Parliament rejects Opposition motion to repeal utility tariffs
'A betrayal of the people' - Tony Zarb
An Opposition motion to repeal the new utility tariffs was defeated in the House of Representatives this evening, with all 35 government MPs voting against it and the 34 Opposition MPs voting in favour.
The motion was moved by opposition utilities spokesman Joe Mizzi. The debate was held after two protests in Valletta by the Ghaqda Unions Maltin. Representatives of the trade unions were in the Chamber for the debate.(see separate story).
In comments after the sitting, GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb criticised the government MPs and said this had been a betrayal of the people and evidence that the government was insensitive to the plight of the people.
The following are points from the parliamentary debate as it unfolded:
JOE MIZZI - Resources Authority was disloyal to country and people
In his introduction when moving the motion for debate, Mr Mizzi said that at the time when the economy needed a stimulus because of the recession, the country was instead being burdened with new utility tariffs which were undermining competitiveness.
Such tariffs were endangering jobs and making it difficult for many households to make ends meet.
Furthermore the new tariffs were the result of inefficiency and mistaken decisions by Enemalta.
He said the tariffs had been introduced without consultation with the social partners, and the new rates were now among the highest in Europe.
Furthermore, the new tariffs structure also introduced a new sewage tax.
He said that in terms of the motion, the House was therefore being asked to revoke the new tariffs.
Mr Mizzi said the way the new tariffs were introduced showed that the government did not believe in transparency and accountability.
Furthermore, the new tariffs showed the failure of the Malta Resources Authority to act independently as a regulator to protect the people's interests. It appeared to be more interested in defending the government and Enemalta. It was clear there was interference in the way the authority operated.
Mr Mizzi said the new tariffs were higher than those introduced in October 2008, even though the oil price had dropped.
PRIME MINISTER - The increase in oil prices is inescapable, how to deal with it is the issue
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the crude oil price six months ago was $40. Now it was $80 and the Opposition wanted to ignore all this. Whatever one said about inefficiencies, the fact that the oil price had doubled in six months could neither be denied, nor hidden.
When the oil price dropped, Malta had reduced the tariffs according to the established mechanism. Nobody complained about the mechanism then.
The real question was, how should the country react when oil prices, over which it had no control, rose. One way or another, the increased costs had to be met.
Even if the new tariffs were to be repealed as the Opposition was proposing, the high oil prices would still be there. How was the country to respond?
The medicine was bitter, but it had to be taken. The government felt Malta should have a system which fluctuated with oil prices in a flexible manner which did not shock the economy or the social sector unduly. As a result it had introduced the energy benefits scheme to cushion the impact of the tariffs increase for almost all households. Assistance was also being given to businesses. At the same time people were being encourage to use energy saving equipment.
Dr Gonzi said he agreed that the people should not pay for inefficiencies at Enemalta, and they were not. That burden was being shouldered by the government.
The government was also working to be able to decommission the Marsa power station, but that would not be possible if this Opposition motion was approved. If the tariffs were repealed, the full weight would have to be borne by the government, and government finances would be driven into a wall as had happened in neighbouring countries.
The current tariffs mechanism should be retained so that the country could still be able to face the challenges ahead, Dr Gonzi said.
ANGLU FARRUGIA - People paying for sins of PN administrations
Labour MP Anglu Farrugia underlined the impact of the tariffs on businesses and said it was symptomatic that unemployment was continuing to increase. Electricity prices in Malta were 35 per cent higher than in Cyprus while salaries here were lower.
The people were clearly paying for the sins of Nationalist administrations.
GAVIN GULIA - All social partners disagree with the government
Gavin Gulia (PL) said no trade union or employer association was agreeing with the government, but the prime minister was continuing to persist in his error. The self-employed were among the worst affected sectors - they would face higher business bills as well as higher bills at home. Private sector organisations such as the GRTU had warned that the tariffs could mean hundreds of job losses. It was time for the government to heed the warnings.
CARMELO ABELA - Government assistance should be in a manner which makes sense
Labour MP Carmelo Abela noted that Helga Ellul, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry had also warned about the consequences of the tariffs and the lack of consultation before their introduction. These tariffs would further harm the manufacturing sector because they were higher than in competing countries. Government assistance, he said, should be in a manner which made sense.
RESOURCES MINISTER GEORGE PULLICINO - Unions refused consultations with MRA
Resources Minister George Pullicino said that in February last year , the Malta Resources Authority launched a process to establish the principles and the formula on which tariff adjustments were to be considered. The GWU and the other unions did not make any submissions. Last November, the Ghaqda Unions Maltin was given another chance to send its comments on the principles by November 30. Again there were no submissions. The unions therefore had refused to participate in this public consultation.
The principles were that the corporations could not make a loss; that the tariffs would enable the corporations to be sustainable; that the tariffs would not discriminate among various groups of consumers; and that the process of revision would be transparent to enable consumers to understand how the tariffs were worked out.
When the tariffs were announced, the government published all relevant documents and social and industrial impact assessments, which the Opposition, the GWU and some other unions did not appear to know about.
The minister pointed out that the MRA had reduced Enemalta's original tariffs request by €8 million. Therefore, the Authority was far from being the rubber stamp which Mr Mizzi had made it out to be.
The minister also pointed to government initiatives to help the people reduce their electricity consumption, including free energy saving bulbs, subsidies on solar water heaters and photovoltaic units and other assistance for families to buy more efficient white goods.
He announced that a new scheme for the installation of photovoltaic panels would be announced soon in view of the success achieved in another scheme last week.
MARLENE PULLICINO - Tariffs reform came at the wrong time
Labour MP Marlene Pullicino said the crucial point was that the tariffs structure was changed at the wrong time. At a time when other countries were seeing how they could put money in the pockets of the people and businesses, in Malta, the opposite had happened.
Ms Pullicino said the Opposition agreed with the measures for the people to use energy saving equipment, but it was too little, too late.
Furthermore, the government was making wrong choices in the equipment for the extension of the Delimara power station.
In 20 years, the government had been unable to come up with a proper energy plan, and the country was now seeing the consequences.
SILVIO PARNIS - Government compensation not enough
Labour MP Silvio Parnis said the compensation being given by the government was not enough to cover the increased costs. The people were going through hard times and they had a right to make their voice heard. Mr Parnis said he therefore wanted to thank the trade unions which were taking up the people's pleas.
MARIE-LOUISE COLEIRO PRECA - No tourism stimulus package
Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said the fact that the government was ignoring the people went against democracy. The Labour MP said the government had still to reach final agreement with the private sector organisations with which talks were being held. The MHRA had warned that the tariffs would put the tourism industry in an uncompetitive position, at a time when competition was cutthroat. A quarter of Malta's GDP came from tourism, yet Malta did not feature in a WTO survey of tourism stimulus packages.
LEO BRINCAT - Government failed to take timely action on renewable energy
Leo Brincat (PL) said the government still needed to convince its own people about how oil purchases were being made. He hit out at the government for having failed to take action on renewable energy when it should have. As a result, Malta was reliant almost completely on oil purchases. There was still no energy strategy and current decisions were being taken in a vacuum. Malta was now paying a bitter price for using old technology to produce its energy. The Labour MP also criticised the imposition of 6% interest on late payment of electricity rates.
INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTER AUSTIN GATT - No opposition proposals
Minister Austin Gatt said seven Opposition MPs had spoken, but no one had proposed how Malta should face the high oil prices. Over the year, Enemalta would spend $207 million on oil purchases, 73 per cent of its total costs. The tariffs, he insisted, were based solely on the international oil price. They did not include inefficiencies over which the corporation had no control.
Dr Gatt said that oil and gas prices had risen steeply since April and there was hardly anything Enemalta could do on its own to cushion such an increase. While the tariffs had gone up, it was also a fact that the government would fork out €41 million in subsidies and other assistance. If the tariffs increases were to be repealed, the government would have to find another €84 million. How? By reducing funding for education, health or other sectors? The government's economic management had helped Malta avert situations such as that of Greece, and it would continue to take such decisions, however initially unpopular, to ensure that the economy could remain sustainable.
The government should not subsidise consumption and those who were not careful in the way they used electricity. Government should only subsidise those in need, Dr Gatt said. And it was about time that the opposition became serious rather than assuming positions only aimed at making itself popular without saying how costs would be met.
