Fenech says PL tariffs plan is a gamble
Joseph Muscat is gambling with his political career by promising a power tariffs reduction project which will not happen before five years, according to Finance Minister Tonio Fenech.
He said in a televised Broadcasting Authority debate that Labour’s energy proposal was similar to the “vote-winning” pre-election promises the party made in the past: the removal of VAT in 1996, the two-month tax holiday promised in 2003 and the promise to halve the water and electricity surcharge in 2008.
He said Labour would go through with its electoral promise by digging into funds earmarked for health and education.
“You are taking people for a ride,” he charged during the debate with Labour MP Chris Cardona.
He challenged the party to publish the full reports of its consultants and expressed doubts on how the party could promise to build a new power station in just one year.
Dr Cardona fired back saying the proposal was “credible and doable” and was well-received by families, self employed and social partners, including the Malta Employers Association, which described it as “well-researched and ambitious”.
“The PN does not have concrete proposals because the party has not drawn up its electoral programme so it is sowing doubts on our ideas,” he said, as he recalled the public transport reform fiasco and the number of patients waiting at Mater Dei Hospital’s corridors.
He asked whether Mr Fenech was ready to apologise for the €500 weekly increase ministers took behind people’s backs. He mentioned Smart City and the 5,600 jobs which had to be created and the letters sent to Air Malta workers assuring them of their jobs.
While admitting that there were “many things which could have been done better”, Mr Fenech listed the results achieved by the government during the past five years.
“We are going to continue building on what we achieved. Small businesses will be strengthened, by widening the Micro Invest scheme. We are building a new oncology hospital and will continue to provide free medicine,” he said, as he stressed that only the Nationalist Party can offer peace of mind.
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E. Azzopardi
Jan 10th, 15:15
Well, divorce was a gamble and you lost it. I can mention other instances but let us stop there.
A. MICALLEF
Jan 10th, 12:07
It is expected that a new Labour Government will refer to Page 678, YELLOW PAGES and
use this service to know the real truth about the BWSC contract and other lucrative contracts
awarded to friends of the PN Party. Tonio Fenech must understand that we have a right to
know the truth.
pat muscat
Jan 10th, 08:51
I think the 'mysterious' gamble that the Minister should explain is why he opted for the higher tariff dirty fuel oil, and not the cheaper, relatively clean gas! He is always asking the PL for workings; why does he come up with his working for this 'mysterious' and 'strange' decision: to go for the higher oil that is strangling us? On whose side were you on, Mr Minister: ' cheap' or high' bills?
Mark Cassar
Jan 10th, 08:42
Li tinkwetani jien mhux li jitla l-Labour. Aghar minn hekk tinkwetani li kummiedja bhal proposta tal-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma qed jarawha bhala xi haga fantastika u qas qed jaghtu kaz tal-ispejjez li hemm involuti...imma issa drajna x'iridu certu nies: "jehilsu" mill-PN fil-gvern ghax minghalihom li ha jkollhom kollox b'xejn...miskin il-poplu Malti!
C Falzon
Jan 10th, 08:39
Gimmick you said Dr Tonio Fenech???? Gimmick imma it tnaqqis fl income tax li you promised us in 2008!!!
C Cassar
Jan 10th, 08:21
Il-PL x'inhu jmeri??? Li ahjar l-gas bil-vapuri milli bil-pipeline? Li powerstation tista tinbena f'sena? Li nistghu nuzaw l-gas jekk ma jkollniex pipeline? Li ahjar gabu l-Bateman li tahdem fuq l-gas biss milli l-BWSC li ghandha l-kapacita li tahdem fuq HFO u gas? Li tinxtara PS ta 300m ghalxejn? Li l-privat ha jaghtina PS scott free? Li mhux xorta ahna ha nhallsu ghaliha? Lele vvutalu siehbi...
Michael Borg
Jan 10th, 08:20
including the Malta Employers Association, which described it as “well-researched and ambitious”.
and the report drawn by Konrad s father !!!! lol ovja li tajjeb hux
John Bonello
Jan 10th, 08:11
Here People go through this and see if this feasabl like JM is saying, this is what the investors will be looking at when they decide if this project is feasable and DOABLE. its a gimmick as nothing better can comes out of the MLP
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20308816
http://news.sky.com/story/996739/british-gas-confirms-big-price-rises
A. MICALLEF
Jan 10th, 07:25
Il-poplu ma jistghax jiehu pariri minnghand Tonio Fenech, ghaliex huwa kien parti mid-decizjoni
zbaljata tal-BWSC. Kief tista tiehu pariri minnghand Tonio Fenech, li huwa il-Ministru li ser
jhalli l-akbar gerha lin-nazzjon Malti ta eluf ta miljuni ta dejn lilgenerazzjonijiet li gejjien. Dejn
li ma hemmx xejn xjuri ghalih. Tonio Fenech ser jhalli dizastru li jibqa msemmi fl-istorja.
Brian Gatt
Jan 10th, 00:53
Dr Chris Cardona was prepared and credible, Ex Minister Tonio Fenech made a couple of flimsy attempts to undermine the PL energy program. Please GonziPn spare, us you started the electoral campaign without even preparing an electoral manifest and you are only trying to counter act the PL's moves.SHAME on you. Well done Dr Cardona. PL has valid candidates within its fold and you are one of the best
Steve M. Engerer
Jan 9th, 23:51
Whilst in today's debate Tonio explained in detail PN’s proposals for energy & other, PL just kept dragging on & on reading a prepared empty script. Repeating that the PL proposal is factual.
Not once did the PL mention how in 10 years time a private company will refinance its multi million investment. Not only refinance; refinance plus profit together with reduction in prices.
R Axisa
Jan 10th, 07:26
How could Tonio explain in detail something that according to himself wasn't possible. This is surely a gimmick!
Jonathan Brimmer
Jan 9th, 23:46
What's this charade? First Tonio Fenech and Simon Busuttil tell us that the PL proposal (which has been audited and endorsed by the same consultants commissioned by the government) is a joke and a gamble, then the Prime Minister declared that another PN government will reduce the tarrifs.
Tad-dahk u tal-biki fl-istess hin!
L Borg
Jan 9th, 23:17
Tonio Fenech says that PL's tariff plan is a gamble, yet at the same time his leader, Gonzi, says that a new PN government will reduce the rates! It will good if the PN will publish the full reports of how, when and by how much he will reduce them, like the PL did. And still, Tonio has the face to accuse PL of taking the people for a ride! These people are unbelievable!
B Ellul
Jan 9th, 23:00
Dr Fenech. the MLP will never publish anything simply because as Konrad Mizzi showed already they have nothing! He came up with a piece of paper saying that it's he Enemalta accounts... Vera tad-dahk and obviously the MLP die-harts applaude him.... hehehehe
D Zarb
Jan 9th, 22:05
Dear Tonio, You have been taking us for a ride for a long time, now its our turn to take you for a ride......out of office!
Mark Cassar
Jan 10th, 08:39
Speak to me in a year's time should PL be elected into office to see who's taking us for a ride (or better who's taking YOU).
Kimberly Farrugia
Jan 9th, 21:46
"Joseph Muscat is gambling with his political career " - JM is not there for his career but for its citizens.
Please choose the reason of your report below: