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PL's solidarity is with the people - Muscat

The Maltese were paying European prices when they were not being paid European wages, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this morning.

In a recorded message on the party’s radio station, Dr Muscat said that while the regulator was supposed to be there to protect consumers, he had proposed an even higher price for gas than that which was being charged.

A Labour government, he said, would open for scrutiny decisions being taken, such as from where Malta bought its oil, he said.

Dr Muscat accused the government of artificially increasing water and electricity rates through the formula used. This, he said, could be changed to favour the people more but the Malta Resources Authority remained silent.

“A future Labour government will want explanations,” he insisted.

Dr Muscat said that there were many questions the regulator and the government should answer.

When the December price of gas increased, the operator had said this would soon drop as it was changing its supplier. However, the price went up again and it was expected to rise to €24 per cylinder by the end of the year.

The Labour leader referred to the motion presented in Parliament by the PL’s whip Joe Mizzi, requesting the publication of all the MRA workings on the gas prices. It also called on the MRA to review its workings on the calculation of prices, in the interests of consumers.

The motion called on the government to award an energy benefit bonus to everyone, in the same way as the government had found the money to raise the salaries of its ministers.

It proposed the setting up of a parliamentary select committee to investigate the gas privatisation process and decisions which affected prices.

Dr Muscat said he was hopeful that families and businesses would get out of the recession despite of the government.

The opposition was choosing to be with the people.

“Our solidarity is with you.

“I could have taken a double wage... But I am not for sale... I am with you. If you give me your confidence, I will be with you throughout my term, sharing the burdens and benefits the country will offer,” he said.

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Christian Mamo

Jan 9th 2011, 20:09

Dear Mr. K Vella
You are right that history repeat itself, The PN governments spend all that there was and also what there wasn’t, and the Labour Governments had to take drastic measures to resolve the mess that the PN government left behind him.
Hope all readers are in agreement to this!!

J. Schembri

Jan 9th 2011, 18:42

You mean "we the elves posing as Nationalists".

Joe Bonnici

Jan 9th 2011, 19:01

J. Schembri are you one yourself?

Mario Azzopardi

Jan 9th 2011, 20:36

Dear Mr Schembri do u want to bet that this is the most unpopular government for the past 40 odd years. Do u think I am happy that the party I voted for (5 times in all) is heading for the biggest defeat. But I think that we should be the ones who will throw this party (headed by Gonzi) to the opposition for it to be cleansed. You can ast Dr Jean Pierre Farrugia if he agrees or not. See MaltaToday if you do not believe us.

J. Schembri

Jan 9th 2011, 22:55

Can you point at a government in these hard times which is popular? I read Dr JP Farrugia's interview and believe that he's genuinely concerned about people who cannot make ends meet, his profession takes him right in the heart where the problems are. But nevertheless he will still remain a PN MP, because he knows deep inside that there is no magic formula to solve Malta's problems. On one hand I wish to see Joseph at the helm of this country in this storm but on the other I remember that I'm on the same boat with him. That leaves me with the only choice .

Pawlu Scicluna

Jan 9th 2011, 19:05

J. Schembri din hija GIDBA ohra tal-apologisti tal-PN Schembri. L-ewwel nett dak kien intrabat li jdahhalha EFA meta issellef mill-Bank Ewropew u issa dahlet u qieghda mohbija fil-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma. It-tieni jekk ma tridx tipprotests sinjal li inti wiehed minn dawk li geddumhom dejjem fix-xghir u ma jimpurtakx minn haddiehor. Dik karita' Nisranija Schembri!!

J. Schembri

Jan 9th 2011, 23:16

U min qallek li jien nisrani? Jien jekk niflah naghmel xi haga inhallas ghaliha minn buti bil-flus li nkun qlajt b'hidmieti, lil min hu batut nghinu imma ma rridx nahdem ghal min jippretendi li jghix minn fuq dar it-taxxi li nhallas jien. Jekk ma' niflahx naghmel xi haga ma nippretendix li jigi l-imghallem jew lilek biex tghini naghmilha. jekk ghola d-dawl rajt kif ghamilt u naqqast il-hela , jekk ghola l-gass mhux se jigi Joseph u jhallasuli u jekk joghlew l-hobz u il-halib b'erba centezmi tal-ewro ma' waqghetx id-dinja. Ghal xiex suppost nigi nipprotesta il-Belt , biex Gonzi jghid lil Putin jiftah is-suq tal-qamh jew lil OPEC biex izidu l-produzzjoni taz-zejt? Bil-protesti ser inwaqqfu lil dawn l-affarijiet jieqfu milli joghlew? Tahseb li Gonzi daqshekk mignun li ma jaghmilx xi haga li jista' jaghmel f'din is-sitwazzjoni?

Joe Micallef

Jan 9th 2011, 17:50

Your name suggests you're pretty young! My question - Why have you abdicated from using your grey matter at such a young age?