CHARLES MANGION - No explanations on how oil purchases made
Dr Charles Mangion (PL) demanded explanations on how oil purchases were made and insisted that the tariffs did include Enemalta inefficiencies and other costs. The sorry fact was that the various sectors of the economy did not know which way the government was going.
GINO CAUCHI - No sense of social dialogue
Labour MP Gino Cauchi said this was an arrogant government which ignored the MCESD before announcing the tariffs. It started talks afterward, on condition that the tariffs were not reduced. Was there need for further proof that the government had lost every sense of social dialogue? Mr Cauchi praised the Ghaqda Unions Maltin for their report on the impact of the new tariffs and said the government was ignoring the impact of the tariffs on the economy.
FINANCE MINISTER TONIO FENECH - People asking what PL would do
Minister Tonio Fenech said he too marvelled at how no one from the Opposition had made any proposal on how this issue should be tackled. They acted like the oil prices were not rising and could be ignored.
In the pre-Budget talks, the focus of the talks with the MCESD was to ensure that the country could weather the economic storm and protect jobs, rather than introduce subsidies which did not do the economy any good. Some forgot, however, that the Budget included a cost of living increase which was given despite opposition from some quarters, and the direct assistance given to households to cushion the impact of the tariffs.
The government also agreed with the social partners that it would help the various productive sectors to invest, because that was the best way to cope with oil prices which were expected to continue to rise. The tourism sector, for example, benefited from measures to bring more tourists to Malta, not higher subsidies.
Mr Fenech said the government had kept to the commitments it made in the Budget, which was why the private sector organisations and the CMTU unions had not called the people to the streets. The talks with the private sector organisations were continuing. They were not calling for subsidies, but assistance to invest, because that was what the economic agenda demanded.
Had the government instead decided to increase subsidies because of the oil prices, it would have caused the national debt to rise by €86m year after year. And Malta would have ended up like Greece.
The people's question to the opposition was: What would you do?
OPPOSITION LEADER JOSEPH MUSCAT -
Winding up the debate, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said government decisions were undermining families and jobs. Before the election the government promised subsidies and a budget surplus, but the opposite was happening.
The government had said it had reached agreement with the MHRA on the tariffs. Where was it?
The people were suffering the steepest increase in electricity tariffs in Europe, an increase of 29 per cent in January over December, while the new increase in gas prices was being kept under wraps.
Bills now were higher than when the oil price was in excess of $100. This was the result of corruption and incompetence by the government. The finance minister had said yesterday that he expected oil prices to continue to rise, to up to $130. Yet in a report to the EU, the Maltese finance ministry had said that the oil price in 2011 would be $80. Which was the correct figure?
The PM had said that subsidies were needed for a social purpose. Yet he was introducing the sewage tax. The government was saying that those people who were not being helped, did not need to be helped.
The new tariffs were a danger to jobs, as much as the government was a danger to jobs, Dr Muscat said. In a year, unemployment had risen by 770.
The Opposition had, months ago, made proposals to tackle the tariffs, but they were ignored. Just one proposal, on the calculation of the return on capital employed, would reduce costs by €15m.
The government had now set up a new company ARMS, which constituted jobs for the boys, but bills had not been issued.
Dr Muscat said the government was saying it had no money for oil purchases, but it found money for other purposes. It was selling the dockyard for a song. It had eaten up €120 million in Air Malta reserves on AzzurAir and the RJ70 aircraft; €2.5 million on the bridge to nowhere at the Grand Harbour breakwater; €4m in commissions for the new power station, €58 million to buy back the promise to the bus owners, €21 million for Dar Malta, €200 million in VAT corruption, €160,000 on festivities for the inauguration of Palace Square, €16 million for the planned quarry in front of St John's and €80 million for city gate and a theatre where one would need an umbrella.
The government, Dr Muscat said, needed to change direction, or the people would change the government at the general election, he concluded.
The sitting was then suspended for 20 minutes before the vote is taken.
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C.Zammit
Mar 4th 2010, 09:49
@ Cathy Elliot-I am involved in business my self as it's my work.I am not saying things are perfect but yes I say it again things are not so bad in Malta. I am sorry to say but today's world is a fast one and in business one can't sleep for a second. This means that you have to be on the go all the time & watch out always for the latest.NO I AM NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY!!The goverment is doing the right thing spending on infrastructure of this country and must not stop or else we crash like Greece & Spain and Ireland is risking too.What do you expect throw away money on people's electricity bills?Of Course I rather go on a holiday and spend them there it's more fun!But then I use my common sense as a little sacrifise from everyone will help the country get back on it's feet 100%.I think this country should stop blaming the goverment for ones personal life faluires.I am sorry if I insulted the people of the South that way but most of the time they get on my nerves.MOST OF THEM DON'T GET ANYWHERE IN LIFE AND HAVE TOBALMESOMEONE!
Kathy Elliot
Mar 3rd 2010, 08:11
@ C Zammit
First off, I'm a floating voter, so don't go harping at me about any party colour. The litany doens't stick for either.
Secondly: The govement is working very well. During these times Malta is not doing bad Thanks God.
You're _trying_ to be funny, right? Because I can't see what's happening right now, and what the government is doing as 'working very well'. One of my favourite businesses, one that has been around for generations, has closed down, as have many others. When I asked, I was told that they couldn't tally their accounts. They had been in the black for years, but not for the past two, and they couldn't afford a third red year. They aren't the only ones, either. Things are NOT going well. Spending less money on infrastructure that we can currently do without would be a wise move, instead focussing more on what the economy and the people need.
Thirdly: To all Labour supporters in the South. Don't worry if you're poor the goverment will help you pay them.
Sarcasm and Patronising don't suit you. Please stop.
Government: To Both; Do Something. Argh.
C.camilleri
Mar 2nd 2010, 20:55
@ Martinelli
It appears that the PN backbenchers did not break the PL hearts by the hearts of those who elected them. They elected them to defend their interest not to act as the maltese proverb says Klieb jinbhu imma ma jigdmux. We just have to wait for the general election to see how many of these backbenchers are re-elected?
Obviously their vote yesterday did not effect you in any way, so your comments are just empty words.
johann ferriggi
Mar 2nd 2010, 20:31
As a Nationalist supporter i always voted for the P.N i am 33 years old ,i voted 3 times in my lifeso far. i am really feeling offended not by the new tariffs issue itself but by the high arrogance the parliament members in the government side are showing to the country.i can't understand how DR.Lawrence Gonzi could say to the people I AM THE GOVERNMENT YOU SHOULD listen and do what i decide. Fair enough but remember you were a minister fir SOCIAL POLICY before you are aPRIME MINISTER and therefore you should know better how these tariffs will affect families.Don't forget that more than once you personally called DR.Alfred Sant (li inti tlift il-boxxla socjali).when cost of living that time was not as complicated as this time what should i say to you now? (il boxxla telqet tassew l idejn sodi ddghajfu u l finanzi kkrollaw ) I am really sorry to say all this to aparty leader which i support but the truth is truth and workers are really undergoing rough times
Ludwig Flask
Mar 2nd 2010, 19:28
@ Dr Gonzi and Dr Muscat: well seems both of you are remarkable 2D chess players, cleverly closing most issues to a stalemate with the end result having the ‘populin’ succumbing to parliamentary decisions. what about showing your talent into 3D gaming?
J Brincat
Mar 2nd 2010, 19:03
To all PN sympathisers.
When the new bills with the increased tarrif arrive at home do not be alarmed. Sit down while you open the enveloppe. After the initial shock breathe in very deeply. When you come to yoursleves again give vent to your frustration by going out in the balcony and shout 'Viva GonziPN - Flimkien kollox possibli'
Mike Magri
Mar 2nd 2010, 18:26
So.. The GonziPN Parlament rejected the Labour`s Opposition motion to repeal utility tariffs and also completely ignored the HEARTFULL `CRY` of the Citizens ehh....!!!
Well Mr. Prime Minister and PN Deputies..
Sooner or Later, Your time for judgement will come TOO when you all come creaping and begging for our votes... Ahhh.. But by then Mr. Prime Minister et All, it would be TOO LATE for childish excuses and false promisses, as by that time, the SAVAGE damage to our standard of living by approving `Mil-Qalb` these SHAMEFULL increases, would have been already done , and only God knows what kind of repercussions we would have to suffer by then...
