Labour's energy proposals 'a gimmick' - minister
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
The four energy proposals announced by the Labour leader this morning were nothing but a gimmick as they had already been announced in the last budget or were being implemented, Resources Minister George Pullicino said this afternoon.
Mr Pullicino said that Labour leader Joseph Muscat should at least have had the decency to say that he agreed with the measures the government announced in the last budget and not make these measures his own, especially after voting against them.
The minister said that 67,000 square metres of public space had already been given to private companies for photovoltaic panels and the government was currently in the process of giving another 40,000 square metres.
A total of 6,000 families had installed PV panels and others took advantage of other schemes related to energy. In all, there were 15,000 families who benefitted. Three per cent of residential homes had PV panels and 270 businesses were given €16 million worth of assistance to invest in solar energy.
Mr Pullicino said that the rehabilitation Maghtab and Qortin into parks for solar farms was in the pipeline. The government was in favour of this concept but space in Malta was extremely limited.
As for helping families who did not have access to roofs invest in solar energy through public spaces, Mr Pullicino said this promise had already been announced by the government, which was investing another €19 million to help families invest in PV panels. As the price of PV panels had gone down, more families would benefit.
Mr Pullicino noted that energy audits had already started in Gozo and there already was a commitment to extend this to Malta. Audits on public places in Malta were already being held.
As for the water saving kit initiative, this was copy and paste of an initiative that was already taking place in Gozo and which the government had said was to be extended to the whole of Malta.
The minister said that the government had helped families buy 45,000 energy efficient appliances.
62 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Joe Grech
Jan 14th, 17:24
Pullicino declares: ''the rehabilitation of Maghtab and Qortin into parks for solar farms was in the pipeline.'' But did he not say, not so long ago that Maghtab, on which millions have been spent would be turned into a Picnicking Area for Families?
And why has he not grouped Fish Farms and taken them far out to sea as promised?
And why is our water still being stolen by speculators?
J. Spiteri
Jan 9th, 21:00
What a mess and panic the GonziPN are in. Kulhadd ifaqqa bl-addocc forsi nigbru l-voti !!! No plans for the future, just follow the PL and try to say that anything the PL can do you can do better! Impressive! I think 25 years was more than enough, it's definitely time for a change. Let's make it happen!!
Louis Craus
Jan 9th, 20:58
Ara vera qedin sew f-dal- pajjiz. Pullicinu jghid li l- proposti tal Labour huma Gimmicks, u Gonzi go BERLIN jghid li ser irahhas il- kontijiet tad-dawl u ilma . Hawwadni ha nifhem. Possibli dawn iridu jergghu jmexxuna?Ghajjejtu u ahjar taghmlu erba snin tistriehu ftit.
Thomas Rubicon
Jan 9th, 20:54
Gimmicks George Pullicino? Yes, one thing I know for sure that because of the ODZ developments in H'Attard, I will never, ever forgive the Nationalist Party - just as we will never forgive the MLP of the 70's and 80's - so - yes - it is our choice - our voting cards will remain where they are now.
Joe Busuttil
Jan 9th, 20:21
Mr ex-minister---Want to lessen the enormity of the Nat.'s defeat? Just don't say anything. I could think of real gimmicks by the Nat.party but won't waste my time on them.
Joseph Micallef
Jan 9th, 20:51
Perfectly said Joe. I strongly, genuinely, recommend the PN not to say anything.. it would cause the least possible damage for the coming election. Knowing that the PN will loose the coming election is (most probably) ok, but at least, they should try not to loose by too much. In-order to achieve this, the best thing is to shut-up and speak nothing.
Joseph Micallef
Jan 9th, 20:17
Look who's talking! Off-course your consider PL's proposals as gimmicks.. as you took 500 Euro a week in your pocket behind our back! Those were not gimmicks hux Sur Pullicino? And yet the person who is talking was found guilty by the auditor general! Ma nafx kif ma jisthix jider dan il-persuna u l-partit tieghu!
J Tabone
Jan 9th, 20:15
Dr Pullicino, your party has been in power for 25 years - except for 22 months. Why didn't you introduce these solar farms earlier? Did you have to wait until they were announced by Muscat? Who is gimmicking whom?
