President going to do about it other than read it, killing some precious time in the meantime?

Gallarija!

N.Calleja

Feb 26th 2010, 12:44

By the way, did the Unions ask the President to join the protest? The Unions' desperate plea for a good crowd knows no bounds! Their only scope is to support the PL's motion. After hearing Gejtu Tanti on Realta( How impartial was Hansford?) one could easily discover the 11 unions strategy!!

j. cassar

Feb 26th 2010, 12:35

Mhux veru li Muscat hareg bil-proposti u l-anqas Zarb u Bencini ma hargu bil-proposti. Dawn iridu biss li tghaddi ta' rashom biex joqghodu jiftahru. Min juza id-dawl ghandu jhallas bhala trallas meta tmur ghand xi beautician jew ghand xi hair stylist li tohodlik xi 40 Euro u ma tatikx ircevuta. Mhux sew li ghandna inhalsu d-dawl ta' min jahli, jekk jizdiedu s-ssusidji jizdiedu t-taxxi, u min hu onest ihallas ta' min jahli. Barra min hekk il-Gvern ser jibghat cheque lil kull familja, jew dan ma ssemhuwiex, Muscat Zarb u Bencici qatt ma jsemmu dan ic-cheque li l-gvern ser jibghat. Ipokriti kontu ghadkhom u tibqghu.

A. Vassallo

Feb 26th 2010, 12:20

@ l-ghaqda unions maltin, and its leader, the gwu - tony zarb -

I simply cannot understand what do you want exactly. Why is it that on the eve of the protest march now you want to embark on a dialogue? Dialogue with who and where? The entity to dialogue with is only the government and the place is only the MCESD and definitely not during a march in Republic Street. Tony Zarb and Gejtu Mercieca had all the chance to be at the MCESD but they abdicated from their duties towards their members. They should have been there.

I do not know why you involved the President of Malta. He is above politics and mainly this issue was turned from an industrial issue into a political issue with the ghum inviting the political parties for the protest. Next Sunday's march is nothing else than a pl activity.

J Farrugia

Feb 26th 2010, 12:15

Fools of union leaders, dont you know that the President has NO RIGHT TO STOP ANY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES unless, authorised by his Prime Minister? If these leaders think that they are going to involve the President of Malta in overthrowing a legitimate government by any means, they have to think again.

Ivan Attard

Feb 26th 2010, 11:50

"it would like to see the new tariffs withdrawn and the following Parliamentary debate on Monday not to be held so that a dialogue could be embarked upon.."

ma naqbilx maghkom... jien naqbel li jekk il-PM jahseb li ghadu jikkmanda maggornaza Parlamentari, ghandu jhalli x-xoghol tal-Kamra kif inhu u nhar it-Tnejn jittiehed il-vot dwar dawn it-tariffi anti-socjali. Jekk id-Deputati Nazzjonalisti li jinsabu dizilluzi minhabba l-Gvern taghhom stess u qeghdin jaghmlu minn kollox biex jaqbzu ghall-konsistenwenti taghhom u jridu jibqghu jitwemmnu, ghandhom jivvutaw mal-Oppozizzjoni Laburista! Joseph Muscat fil-Parlament diga' ta linji gwida ta' kif ghandhom ikunu t-tariffi tad-dawl u l-ilma... mhu veru xejn li l-PL qed jikkritika biss minghajr ma jressaq il-proposti tieghu. Jekk wiehed jirrevedi d-diskors analitiku li ghamel Joseph Muscat fil-Parlament wara li tressaq il-budget, jara li dak li qed nghid huwa minnu!