IN PARLAMENT YOU COULD CONTROL THE VOTES TO GET THE RESULT YOU WANTED... BUT COME NEXT GENERAL ELECTIONS THE VOTES WILL BE IN O..U..R H..A..N..D..S AND WE CAN ASSURE YOU ALL, THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET WHAT YOU SURELY DESERVE AND ``BILL-QALB`` TOO....
................................ A.. VOTE.. OUT.. OF.. PARLAMENT ONCE.. AND.. FOR.. ALL.....................
ISTHU JEKK TAFU KIF.....!!
C.Zammit
Mar 2nd 2010, 17:51
@ John Schembri- The govement is working very well. During these times Malta is not doing bad Thanks God. But maybe you don't have enough brian power to realise! Keep on dreaming Pl supporters! You won't win the next election PN are there to stay unless Pl really changes! WE DO NOT NEED SOCIALISTS. LOOK WHAT A MESS SOCIALIST SPAIN & GREECE ARE IN. LOOK AT ITALY WHO ARE SILL SUFFERING THE MESS ROMANO PRODI LEFT THERE.
C.Zammit
Mar 2nd 2010, 17:27
@ To all Labour supporters in the South. Don't worry if your poor the goverment will help you pay them. So don't worry you will not need to use candle light or wash in the harbour. Don't worry all we be ok and you will not need Joseph Muscat to come save you from your problems. You will all still be living in your homes and not in Boxes! See how lucky you are. See how lucky that Gonzi is helping you a bit! Please to PL's Ignorant people WE ARE NOT GOING TO WASTE OUR CASH ON YOUR BILLS! THERE IS MUCH MORE WORK TO BE DONE THAN PAYING YOUR BILLS. I GAVE YOU ALL OPTIONS USE A CANDLE,WASH IN THE SEA.PAY THEM YOURSELF AS YOU ARE WASTING THEM MY FRIENDS! PLEASE TO LABOUR SUPPORTERS AND GWU NO MORE CARNVIAL ON THE STREETS.THE COSTUMES WHERE THOSE OF DUMB & DUMBER & THE DUMBEST OF ALL!!!:)))))))) AT LEAST THERE WAS SOMETHING OF GOOD VALUE ON T.V TO WATCH:)) IS THERE ANOTHER CARNIVAL ORGANISED BY PL ON MARCH 31ST?? IF THERE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS ONE FROM IL PARTIT TA IBEN IL FQIR:) Viva Gonzi for having the guts ToChangeMalta.BestPrimeMinisterMaltaHasEverHad!
Mark Agius
Mar 2nd 2010, 17:21
The solution is actually really simple. Replace this administration with one more responsible. This government has been in power too long, and is acting like it has nothing left to lose, like there is no tomorrow.
John Schembri
Mar 2nd 2010, 17:18
C. Zammit. Sacrifice is ok if we were here for a good reason. But it's the PN's squandering of public funds that have brought us here. So why should we foot the bill for this government's mismanagement while the ministers sit in their plush airconditioned offices and get driven around in BMWs. Social justice my friend. They should be held responsible, not sanctified, as all the faithful party followers insist on doing.
Clive Gerada
Mar 2nd 2010, 17:01
Don't you realize that they are just using Tariffs to make your brains occupied with something? it's a good tactic to keep the eyes of the public away from other things which might go on! who knows!!!
C.Zammit
Mar 2nd 2010, 15:00
@ Joe E Galea- Mela now we stop investing in this country & other projects going on that are for the good of this country so then we can pay your electricty & water bills! Mhux hekk nibqaw! Enough of this rubbish. If you use it you pay for it. If you don't want to pay for it use it in a wise manner. If you can't afford it live in the dark & don't wash or wash in the sea!:)+ PL supporters showed how cheap they are. I pity them and their party who is always keeping his followers to the times of the cave men! At the moment the world is going through a rough patch and sacrifice is needed in order to survive! Without sacrifice we get nowhere especially at hard times like these. So better save you jobs and stop moaning rather than organising a second carnival like the one of yesterday!
Anthony Mizzi
Mar 2nd 2010, 13:06
The HEART of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his HEART.
- Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790, American Scientist, Publisher, Diplomat
Thank You Joseph, you are the people's man, the people's voice and proved once again you have HEART.
C.Zammit
Mar 2nd 2010, 10:53
@ To all of you who think the PL has the solution. Up to now no solutions just a lot of noise in the street. This was not a national protest but a Labour party rally! The insults and stupidity sung by the people present shows how cheap & ignorant they are. When are we going to learn from other countries such as Greece & Spain not to forget Ireland & Iceland who countries economies collapsed! Also Its not something very nice but if you follow what's goinig on in the world we are not doing as bad. The best thing is to keep on working and hold on to our jobs and give more than 100% on our work place. The govement should continue to invest in projects to generate money. It's better to continue spending in projects rather than in giving them in peoples pockets. Money will end up in peoples pockets when our economy improves.One has to work hard & money does not come by moaning!Up to now things in the world are not so good so the best thing to do is continue working , Earning and a little sacrifice together for the good of MALTA
Joe Micallef
Mar 2nd 2010, 09:58
Chris Grillo! if you can't afford it switch it off as I am doing!
Who are you expecting to foot our energy bills? the Queen!
C. Borg
Mar 2nd 2010, 09:06
Possibli li hawn tant nies egoisti f'dan il-pajjiz li ghax ghandhom il-flus huma jibqaw jappogjaw lil dan il-gvern. Ftakru f'min hu baghtut u tkunux egoisiti. Hawn nies li mhux qed ilahhqu mal-hajja u b'dawn il-kontijiet qed ibaghtu l-familji. Hawn malta hawn madwar 60,000 ruh li jistaw jaqaw fi stat ta' faqar.
Ftakru li qed inhallsu ghall-inkompetenza u l-infieq zejjed tal-gvern u mhux ghal prezz taz-zejt biss. Ghal minn qed isemmi lil A. Sant, San qatt ma harighom il-kontijiet izda zammhom biex ikompli jiddiskuti. Imbaghad jghidu li dna il-gvern huwa gvern ta' djalogu.
Inutli noqghhodu nistaqsu lil JM x'se jaghmel jekk ikun fil-gvern ghax diga ta' 20 proposta fid-diskors tal-budget u l-gvern ghogbu jinjorahom kollha.
Carmel Micallef
Mar 2nd 2010, 08:39
The bill I received April / October 2009 is Euro 266. We are 2 at home (retired) and use an average of 8 units a day using elect oven Fridge, Freezer and Auto wshing machine. We also spend time on laptop and pc. I expect that our next bill will be much less of what we already paid in 2009 considering the eco reduction and the direct assistance of 80 euro. I also have to say that I have installed the solar water heater back in 1993.
Arthur Cini
Mar 2nd 2010, 08:06
ArroganzaGonziTonioAustinPN at its best!
Were all of u here expecting any different vote result? At least we now know for sure whether the likes of JPO, FD, JPF, JMugl, RA have the people's interest at heart or THEIRS! DEFINITELY THEIRS & PN's
Continue paying all u Maltese people for the Govt's inefficiencies and waste and don't you dare complain or protest!! Please ACCEPT the utility bills the way they are, as the Arsenal supporter told us on Sunday...........and be thankful!
I ask all those of GOODWILL who voted for the present administration, is this what you really voted for? I don't really care whether the country is governed by PN or PL, what I'm interested in is GOOD GOVERNANCE, and the present administration lacks it totally!
Alex Ellul
Mar 2nd 2010, 08:03
Many have criticised the government for the cost of electricity. Fine. Now I would like them to turn to the opposition and in particular to the man who may be our next PM and ask the following question: What should the rate for one KWH of electricity be at the current price of oil AND CONSIDERING THE CURRENT SUBSIDIES ON RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS.
Joe E Galea
Mar 2nd 2010, 07:46
I think JM has listed quite enough millions which would have cushioned the impact of the utility tariffs. That already in itself is a proposal. Wasting millions of Euros is the problem in this country.
Gonzi managed to shut up the disgruntled PN backbenchers with his twinning carrot. All PN MP's don't care about the citizens, they care about their power status. We are paying their bills after all so they don't feel the bite. The conclusion is clearly one, yesterday Malta was betrayed by the government and its power hungry MP's.
Mark Camilleri
Mar 2nd 2010, 07:26
@jason Attard. i would like to know what you did to reduce your consumption by 40%. maybe you get showed all the family together, or maybe you would have dinner at candle light?!!!
Paul Borg
Mar 2nd 2010, 07:21
Grazzi PN! talli urejtu il-generosita kbira taghkom u bil-QALB ivvutajtu biex jghollew it-tariffi tad-dawl u l-ilma. Grazzi ukoll lil-UHM u GRTU tal-appogg kbir li urejtu lil-PN u talli urejtu solidarjeta mal-poplu biex ikompli jitnaqqar butu.
Joss Galea
Mar 2nd 2010, 07:14
Nahseb James Grima ghadu joqghod mal-mamma u thallsu hi l-kont tad-dawl u ma jafx kemm jigi!! Jien u r-ragel nahdmu t-tnejn...jigifieri id-dar tkun vojta mis-sitta ta' filghodu sa' l-erbgha ta' wara nofsinhar!! Anke affarijiet stand by naqilaw! We have no Aircon, no electric heaters and we cook with gas (li l-gas ukoll ghola!). The only thing we use that consumes a bit of electricity is the geezer...switch it on for an hour or two in the evening only. And the bill came up to 700 Euro!!!!!!!!!!
R. Caruana
Mar 2nd 2010, 07:08
What a complete waste of time, energy and people's money. As if taking to the streets and waving flags - not considering the foul language so characteristic of this sort of crowd - would change the price of oil.
Like Anthony Borg below I've had enough of forking out tax to make up for other people's waste. If the Opposition, the GWU and its bedfellows want to advocate waste, then let those who waste pay for it.
It's not true what Dr Muscat said that bills have not been issued by ARMS. I have already paid one they sent me three weeks ago. The Leader of the Opposition could not even get such a simple fact straight... can he be trusted with the rest?
John Schembri
Mar 2nd 2010, 07:06
Has anybody ever stopped to think how much the government actually makes in taxes off fuel, oil and gas? I agree with not subsidizing, but the government is dead wrong here, because every time the price of fuel at the pump is raised by 10c, 7c of that is profit to the government and tax. This is something all European governments are guilty of and the government stays conveniently silent. If it really meant to help industry and those in need, it would rake in an honest tax on this important commodity, not the daylight robbery it currently is. The government's credibility on this particular issue is zero. And we wait to see what the price of gas will be. Publish for all to know, the cost price of fuel, and fool us not with your rhetoric.
Michael Catania
Mar 2nd 2010, 06:38
@Demicoli:- I pay a substantial amount of income tax but I would gladly pay more if it helps to ease the pains that a section of our community is feeling, but I begrudge paying it with a conservative goverment in power, as it never goes to the right people but to instead to a chain of persons who contrbute nothing to the economy.
To the rest of the conservative gloaters:- Don't you realise that you too have to pay the tariffs as us who opposed them, unless of course you know something thats a mystery to the us"niave" voters. I hope now Enemalta employees pay particular attention to their meter readingsand I' sure they have that bit of intellegence to know what I mean.
Asfor the Conservative MP;- Shame on you, you were cheaply bought and hope you can sleep on your conscience, oh sorry I'm not sure you know what that word means. I have a conservative dictionary and that word is not in it, in its place is the word MONEY.
As for the march itself. THOSE TAKING PART WERE THE MOST BEST BEHAVED and was proud to be part of that crowd
V Frendo
Mar 2nd 2010, 02:27
To my dismay,I will not vote for this government again.
J.Xuereb
Mar 2nd 2010, 01:27
Give us a break Dr.Gonzi. The people out there are showing you that they don't trust in you anymore. The thousands are more important than those 35 who voted in favour of your bad , outdated politics!!! We are fed up of you!!
Mary Ann Borg
Mar 2nd 2010, 01:08
Another miscalculation by the GWU et al. Tony Zarb just told Lou Bondi that he expected PN backbenchers to vote with MLP. No wonder he was in a fit and arrived late for the programme. He was always late anyway. Late to realise the fairness of VAT, late to realise the will of the people to join the EU, late to see that privatisation as opposed to government parastatal entities is the way forward, and late to bring the government down. If his theatrics served for anything, it served to solidify PN and to make the teachers rally to leave MUT and join UHM. Well done Tony! The citizens of Malta gave PN the right to rule for 5 years starting 2008 but Tony Zarb thinks that he can bring this government down. He said so in 2006 too, and even there, he failed again. Not only, but come 2008 and once again, PN retained the right to govern our country. If it were for him we would still be pumping useless € millions down the dockyard year in year out. In the meantime, SmartCity, SR Technics, Lufthansa Technik, Piano project and stability all around, which seems to irritate Tony.
Anthony Pace Gouder
Mar 2nd 2010, 00:51
B'dan il- Vot illum il- Maltin Kolla SETAW jaraw li ir-Rapprezentanti-PN qeghdin hemm ghall-interessi taghhom u mhux DAK TAL-POPLU ! Jidher li il-PM rnexxietlu bit-tattika tal-bzar fl-ghajnejn li tefghalhom l'aktar il- membri li qaghadu jitkazaw u jilmentaw kontra t'TARIFFI ,ghax mhux f'waqthom u ghax hekk u hekk u bqajna bl'EKK ! ... X'IPOKREZIJA , ma jarawx li b'dan l-attagiament hafna minn dawk li vvotawlhom issa zgur tilfu il-fiducja fihom !
simon borg
Mar 2nd 2010, 00:46
...or rather "PN rejects Labour's motion to save families"
laurence schembri
Mar 2nd 2010, 00:41
The Minister of Finance was on Bondi+ this evening and he spat it out, the hike on the W&E tarrifs has nothing to do with the price of oil, it is simply a tax on every household to make good for this administration bad management. Of late he keeps bringing in the state Greece is in as an example, the price of oil had nothing to do with the turmoil that Greece is in today. So let`s stop playing with words, come clean and tell us that somehow we have to make good for this administration`s mistakes.
Alexander Pace Gouder
Mar 2nd 2010, 00:17
Komplu ahqru il-poplu ghax hekk haqna la qedinkom hemm. Dan il-grazzi. Gvern bla kuzjenza. MP's Nazjonalisti ittradetuna. Ebda rispett ghal Haddiema, Middle Class,Pensjonanti, Anzjani. Il-Poplu jaqla u inthom cicicici. MHUX HEKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A.Gauci Cunningham
Mar 2nd 2010, 00:16
@all----Regarding subsidies unfortunately this government has been caught in a bit of a quandry. Why? First of all it promised to keep susidies in it's 2008 electoral manifesto and secondly because now ,as I write, the government is in agreement to SUBSIDIZE the new bus company for the coming 3 years. So you're either against subsidies all the time or you're all for them.. there's no 2 way about it!! Even the one-off 17 million euros the government is priding itself of giving "families" is a form of a subsidy. Here again (for all those who think subsidies are the worst thing since WW2) we are ,from our taxes, paying this subsidy to people who earn piles of cash (good luck to them) and who don't need any government cheques to get by but who will still receive a "subsidy" they don't really need!! The government and its many apologists who have taken this hugely attended protest (Sunday one) so badly need to decide; are they for or against Subsidies?? if they're against then they need to check whether they're supporting the right political party!!
Anthony Baldacchino
Mar 2nd 2010, 00:08
@Aristotile demicoli.
Biex thallas xi 40,000 euro taxxa, sinjal li tkun taqlaha tajjeb. Jiena naqbel li kulhadd ghandi jhallas taxxa skond id-dhul finanzjarju tieghu. Min jaqla ftit ihallas ta ftit, u min jaqla hafna ihallas ta` hafna. Veru tipretendi li id-dhul tieghu huwa ta` 8000 euro fis-sena jista jhallas daqshekk? Daqskemm ftahart li tghamel over 100,000 euro fis-sena.
@ lil Gvern prezenti - GIDDIEB!!!!!!!!!!! Hemm xi hadd mill-ministri juruna kopja tal-kont tad-dawl taghhom please?
RJ Micallef
Mar 2nd 2010, 00:01
I have just recently returned from 10 days holiday in Malta, my country of birth. Over two weekends I saw thousands of cars on the road till very late in the evening. I saw hotels and restaurants packed with with Maltese people enjoying Sunday lunches and other meals. I saw shops full of thousands of products and equally full of Maltese customers. I saw thousands of Maltese people enjoying carnival and drinking al fresco in Valletta. I saw countless new buildings and new homes.
You are now being told that for once the government cannot subsidise utilities apart from those who badly need help.
