GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb said today that MPs who tomorrow do not vote to revoke the power tariffs in Parliament do not deserve to be called the people's representatives.

Addressing a protest held in Valletta by the Ghaqda Trade Unions Maltin, Mr Zarb also told those present to go to Valletta tomorrow at 5.15. He said they should meet at City Gate and walk to Palace Square to appeal to MPs to vote for the people.

Parliament is tomorrow due to debate an Opposition motion to revoke the utility tariffs which came into force on January 1.

Mr Zarb said MPs would vote according to their conscience and MPs who were traitors of the people would be remembered.

He also urged the Prime Minister to grant his MPs a free vote.

The tariffs, he said, were a huge burden on the people and on businesses and should be removed.

The protest was also addresed by MUT President John Bencini and MUMN President Paul Pace.

Mr Bencini said the protest was not part of a political agenda but a defence of the people. The people, he said, were suffering because of the high utility rates and, to rub salt in the wound, high interest would be charged on late payment. Were it not for the compensation given by the government half the people would not afford the tariffs. But even so, the compensation was too low, particularly for four-person households. Their compensation would be €130 when their bills would rise to €210.

The eurostat figures issued over the past few days showed how the tariffs had risen steeply compared to other countries, Mr Bencini said.

Mr Pace claimed that the trade unions' organisation had been censored by The Times and other media which backed the government.

He said the international oil price was not as high as to justify the rates charged by Enemalta. The people, he said, were being made to shoulder the burden of inefficiency and wrong decisions by Enemalta.

The union leaders spoke from a stage at Republic Street corner with Pjazza Regina, with their listeners filling Republic Street up to Freedom Square. Some of them carried placards protesting at the high rates and the hardship they were causing.

Those present included the leadership of the Labour Party and Alternattiva Demokratika led by Joseph Muscat and Michael Briguglio respectively.

Before the activity Mr Bencini refused to answer questions by timesofmalta.com in protest over an editorial in The Times yesterday.

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