Joseph Micallef
Jan 9th, 20:47
These people are so immersed in panic, disorganization, corrupt practices, lack of energy and much more that they are ending up speaking non-sense and loosing more votes! I never saw the PN in such a shameful state.
Alfred Zammit
Jan 9th, 20:12
Waiter, WAITER, WAITer, this beef smells fishy !!!
R Axisa
Jan 9th, 20:11
U fejn huma l-proposti tieghek??
R Axisa
Jan 9th, 19:59
It seems that the word 'gimmick' is the new PN buzzword.
Joseph Buhagiar
Jan 9th, 19:27
Minister, the decision of your prime minster could only be as good as the information on which it is based.
It is useless trying to persuade us now. You had all the time in the world to something about it. I just hope that floating voters like me who have given you our support before many times realize that your time is up and that for the good of ALL Maltese people, we simply have to let you go
Paul@ Micallef
Jan 9th, 19:12
Please Dr Pullicino before doing more harm to the Nationalist Party by making silly statements, make a phone call (for you it is free) to Dr Gonzi who is in Germany and ask him if the PN is committed to reduce the water and electricity tariffs? The answer is already published in the Times of Malta.
pat muscat
Jan 9th, 18:59
Pullicino jaf li Dr Gonzi dawwar it-tmun u qieghed jaqbel ma Muscat? Jew l-idd il-leminija ma tafx x'qed taghmel dik xellugija?
Joseph Xuereb
Jan 9th, 19:20
Xi tmun dawwar??? L-interconnector ghamlu il-gvern tal-PN u mhux vapuri gejjin u sejrin bil-gas imma pipeline tal-gas meta jakkwista il-finanzjament mil-UE u mhux jghid li ha jaghmluha il-kuntraturi u malajr qiesu qed iraqqa xi bicca triq bit-tarmac!! Pullicino ghas-solar panels qal u li qal JM diga ghamlu fil-budget il-PN. Issa la il-PN jitkellem ghada in-nies jifmhu sew u jkunu jista iqabblu.
Giov DeMartino
Jan 9th, 20:26
Int kont gdibt jew hadt zball Sinjura? Daqshekk, int ta' l-affari tieghek? Kienet gidba jew zball?
Joseph Micallef
Jan 9th, 20:49
@ Joseph Xuereb + Giov. DeMartino,
IVA, GonziPN ghamel U-Turn perfetta. Daqs kemm kien ilu jghid li l-kontijiet ma jistawx jorhsu, sal-bierah stess Tonio Fench qal l-istess kliem, fuq il-coverup operation programme ta' BondiMinus!! Kif illum qal li jista jrahhashom? Sa fejn naf jien, mossa tad-dahq jew tal-biki bhal din, tissejjah U-Turn. Il-PN, sfortunatament, taht GonziPN sfaxxa!
C Muscat
Jan 9th, 20:55
@pat muscat
mhux ta b xejn il-pn jiehdu xi voti bhal dawn. lanqas indunaw bil-u turn ta gonzi. In nies iridu lil Joseph Muscat.
Giov DeMartino
Jan 10th, 08:36
Note how Ms Muscat refuses to admit that she lied when she wrote what she wrote about Simon Busuttil and voting for divorce
Gonzi DID NOT say that he would lower the tariffs, but that he is committed to lowering them. Which is not the same thing..
Daniel Dreano
Jan 9th, 18:51
The PL has come up with a comprehensive energy plan. Over the past two legislatures the PN has had a few ideas but failed to come up with a clear energy strategy. Ministru Pullicino inexplicably fails to understand this. I would like to add that the PN's campaign is proving to be a very immature and undignified one - dispelling any doubts I had about who to vote for. Your time is up Ministru...
A. Mizzi
Jan 9th, 18:39
....... just before Gonzi's GIMMICK - Gonzi: Government 'committed to reducing water and electricity bills'!
MIN IRRID JITHAQ B'MIN...... JEW IDAHHAQ?
Eddy Privitera
Jan 9th, 18:36
Sur Pullicino: Allura jekk tkun saret xi haga tajba, jfisser li gvern differenti ma jistax ikompliha ???
J.C. Borg
Jan 9th, 18:48
Hekk hu sur Privitera - tant saru affarijiet tajba mil-PN li l-PL qed jiskrupla ma jkomplihomx.