I live in the UK when we have paid the right price for utilities for a long time and we accept that there is " no free lunch."
It is time to reduce the excessive use of electricity and gas and to start living in the real world.
Roderick Mizzi
Mar 1st 2010, 23:56
u le, issa isimaw minn Tonio, dak qed tarawh ikrah sakem tidraw :)
J Martinelli
Mar 1st 2010, 23:46
@ Victor Laiviera et al
It seems that the NP backbenchers have broken the LP's heart (and back).
It seems that Joseph continues with a lot of hot rhetoric but no substance.
It seems that the LP's economists failed Economics 101.
It seems that the LP is still groping in the dark.
Maybe the easiest solution is to let the Opposition set the tariffs, and express them as a percentage of the present ones. If it is found that the LP's numbers amount to say 60% of the present tariffs, then run the Power Stations 60% of the time. That would not increase the burden on Enemalta and people will be served 60% of the time! I wonder how the LP fanatics would react then!
"Leo Brincat also criticized the imposition of 6% interest on late payment of electricity rates". In other countries nonpayment means no service, let alone 6% interest PLUS a hefty reconnection fee. I am under the impression that those who cannot pay the full bill are still subsidized!
Marlene Pullicino stated that the government had failed to produce an energy plan in the last 20 years!? Too young to remember who built the Delimara Station?
R. Camilleri
Mar 1st 2010, 23:45
What is all this fuss about when the increase in tariffs is actually about 26 cents per day for a household of 4 consuming ~ 15 units a day (which is a lot).
Joe Saliba
Mar 1st 2010, 23:43
Everything and everyone has a price.
R. Camilleri
Mar 1st 2010, 23:38
If a household of 4 uses 15 units per day (which is a lot) its bill will increase by €225 - €130 subsidy = € 95 per year. That is €0.26 per day!
All this fuss, protests and waste of time of our MPs for 26 cents a day for a household of 4!
N. Bonello
Mar 1st 2010, 23:31
As we, the people are never given any real reference information by politicians and journalists (why not ?) I found this - some graphs looks very familiar.
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-QA-09-048/EN/KS-QA-09-048-EN.PDF
Also interesting is this, particularly price levels - http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-SF-09-050/EN/KS-SF-09-050-EN.PDF
Unfortunately I could not find anything about Wage Levels.
I would guess that we are probably the lowest paid with the highest cost of living. The worst of both worlds.
Jon Agius
Mar 1st 2010, 23:26
mhux hekk hux mal-hazin jehel it-tajjeb. Wara l-iskandlu tal-VAT u min jaf kemm il-miljuni intilfu f'dak id-dipartiment BISS il-poplu jispicca jpatti ta' kollox. Kieku tghid ghalmenu bit-taxxi li qieghdin inhallsu, il-gvern se jixtri il-medicini li hawn out of stock u jgib iktar medicini utli fiha u ma fihiex. Imma li thallas it-taxxi biex thallas ghall-inefficjenza totali li hawn f'dan il-pajjiz minnhabba in-nuqqas tas-serjeta' hija innaccetabli.
Dik hi id-Demokrazija li hawn min jiftahar biha f'dan il-pajjiz? Xi tfisser demokrazija? Li l-poplu jsemma' lehnu jew li tabbuza bil-poplu biex jivutalek umbghad qas biss tistmah matul l-ewwel 4 snin li taghmel fil-gvern. Ghax umbad kull meta tasal l-ahhar sena' il-budget dejjem ikun wiehed sabih hux u tismaghom jghidulek grazzi tas-sagrificcji li ghamilna u li issa ngawdu flimkien. Kemm hi sabiha Demokrazija Maltija hux. M'intix tara, il-Gvern sar dittatorjali. Jew li jghid hu jew xejn. Anke il-partit huwa dittatorjat. GonziPN.
"Halluhom ha jghollew il-prezzijiet!!!" Doqqu l-horn.
R Scicluna
Mar 1st 2010, 23:26
Opposition motion defeated....now stop wasting more of the country's time and try and do something constructive...everyone is still waiting. You have bored everyone with this moaning about electricity rates. when the price of oil goes down to $12, don't worry, the rates will go down!!
D.Bartolo
Mar 1st 2010, 23:24
Xi hadd qal li pajjizan sinjur, demokratiku etc etc. Sinjur nahseb hu u xi 4 bhalu, ghax il-bqija kullhadd jaqlagha u jikolha, jaqlagha u jikolha kemm biex jghix kif ukoll JAQLAGHA FUQ WICCU U HADDIEHOR JIKOLHA MIN GO BUTU, HALLAS U HU GOST
Marcel Dingli
Mar 1st 2010, 23:14
E Zammit, mhux money no problem , u hofra hrafa, u budget sod, u par idejn sodi ? u ghaxar miljuni l hemm u ghaxar miljuni l hawn ? allura ghalfejn ninkwetaw. Issa jibdew jaqtghu id dawl lil kulhadd u ma jkollnix bzonn il power station u l cable ma sqallija. Issa noqghodu bix xemgha, bhal familji ohra. U mela , issa sapun tas snien hawn kemm irridu. Mhux dak l aqwa.
Herbert J. Grech
Mar 1st 2010, 23:14
@ ALL
How come nobody knows how the utility bills are worked out exactly? How come the utility bills do not reflect the changes in oil prices when these decrease? Shouldn't we customers be given details re what % of the bills is related to oil prices, what % to Enemalta's inefficiencies and what % to go directly for taxes? After all Enemalta has a full monopoly hence customers must be given full and transparent information since they have no other competitor to choose from!!
Chris Grillo
Mar 1st 2010, 23:05
@Joseph E.Briffa.... guess I won't be going to use the University condom machine(!!!) with my lack of privacy...and I snore loudly! HAHA!!!
@Walter Kunast .. I think you have a *SERIOUSLY_BIG_PROBLEM* Simply impossible.
With all the energy saving appliances and stuff I begged/borrowed/stole my bill still touches 870-1000 euros annually...and personally I feel it is a tad too much...
So a month's wages for tax,another month for NI,another month for the electricity bill,another month for the house loan,and another month's wages gone for licenses/tv/internet/phone. that's five months wages gone,and we haven't touched the cost of living. Admittedly I suffer from a chronic illness,Rheumatoid Arthritis,in which I am helped by the govt a lot...
It simply is too much....when PN came to power in err..umm...87, it was welcomed, and things flourished, but lately... well, I am not a political animal, but even I can see that the hill is very steep and we are gathering speed at an astonishing rate!
There have been positive strides forward obviously, but I think stagnation has set in. The middle class is about to disappear, methinks.
Finally,to everyone,sleep tight,and switch OFF THAT LIGHT!!!
Peace and blessings.
Herbert J. Grech
Mar 1st 2010, 23:04
UNBELIEVABLE !!! Some people are more interested in accusing the Unions who protested against the highest utility bills in Europe; than in accusing the people who actually introduced them!!
Just heard Vince Farrugia of GRTU on Bondi + who was very happy that the Opposition Leader did not win the utility bills motion - hence that the utility bills remained amongst the highest in Europe. Well done Vince!!
Mark Piscopo
Mar 1st 2010, 22:56
@Sinclair Calleja
Kindly note that in the calculator the Water subsidy is deducted from the bill. Please note that Dr Gonzi in no longer subsidizing the Water and Electricity Bills so it has to be added not deducted.Honestly my family, friends and I don not know how to make ends meet with these drastic tariffs!
Antonio DeSica
Mar 1st 2010, 22:50
Issa hafna paroli kontra Gonzi imbghad tigi sena qabel l-elezzjoni u hafna jerga jdurilhom u jergghu jibdew icapcpu u jaqbzu bit-tfal zghar liebsin il-blue fuq darhom. Kulhadd icapcap qisu il-kontijiet ma hallshom qatt u qisu il-gid qed jaslilhom dritt fil-but. Ma nafx jien...ahjar nibdew naghmlu naqa sens ghax ta bhalissa zgur ma jaghmilx sens.
David Depasquale
Mar 1st 2010, 22:48
Dan il-Gvern DITTATUR. Mhux veru li hu gvern tal-poplu ghax kieku jaghti kas l-ghajta tieghu. Il-poplu wera bic-car xi jrid. Ma nistghux inkomplu hekk. Il-pagi ma humiex iservu ma l-ispejjez ta' kulljum. Il-paga taghna, dawk li naqilghuha u nikluha, mhix bhal ta' Laurence u shabu. Dawk money no problem.