Joe Borg

Jan 9th 2011, 19:09

Joe Micallef infakkrek li kif jghidu darbtejn insiru tfal mili jidher habib. Kif jghidu wkoll, kieku l-gemel jara hotobtu jaqa' u jmut zoptu. Ahseb ftit fuqha Micallef.

Peter Spiteri

Jan 9th 2011, 19:07

Joseph E Briffa, another one with his snout in the trough.

Larson Pisani

Jan 9th 2011, 15:31

Il-Partit Laburista qatt ma ried jitla fil-gvern biex jiggwadanja hu. Dejjem kellu il-poplu bhala il-haga principali fil-mizuri li ha.

Joe Micallef

Jan 9th 2011, 17:55

Larson inti bis serjeta qieghed tghid!

Fil fatt forsi ghandek ragun ghax jekk ma kontx taqbel mal pjan tieghu kien iddamdmek bis-swat!

s.grima

Jan 9th 2011, 13:26

sihbi ejdli min accetta iz zieda u min iriffjuta?????

C Galea

Jan 9th 2011, 13:28

Tell me if you agree with the 600 euro per week pay rise while we got 1 .16 .Even peter Darmanin critized this and also high ranking PN officials

john vella

Jan 9th 2011, 14:20

Well said John! How about we get the truth of where this money is going. Let us start 600 euro per week for the prim., you can continue..............
Halliena Sur Vella

Charles Zammit

Jan 9th 2011, 13:17

Dear Mr. Farrugia

I take you up on your last remark regarding sound management.

So you have an outgoing Prime Minister who a few days before polling day promises and commits to lower income tax immediately on taking up office again. The day after polling day the same person then Prime Minister reverses his decision and later goes as far as claiming that he would have had been irresponsible had he in effect done what he promised before the election.

Then you have an outgoing Prime Minister who immediately on winning an election says that in his view the honorarium of MPs should be increased without showing any sound commitment and mums for 3 years. All of a sudden the people find that MPs got a few thousand Euros increase per annum backdated. The people too get a cost of living rise of 1 Euro 60 cents a week (Euro 83, 20 cents per annum less income tax). This Prim Minister said nothing about the increase in the MPs honorarium but he did it.

Can you indicate which Prime Minister acted correctly and showed sound Management?

Tommy Cassar

Jan 9th 2011, 19:15

Charles Zammit those who promise one thing and then do the contrary are called LIARS.

Frans Sammut

Jan 9th 2011, 11:58

Your valid historical overview is both accurate and capable of instigating a sociological assessment of current times. History can never be erased or twisted to accommodate latter-day observers, particularly if it is relatively recent history and well within the memory of the majority of those still living (in a place that is increasingly becoming unlivable). The truth of what we are saying will become even clearer as the recession sets in deeper. Unless we, as a people, become mature enough to look at developments dispassionately - meaning eskewing partisan blinkers - we will be crushed even more massively by a bunch of people who care nothing for the sufferings of so many in our society but are focused only on fattening their own pockets. Those who will not protest, openly and unreservedly, against the way the powers that be are addressing current economic problems will have only themselves to blame if worse comes to the worst. The fat cats can only be expected to carry on, merrily and mindlessly, so long as they are allowed to by the silent majority.

N Grima

Jan 9th 2011, 16:09



You say that in 'certain' professional jobs, the wage is comparable to Northern European standards. Granted, but Malta, like any other country is not made soley of professionals and that is where you miss the point, apart from that, I am with you.

As regards to your link, there is nothing new. I would not consider Italy as a yardstick for Malta to follow. Italy is in a sorry state of affairs like many other countires touching the Med unfortunately.

E Mifsud

Jan 9th 2011, 11:47

A true leader does not act according to what those around him think, but acts from principle. People will judge every MP on their own account. We vote for candidates and will see who is really sensitive to people's sufferings. Coming next election we shall know how to act!!

N.Grima

Jan 9th 2011, 14:42

Actually, a true leader is nobody without people to lead ;)

Michael Vella

Jan 9th 2011, 11:29

@ Genius

Got a problem with you caps lock or do you think we are all ignorant and are not able to read what you write in proper case?

Manuel Micallef

Jan 9th 2011, 12:37

What solutions is Gonzi finding? at best Gonzi just passes on rises to people and increae taxes, at worse he not only passes burdens on to people but double salaries to his MPs!!

We have to see Muscat i action once elected - but surely he will not raise the MPs salary in a recession.

Gerard Cassar

Jan 9th 2011, 12:26

Labour promises less waste. Less waste means more money available. More money available wages could be increased. Most ptobably Gonzipn projects will still be going on. Stop them at that stage and employ the money for the benefit of the citizen. If then there is still money the ptojects may proceed.

J.Tonna

Jan 9th 2011, 12:57

Let's hope that someone is keeping a record of all the PL's promises.

Although, we know that after next election, PL will say that it cannot activate what it promised as it had found a quarry (not a hofra) in Malta's finanaces.

Then it will be too late for the electorate.

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