W. Cassar
Jan 9th, 18:58
Good the PL will be even a better government than I thought. PN ideas with PL accountability ... not bad hehe!
Eddy Privitera
Jan 9th, 18:35
Sur Pullicino: Nahseb li dalwaqt se tispicca INT "gimmick" fuq il-bankijiet tal-oppozizzjoni ! Taf x'kienet "gimmick" meta hrigtu bl-ODZ, jigifieri fejn ma jistax jinbena bini. mbaghad rajtu kif dawwartu u bdejtu tghatu partiojiet mil-ODZ ghal- bini ! Mur emminkhom !
J.C. Borg
Jan 9th, 18:31
Allura, will all these online-jokes disappear on the 9th March?? Its a pity. I used to pass many hours reading them.
David Magro
Jan 9th, 19:52
Sur borg...taf li Gonzipn ghamel u turn kbira illejla? Taf li wieghed li jrahhas il-kontijiet tad-dawl u ilma! Iva nemmen li wara 9ta Marzu ser inbidlu d-direzzjoni ghal ahjar.
Raymond Micallef
Jan 9th, 18:28
Min imissu issa biex jerga juza l istess kelma!!!! Ghax ma intazlitx bhalha l logo tal kampanja!!!!!
Carmel Zammit
Jan 9th, 18:25
'were nothing but a gimmick as they had already been announced in the last budget.' Tonio Fenech in yesterday's Bondi plus was more interested in watering down the proposals and painting them as non-achievable. At least Ministers from the same cabinet should have one voice.
Stephen Magri
Jan 9th, 18:17
Embrace the inevitable. Your reign and arrogance are about to end. You will lose this election and if pl plays it's cards right... it will be your turn to spend 25 years in opposition.
J. Pace
Jan 9th, 18:12
This is exactly what I said yesterday somewhere here. Solar farms was already in the plan by the goverment. Land is the problem!
Imma ghal PL din mhux problema! Afdaw lil PL ha jfottu tajjeb kollu li ghanna!
Eddy Privitera
Jan 9th, 18:38
J.Pace; Ghad jasal iz-zmien li jkollok issodd halqek bl-ilma. Ghax tibda tara affarjiet isiru li GonziPN lanqas johlom bihom.
Michael Magri
Jan 9th, 18:07
Labour's energy proposals 'a gimmick' - minister.... Haaaaaa Haaaaaaa Haaaaa
Mr Pullicino... It Looks MORE Like PN Has A Clear Case Of SOUR GRAPES, Right...!!!??!!!?? Don`t blame you..!!!
Prosit Dr Muscat..
anthony brincat
Jan 9th, 18:06
sur ministru taf xihuma il gimmicks gholi tal gass 500ewro min wara dahar kulhadd smart city dhaqtu dahqa bin nies sejrin taghmluhom iddukumenti tal arriva feremount tat tarzna il vot ghal pl
Mr J Xerri
Jan 9th, 18:04
Mr Pullicino what about Dr Gonzi statement that his Party is committed to reduce electricity and water bills ? Is this a 'gimmick' too, when one takes in consideration that no details were presented by Dr Gonzi to say how he is going to do this?
Lawrence Fenech
Jan 9th, 18:02
Gimmick it-tnaqqis fl'income tax, fl'ittri ta' garanzija tax-xoghol u ta' l'Air Malta, il-huts ta' TaQali; lis-Sports Village tal White Rocks, il-famuzi 7.000 job fl'Smart City, u is-600 euro li hadd minn wara dar il-poplu. Sur Pullicino kemm qed tahsibhom cwic il-Maltin.
R Abela
Jan 9th, 17:59
ministru fejn kien il partit tieghek dawn l'ahhar 25 sena???
B. Farrugia
Jan 9th, 17:56
Il-progetti virtual reality ta`GonziPN
bhal Pembroke, Marsa, Smart City, Bridge to nowhere
huma gimmicks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alfred Vassallo
Jan 9th, 17:54
Imma dawk il 29 miljun ma kienux Gimmick Pullicino u dawwarhom kif iddawarhom hemm qieghdin!!
B. Farrugia
Jan 9th, 17:53
ID-Demokrazija f`Malta hija gimmick, kullhadd jaf min immexxi wara l`kwinti.