Muscat Pat
Mar 1st 2010, 22:46
I heard Dr Tonio Fenech blaming the Socialist Party for the finacial problems in Greece, when it was the Conservative Party- Gonzi friends who: increased the debt to an unsustainable 350 billion euros; it was Gonzi's friends who hid the deficit by under-reporting it by 9% of the GDP in 2009. It was -Gonzi's friends who used derivatives invented by Goldman Sachs to give itself an off-the book loan,( theEU is investigating GoldmanSachs). It was Gonzi's friends in Greece who sold future EU subsidies and lottery earnings to investment banks for upfront cash, and raised money by morgaging its highways and airports. And in Malta, Gonzis Partysold the family silver for cash so that PN will continue the unaccountable spending and wasting spree, that has brought us to a situation where the Government can't afford to soften the impact of high tariffs to the industry to the self employed, but especially to the vulnerable people living below acceptable living standards. The finanzi fis- sod slogan, the hofra hrafa, and the par idejn sodi, has caught up wih us, tighting the nooze around the necks of our young generation. Malta has become a sad countryand a decaying country;PN has ruined it!
E.Ciantar
Mar 1st 2010, 22:45
@John Schembri.
Half the tariffs? It can be done. You make the people pay the full tariffs, but you tell them it is half.
@Aristotle Demicoli.
That's the right philosophy! What Labour is suggesting is that others will pay a subsidy on your bill, but then you pay the subsidies for the others...nice logic eh! I would rather pay my subsidy and that is it.
Tanu Zammit
Mar 1st 2010, 22:44
true victor... all of them are loyal when it comes to it!...
victor vella
Mar 1st 2010, 22:43
@ walter Kunast.
If I were you I would phone enemalta and have them check the meter, or check is someone has a plug into your system,we are a family of 4 with energy saving lamps and use 2 PC and 2 TV Sets 2 freezers and normal heating when required and we don't pay that much.
@ Victor Laivera.Mela insejt meta il backbenchers Laburisti ma setawx jifthu halqom, lanqas meta Sant ghajjar lill mintoff trajditur.Staqsi lill Trigona u lill Marija Camileri.
Mark Piscopo
Mar 1st 2010, 22:42
@all bloggers
Honestly these tariffs will increase poverty in Malta. How could any middle class worker afford these tariffs, we had an increase in the gas cylinders, an increase in the car licenses,increase in fuel prices, apart from increase in the prices of medicines. My grandfather who live alone received a the bill of Water and Electricity of Eur400. This increase in the utility tariffs will be felt more because the Government is no longer given subsidiaries on the fuel prices. In Malta we have the lowest wages in Europe and how can we cope?
Kenneth William
Mar 1st 2010, 22:40
Nahseb li aristotle demicoli xi sta bene mhux hazin...dejjen jattakka li batut. Ghadni ma smajtux jilmenta mqar wahda fuq l inefficenza tal enemalta,mobiles ta li staff tal ministri,karozzi mikrija. dawl ta barra jixghel filodu,stimi ta progetti ki jeccedu li stima bid doppju u mitt haga ohra li nahseb li kolla jithallsu mit taxxa u NI tal 100,000 euro li jaqla is Sur Demicoli.U bhal ma forsi taf ahna il couch potatoes li semmejt jista jkun li nissusidjaw it telefonati li tghamel ghal barra,ghax biex rahhas l overseas calls gholla il lokali.Dan ma ssemiehx Sur Demicoli. Forsi il ministru tal finanzi jibghatlu rendikont ta fejn jintefqu it taxxa li jhallas hu ax skond hu kolla jmorru ghal dawk li ma jghamlu xejn. Haga wahda nghidlek MR.Demicoli il hajja qarira wisq biex ma ghandekx cans tara naqra TV u tghamel tfal daqs qtates li semmejt ghax h...ja f'wicc ix xol li tkun ghamilt ghomrok kollu biex hadd ma jkun gawdik f'hajtek. :-))
Suzanne Borg
Mar 1st 2010, 22:34
Jien ma nafx kem ad hawn nies bla mohh madoff. vera amazing ta. jew il flus jaqawlom mis sema! kif jirnexxilkom temmnu lil gonzi kif a?:/ brainwashed ta vera. imma taf xi nghid min ivvutalu haqqu... ic cajta hi li anke min ma vvutalux ha jkollna inbatu ukoll ! min ivutalu irid jajd mia culpa htija tijej ! vera dan il gven qered pajjiz man . Pirmli li bilfors trid tohodom habba is sahha ikolok tixtrijom mhux eda najd tipo panadols taaa li b 5 euros tamel festa imma pirmli li b mitt euro fix xahar lanqas ikun adek bdejt !!! kontijiet tilajn , taxxi tilajn . u pagi listess . qum min hem gonzi hii ahna mandnix il paga tijek taaa ma nisolhux lin nies !!! imissu wiccu jisthi hu u il ministri kolla tijew ax egoisti . laqwa li andhom paga tal beati pawli u x'jimpurtahom mil haddim !!! irizenjaw mintomx kapaci tmexxu !
vfarrugia
Mar 1st 2010, 22:30
Aristotle Demicoli: the dole bums are the least to complain. Their utility bills are subsidised by OUR hard earned taxes. It's the average salaried guy/gal who complains. The typical person who from a limited wage (think of what you pay your employees) has to pay a mortgage, put food on the table, clothe and educate his children, while trying to cope with the bills. Of course, it goes without saying, that while we, the employed, can only afford to raise a sprog or two, the unemployed 'miraculously' manage to raise a horde of kids. The mind boggles...
I think that we can easily afford to 'subsidise' the utility bills... by cutting off social services to the lazy. Force them to work, just like the rest of us!
lgalea
Mar 1st 2010, 22:29
Aristotle Demicoli Thank God that you are well-off Demicoli and also pray God that you would not need to live like those whom you call couch potatoes, for many an extremely rich person as been ruined and reduced to poverty Demicoli.
Salvu Felice Pace Participate for what? When you know that the outcome has already been decided? For the government to hide behind the MCESD and say that he had informed the partners and that they had agreed?
"Thank God we can still switch on the light and get energy, and get water when we torn on a tap " Sure we have to thank God because the power station that was supposed to be good for some 50 years was not enough for a few years. Re water, the lack of repairs to reservoirs and not building new ones to save rainwater by PN governments means that we will be without water in 15 years time.
James Grima Pajjiz sinjur? Ghal dawk li hadu Lm125 ZIEDA FIL_GIMGHA IVA, ghall-bqija LE sur Grima.
ROBERT HENRY BUGEJA
Mar 1st 2010, 22:28
Today the members on the government side have proved to all Malta that they have absolutely NO SOCIAL HEART but what they do have is ONE BIG PERSONAL INTEREST.
From today you do not qualify as people's representatives any longer...you just represent yourselves and your own interests. We will just have to wait for next election, that's all! You will have your answer then.
Mario Bonnici
Mar 1st 2010, 22:28
Thank you Dr.Gonzi.
Thank You to the PN parliamentary group (including the backbenchers) for your vote against the motion.
I will continue to pay the tariffs for the good of the country.
Ouch....
Joseph N attard
Mar 1st 2010, 22:26
Nationalist supporters periodically get angry at their government because of this and that. They vow that come next election....... Then, they see those TV images of the pseudo energy tariffs protest. They see the gathered ladies and gentlemen shouting obscenities at the Prime Minister and the PN. They are vividly reminded of the baying hordes of the eighties. Bang goes their resolve not to vote PN at the next election. Dr. Gonzi will be sleeping tight tonight.
Joseph Borg
Mar 1st 2010, 22:24
Now I hope that the PN fanatics will be happy when they receive the bills and they'll be forced to cough up that big whole lot of extra money to make up for Gonzi's incompetence.
Pierre Genuis
Mar 1st 2010, 22:22
Gonzi...kif gabuk pupu n-nies ta madwarek........ghadek ma fhimtx li qed jidhku bik jahasra !!!
Andrew Cumbo
Mar 1st 2010, 22:14
Kull poplu jiehu il-Gvern li jixraqlu. Dan il-poplu ma haqqux ahjar min hekk. Hekk kuntent bi Gvern li jghaddih bi zmien 4 snin shah tasal elezjoni u jinsa kollox. Irrid jigi l-ghaks biex forsi dan il- poplu jitghallem.
P Zammit
Mar 1st 2010, 22:13
if the tariffs were halved the government would still need to get the money from some place else (eg raising taxes)... but perhaps people think that money grows on trees or magically appears from nowhere.. as you can see from greece, uk, usa, spain and plenty of other countries throughout the world what you give you must take back to balance the books
David Farrugia
Mar 1st 2010, 22:11
Hallas Gahan
Gianninu Saliba
Mar 1st 2010, 22:10
Mr. Victor Laiviera, all the nationalist backbenchers have shown you if they can be trusted. It's the 34 Opposition MPs that cannot be trusted. Imagine if they were to be in government, today they would have added €84 million to Malta's problems. But then, that wouldn't have been their first gaff since 8 March 2008. They would have been still paying millions for the dockyard, we would remain using buses that are only fit for a scrap yard. We would have a Minister for Tourism subsidizing the tourists instead of using money to assist the tourism industry. Joseph, on the other hand would have realized that he would be most uncomfortable sitting at Castle as he can only sit on the fence.
J. Schembri
Mar 1st 2010, 22:10
@ Victor Laiviera: back benchers know that Joseph's motion would lead us to an abyss. 35 34 was the result. This is the price of democracy .
s schembri
Mar 1st 2010, 22:09
Watch the clip on this page < http://www.miema.org/site/ > It is better than all the moaning.
carmel callus
Mar 1st 2010, 22:08
@Walter Kunast : goa and tell it to the marines! How can anyone believe you that you're paying €300 a month for electricity. ...which would work out at €3,600 a year!
C.Sammut
Mar 1st 2010, 22:03
It is interesting to read the difference in bills between different people using the same appliances! I hope smart meters shed a light on this!
JOSEPHINE FENECH
Mar 1st 2010, 22:02
KOMPLU HALSU MALTIN GHAL HELA TAL GVERN NAZZJONALISTA. I WAS AGAINST LABOUR IN 1998 AND VOTED PN BUT NOW I KNOW THAT "BIEX TISKONGRA TRID TKUN PUR" THANK YOU BACK BENCHERS FOR PUTTING IT BEHIND OUR BACKS!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark Mifsud
Mar 1st 2010, 22:01
Alfred Sant is supposedly the worst party leader who ever existed in Malta. Yet the supposedly best party leader who ever existed in Malta only managed to beat him by a meagre 1500 votes in the last election (and we all know how!). We are now suffering the consequences.
.
Gonzi and the PN are the past. Joseph and the PL are the future.
Labour is the way, Labour is the only hope for our country. New ideas, new way of doing things...and things can only get better from this mediocre PN government!
James Grima
Mar 1st 2010, 21:58
Proset Dr. Gonzi :) I can see the LP elves red in disgrace.
Ian Bugeja
Mar 1st 2010, 21:57
so what would PL do if it was in government? I can't see any ideas here unfortunately energy does not grow on trees. The government is doing it's best although there is more that can be done (like a more intelligent grid and alternative power sources)
Ivan Attard
Mar 1st 2010, 21:53
Tal-misthija!!!
Fejn kienu Franco Debono, Robert Arrigo, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Jean Pierre Farrugia ecc??? Franco Debono meta astjena kien qed jaqbez ghall-interessi tal-haddiema u tal-kostitwenti tieghu jew ghal butu? Issa li Lawrence Gonzi tah vuci, ma jimpurtahx aktar mill-kostitwenti?
Ara verament pajjiz tal-Mickey Mouse!! Komplu ghaffgu hemm... illum jew ghada, tridu taghtu kont ghal ghemilkom... il-verdett irid jasal bilfors u ma jistax idum aktar mill-2013... illum ivvutajtu bil-qalb biex ahna nibqghu inbatu l-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma u dakinhar, nivvutaw bil-qalb biex intajrukom mill-poter u ntellghu lill-Partit Laburista fil-Gvern ghax hu biss garanzija ta' serhan il-mohh bis-sahha ta' Dr. Joseph Muscat.
Qieghed nistenna lil xi Deputat min-naha tal-Gvern jew lill-PM biex ghada jmeri fatt wiehed biss minn dak li semma Joseph Muscat fl-intervent tieghu... hemmhekk irid juri sahhtu Gonzi u mela billi joqghod ilaqqa' l-Grupp Parlamentari halli jirranga l-konsenturi li ghandu...
j.spiteri
Mar 1st 2010, 21:52
Kellu jkun Gvern Nazzjonalista li rega gab il-faqar f'Malta. Isthu, jekk tafu kif!
David Scicluna
Mar 1st 2010, 21:51
Where were the backbenchers today? Bought or threathened? Are they no longer representatives of the electorate? Big mouths, cowards or victims?
Victor Laiviera
Mar 1st 2010, 21:35
It seems that not a single PN backbencher can be trusted to take part in the debate.
J. Schembri
Mar 1st 2010, 21:32
@ ALL: we should have voted Labour because we would have been paying half the tariffs , don't ask me how it can be done, I don't care.
R. Attard
Mar 1st 2010, 21:31
@ Hon. Tonio Fenech.
'The people's question to the opposition was: What would you do?'
Certainly not ignore the cry of the people as demonstrated yesterday and today.
Aristotle Demicoli
Mar 1st 2010, 21:25
NO TO THE SUBSIDIES! Lets hope common sense prevails!
The government makes over €40,000 in TAX off my hard earned income and that should be enough! All my income is audited by the government and shareholders every year... I've done my share! For the rest of it, I expect fair and equitable treatment.
My Income Tax and NI contributions go to sustain a bunch of couch potatoes watching TV all day long while sucking at the social services or bearing illegitimate kids like cats in heat. I don't even find the time to watch TV myself because I'm working all day long to sustain this nonsense. If anyone is not happy happy with his dole income, s/he has all it takes to do something about it - So stop complaining and start working - HARD!
What I don't accept is wasting more of my tax contribution to subsidize other people's energy and water indulgence! At this rate I'll soon hear Unions argue that Enemalta should directly forward ME .. YOUR own bills!
How about getting your act together and start pulling your own weight for a change!
Sinclair Calleja
Mar 1st 2010, 21:24
To compare the current rates with the rates in April 2009, October 2008 or even older periods, a computer program exists which can be downloaded free of charge. It calculates and explains how the total was arrived at, and is very simple to use. The rates used depend on the period given, so it is easy to compare the amount by entering a period in the past. The website is http://www.mybill.com.mt
E.Zammit
Mar 1st 2010, 21:18
Impossibli li ghad fadal nies daqshekk BRAINWASHED, u jibqu jappoggjaw lil Gvern anke fuq din il kwistjoni, qishom il flus jaqaw mis sema jew nsibuhom wara l ghatba tad dar!!!!!!!!!!!
Nick Bugeja
Mar 1st 2010, 21:15
Is-sur Prim Ministru Gonzi dejjem jghid biex niggudikawh fuq li jaghmel mhux fuq li jghid!!! U ahna hekk ha naghmlu Sur Gonzi!!!!! Warrab ghax ghadda zmienek, tlift id-direzjoni u tfajtna ghal gol-hajt!
R Axisa
Mar 1st 2010, 21:11
@James Grima - Gonzi jimxi aktar 'il quddiem - b'rasu mghaddsa gor-ramel!
jbusuttil
Mar 1st 2010, 21:11
To all PL bloggers do you ever ask yourselves what PL would do in these same circumstances if you do tell us or just TRY to give us a hint. Thanking you all in advance.
lgalea
Mar 1st 2010, 21:11
James Grima 'il quddiem mill-precipizzju ghal isfel
"...if this isn't a 20 year step backwards, I don't know what is.... " It's a 60 years step backwards or more.
Reuben Rizzo
Mar 1st 2010, 21:07
Much ado about nothing. We use electricity. We pay for what we use. Mela for everything that happens -- blame the government? We enjoy superb medical facilities and a decent public education system. For free. Would a (temporary) hike in our utilities bill spell out "dizastru!"? No hell...perhaps less savings, but then, c'est la vie.
It's not like we're starving or have nothing to wear. Oh come on, be less fussy people...put your energies elsewhere -- sport or other pursuits....just because you'll switch your air conditioner to cool down your fat arse this summer and will consequently receive a hefty bill, doesn't meran it's the end of the world. U ejja!
J.Borg
Mar 1st 2010, 21:03
How come no one from the PN backbench opened his mouth today?
Anthony Borg
Mar 1st 2010, 20:58
@ Chris Grillo & Walter Kunast: I reiterate your common sense comments.
No matter what we shut down or turn off, we still receive bills in the €400 region for a family of four.
Nowadays I even boil water for tea in a pan at the bottom of the oven when there is baking to be done. I have become paranoid with the PC: I put it to “sleep” function even on short tea breaks.
Today I heard a comment on the bus that made me wonder: “are these stiff utility rates imposed so as to discourage people from using electricity because our power station is not coping?” Perhaps so – I can remember many power outages these past few months.
Jason Attard
Mar 1st 2010, 20:55
What a complete waste of time. Instead of being productive, parlament is debating something that the gov WILL NOT CHANGE !!!!
Issa lets be realistic, does anyone in Malta believe that if PL were in gov tomorrow, do you really think they will redce the tariffs? No way, the most they will do is reduce it just to say... You see we did !!!
Don't get me wrong, I DO NOT want to pay high tariffs, but I must say I did manage to reduce my consumption by about 40%... which was all wasteage.
Salvu Felice Pace
Mar 1st 2010, 20:51
Two important points were revealed this evening by Minister Pullicino. The GWU and other Unions did not participate in the initial proceedings about the principles involved in setting up the tariffs. Now they cry crocodile tears. They were asked to participate.
PL Shadow Minister Mizzi doesn't even know what's going on. He claimed that the MRA rubber stamped the tariffs. Not true, Minister Pullicino revealed the tariffs were reduced by 8 million euros.
Then Austin Gatt pointed out - where are the Opposition's proposals? We know that the question of inefficiences is a dead duck and that the price of the tariffs reflects the price of oil but not necessarily immediately. It never can. To administer such a system would cost us even more.
Labour should apologise to the MPs representing the people for the uncalled for insults they were subjected to in the persuance of their duty. But then what do you expect when Tony Zarb yestereday called them names himself and one has to assume that Joseph Muscat approved. No word has come out from the glass house to the contrary.
Ron Saliba
Mar 1st 2010, 20:49
@Walter Kunast
Your meter is very wrong. Eur 300 a month!!
what a joke!
A.Tabone
Mar 1st 2010, 20:45
@ James Grima
Milli jidher taqlahha tajjeb habib, ghax jekk ta 3 xhur thallas 450 Euro meta qed noqodu attenti fuq kull nitfa dawl, ghalik huwa tajjeb nahseb li veru taqlahha tajjeb xbin ghax jien l kontijiet dejjem se jisplodu. X'nghidlu l bank...inwahhal f'Gonzi??? jew nehel jien??? ghidli int sur Grima ghax id direzzjoni li qed jaghtini Gonzi bhalissa hi '' ghal gol hajt"
m pace 2
Mar 1st 2010, 20:44
Dear Mr Grima possible you are one of those you look at the one side of the coin and or one of those you don;t recevied any traiffs at all or you are not suffering or you got well off job for the blue eye boys - think before you speak that common citizien is hurt right to the bottom
I Borg
Mar 1st 2010, 20:44
When the price of oil was $22 a barrel Dr Alfred Sant raised the utility bills because of the "hofra" (remember the hofor?). The mistake of the current administration was that it didnt raise the utlity bills as soon as the prices of oil started to hover above $70 and eventually reaching $140 and over. This created a budget deficit because it subsidised the bills. In this case Dr Gonzi needs to be bold and stop the subsidies, but at the same time encourage alternative sources of energy in a serious manner.
P.Zammit
Mar 1st 2010, 20:43
@Walter Kunast .. I think you have a problem
You say "We use one washing machine, one pc, one fridge, NO aircon, no electric heater, we cook with gas and in the evening we use two lamps. Result: Euro 300 a month electricity and water - we are two persons" = 3600 Euro/year
I use two PC's, have three TV's, Two fridge freezers, electric oven, two air-cons, four energy saving lamps in the evening and my last bill (23/04/09-14/10/09) was 646 Euro for four persons or
1292 Euro/year.
You must be supplying your neighbour free electricity without you knowing it !
James Grima
Mar 1st 2010, 20:42
Il Partit Nazjonalista lilna fl 1987 tana futur, u ta dan ghandna irridu inroddulu hajr. Naf li ic cintorin qied jissokka xi ftit minn habba ir ricessjoni. Nafu ukoll li qeghdin nghixu f pajjiz:
Sinjur,
Demokratiku,
Mimli prosperita'.
Haga li is socjalisti QATT m huma ser igibu.
Il poplu jaf li dan il gvern huwa il gvern ideali biex ikompli imexxi , mhux biss ghal dawn it 3 snin, izda for many many more years to come :) Keep up the good work Prim.!!! Nafdaw fik!!!
Muscat Pat
Mar 1st 2010, 20:35
I bet all tariff apologists have put up camp at the PN headquarters, living off the Partit, paying no bills on water, electicity and sewage. Or,it could be that they have become novices of the Trappist Order, flagelling themselves for the good of the Partito Nazzionalista.
Joseph E Briffa
Mar 1st 2010, 20:33
@ Chris Grillo..very amusing comment; you don't look like you're particularly perturbed by the couple of hundred euros rise in your bill; you still retain your SOH. Lack of privacy has its advantages as well, every cloud has its silver lining they say.. Joking aside, have you availed yourself of the SWH rebate scheme? If you haven't I suggest you consider it, the cashback is now Eur560. You should save some Eur300 a year on your bills, which incidentally would leave you in the same situation , if not better off; You should recoup the expenses in two/ three years. We have to help ourselves and don't expect government to do every thing for us. Subsidies have to be completely dismantled, otherwise we would all waste energy and water. We can't afford it, they are too precious. Thank God we can still switch on the light and get energy, and get water when we torn on a tap
P. Farrugia
Mar 1st 2010, 20:27
@ James Grima: Il- quddiem il- fejn? Ghall- gol hajt??!!!
Alex Debono
Mar 1st 2010, 20:24
@ James Grima. Kuagg sur Grima. Ara l-kont li jmiss ta dawl. Meta l-pagi huma miserabli hawn Malta. Bil-loan u bil-kont tad-dar tispiccalek il-paga..(mhux al-dan ivvutajt jien fit-8 ta Marzu).. u ma sibtix fil-programm eletorali tal-PN li je jzid il-prezz tal-gass u tad-dawl. Il-poplu ha jdum igorrha il-wegha u r-ricessjoni....
Steve Rogers
Mar 1st 2010, 20:24
James Grima int bis serjeta?? You believe so blindly in this man? Do you honestly think he does not make mistakes? Only one Man never made a mistake.
James Grima
Mar 1st 2010, 20:10
Kuragg Prim ministru. Keep up the good work. Taqax ghat teddida tal oppozizjoni, u kompli imxi il quddiem.
Walter Kunast
Mar 1st 2010, 20:03
"to help people to reduce their energy consuption" - this must be a joke! We have energy bulbs all over the place. We use one washing machine, one pc, one fridge, NO aircon, no electric heater, we cook with gas and in the evening we use two lamps. Result: Euro 300 a month electricity and water - we are two persons. Something very wrong on this island!
Stephen Farrugia
Mar 1st 2010, 19:59
We have our own oil and gas but our politicians stay silent. First we had the treason of illegal immigration and a continuation of the same old treason, of not using our own resources. Who's interest do you all work for ? Stephen Farrugia / Right-wing Social Democrats
Chris Grillo
Mar 1st 2010, 19:51
Respectfully I ask....How hard is it for the Prime Minister to accept, understand, and realize, that the Maltese population simply cannot afford the new tariffs. They are simply too harsh on us. No doubt they are one of the highest in Europe. It's out with the electric kettle, cooker and the electric toaster...and in with the billy-can and tin cooker-top bread toaster...if this isn't a 20 year step backwards, I don't know what is.... My kids are calling me Hitler, since I am always running around turning lights off behind them and yelling 'Dak id-dawl' Heck, it's cheaper to eat out on Sundays than cook a roast!!! And with summer coming I am already coming up with schemes to see how to avoid the dreaded sun's heat on my roof...we can't afford to run air-conditioning in all the bedrooms either...we'll all have to sleep in one bedroom....bang goes privacy! I am sorry that no more votes will be coming from us. We know which side our bread is buttered mate....