A request to discuss Enemalta at the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development has been postponed again, provoking an angry response from the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Agency (MHRA).

The agency had requested a discussion on “Enemalta, the situation at present and the way forward” two months ago.

It was due for debate in the second half of March, only to be postponed two days before the meeting and rescheduled for Tuesday, April 24.

But after the MCESD delayed the meeting again this week, MHRA said the council’s reputation as a forum to solve issues of national interest was being degraded.

The agency is particularly concerned that the council found time to discuss the Caritas report in between these two postponements.

The MHRA has long complained of the high energy costs that it says are hurting the tourism industry.

It holds that these costs do not reflect the costs of generation and distribution and that Enemalta’s inefficiencies are being passed on to MHRA members. This is making them uncompetitive and threatens the sustainability of the industry.

The agency also expressed concern that “there has not been any plan communicated to the industry as to how Enemalta sees its future and where this organisation will be in 10 years’ time.”

Without a discussion of these issues, MHRA believes the matter could threaten the very existence of the tourism industry, which represents 30 per cent of the country’s GDP.