R Axisa
Jan 9th, 17:49
Taf x'kien gimmick - il-BWSC u l-yellow pages!
Mario Buhagiar
Jan 9th, 17:48
imma il-weghdi li mhux ha jintmessu l-kacca u l-insib, u x-xoghol tal-haddiema tat-tarzna (weghdi bl-ittri) mhumiex gimmicks? u hallina!
Joe M Borg
Jan 9th, 17:41
Gimmicks? Under PL? He must be joking! Once we had a Dr Gimmick, who lasted very briefly, thankfully for Malta. But 'new' PL and gimmicks? Let's ask Anglu about the gimmick which happened to him! Aren't promises to one and all just gimmicks? I still recall the gimmick about VAT, which cost Malta, and PL, very dearly. So, 'NEW LABOUR', new gimmicks.
R Abela
Jan 9th, 18:28
funny you don't recall the 5,000 smart city jobs!
Eddy Privitera
Jan 9th, 18:41
Joe M Borg: Up to a couple of days ago GonziPN used to say that Dr. Muscat " MHU QED JGHID XEJN". How can you then say that he is promising everything to everybody ?
cesco di luigi
Jan 9th, 17:36
Hon Pullicino, the definition of gimmick is:- Smart City > 5000 jobs in IT.
J. Pace
Jan 9th, 18:10
There is already ample jobs in IT thanks to PN so there is no need for Smart City for IT jobs. Hope PL goverment does not ***** this industry.
Chris Mifsud
Jan 9th, 20:13
If it were up to lejber in the 80s there wouldn't even be any computers in Malta.
david xerri
Jan 9th, 17:35
u hallina sur ministru.... your time is out.... toqodx tbezza lin nies bil babaw.... li il PL ha l-istess mizuri li kontu ser tiehdu intom ghaliex GOZIPN qal li ser jivvota bil qalb kontra xi forma ta rohs fil konitijiet tad- dawl ;-)
A. Agius
Jan 9th, 17:28
So first the minister says that they were already announced or being implemented and then he says that they are either currently in the process, in the pipeline, or still holding audits, …. all i know is that i do not have access to a roof and to date i do not have the opportunity to invest in PVs. You had 25 years to implement such things which yourself are now calling gimmicks!!!
C Azzopardi
Jan 9th, 17:26
L-eks Ministru ma semma xejn fuq jekk il-PN ghandux f'mohhu li jeqleb il-Power Station ta Dellimara fuq gas. Nixtieq gurnalist jghamel xogholu sew u jsaqsi certu mistoqsijiet biex min hu mohhu miftuh (u mhux partigjan) ikun jista jghamel l-ghazla t-tajba. Grazzi
A Cachia
Jan 9th, 17:26
Dear Minister, At least the Opposition Leader is being constructive. It is no longer a 5 term government.
David Magro
Jan 9th, 17:12
It is better to live on the housetop (running away)
Than to live in a house full of confusion. (running away)
-Bob Marley.
Mark Brincat
Jan 9th, 17:09
Jekk huma 'gimmick' ... kif qed jiġu mplimentati? Mela l-PN jimplimenta l-'gimmicks'? Le hux???
Andrew Cumbo
Jan 9th, 17:03
Hallina Ministru ilkom żmien kollox fil- pipeline u tagħmlu studju wara l-ieħor. Il- poplu dejjaq jisma l-istess paroli fil- vojt. Ahjar tghidilna kemm infaqt miljuni f' konsulenzi u studji li ma rizultaw f'xejn.
gianni Zammit
Jan 9th, 17:02
ima il 500 euro gima ma kinux gimmick!!!!. joseph ikonvincini iktar min qatt qabel. vote pl.
A. Mizzi
Jan 9th, 17:02
What do you call SMART CTY, Income tax pledge, White Rocks Complex..... the recently introduced income tax revision, Arriva Service NO BUZULLOTTI reform?
A.Felix Busuttil
Jan 9th, 17:01
Minister Pullicino knows well what gimmicks are he is an expert
Joseph Bonnici
Jan 9th, 16:59
Labors proposals are a gimmick. Gonzipn is a joke.
R Abela
Jan 9th, 18:02
LIKE!
Chris Mifsud
Jan 9th, 20:11
The MLP is a joke.
Please choose the reason of your report below: