Court stops WSC from disconnecting service
A court in Gozo has ordered the Water Services Corporation not to threaten to disconnect the water and electricity supply to a private residence as the residents were not liable for debts incurred by a third party.
Roger Portelli told the court that he lived in Munxar, Gozo and that the WSC was threatening to suspend water and electricity supplies to his home unless he paid arrears due by the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel in Victoria Gozo. The hotel was operated by Restaurants & Hotels Ltd and Mr Portelli was one of the company directors. However, he told the court that he had never been personally involved in the commercial activity of the hotel.
Magistrate Paul Coppini heard that the hotel was originally owned by Mr Portelli’s father, Pawlu, who had leased it to Restaurants & Hotels Caterers Co Ltd in 1963. The meter was originally in Pawlu Portelli’s name and it did not result that the WSC had changed its billing details.
The court declared that it clearly resulted that the WSC was fully aware that the hotel was leased to and managed by this company. Furthermore, payments were made by the hotel and not by Mr Roger Portelli.
In its judgment the court noted that the confusion in the billing details held by the WSC was due to the corporation’s employees who had not been consistent in their work. Roger Portelli was only a company director and could not be held personally liable for dues of the company.
The court therefore upheld Mr Portelli’s case and held that he was not personally liable for the company’s debts. The WSC was ordered to not suspend the water and electricity supply to Mr Portelli’s residence.
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Jonathan Roger Portelli
Oct 28th 2010, 16:49
I am the son of the late Mr. Roger Portelli, i would also like to bring up a few comments regarding this issue. Doesn't WSC know the difference between Private and Commercial?? If I had to ask WSC who’s decision was to THREATEN to cut off water supply, nothing to do with the subject address, I would presume they would reply ‘board's decision’. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel “the actual subject” was sold in the early 90's, meaning all water and electricity bills also attached, any behindhand were settled and so on with the development known today as “THE DUKE”. The court just STOPED WSC from THREATENING on disconnecting supply from Mr. Portelli's PERSONAL residence or should it also have taken action against the WSC and held it responsible for such an irrelevant decision. “The WSC should first and foremost work on giving out INSTRUCTIONS to their employees to follow, to be efficiently consistent in their work, to have all records in ORDER, before taking any decisions regarding the disconnection of any service in PARTICULAR... “ As to achieve and ADEQUETE FINAL DECISON and keep all personal issues aside…
Joanna Portelli
Oct 25th 2010, 20:32
Not to mention that the above mentioned people happen to be my grandfather and my Dad. Paul Portelli passed away in 1968 over forthy one years ago and Mr Roger Portelli passed away over four years ago. Still to mention the fact that this property mentioned was sold in 1994 all meters where cut off which means paid for in full and since then this peoperty has been resold demolished and rebulit. Today knownas THE DUKE. Can I ask one question what brought all this about? and why?
Joseph N Attard
Oct 25th 2010, 18:20
All these Government Corporations are grossly inefficient. A serious and accountable Government would see that they are run by serious and competent people, not by individuals who are obviously not up to the job. People at whatever level who do not do their job efficiently should be fired, just like in private employment. The crass inefficiency and omnipotence of these entities is like a millstone round the neck of Maltese business and private individuals.
M. Fenech
Oct 26th 2010, 00:31
You are right in what you stated, but don't you know the value of that VOTE?????????????? That's why people employed with the government are treated better than in private companies, just because of political symphaties, not because of their ability.
t. borg
Oct 25th 2010, 17:26
il-wsc hija inkompitenti jekk halliet restaurant jew lukanda ghal zmien twil minghajr ma tithallas. ghandha taqta d-dawl mill-ewwel. ghandha wkoll hija thallas lil min hallas ta' meter zejjed u minkejja s-snin ghadha ma halsitx lura jew tat rispost.