Enemalta wilfully deceived the public when comparing Malta’s fuel prices to others across the EU, while a “lapdog” Malta Resources Authority sat on its hands, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat charged yesterday.
The corporation last week published a list of EU-wide fuel prices, with Maltese prices figuring among Europe’s lowest. But the listed prices included fuel tax – something which left Dr Muscat livid.
When one factored out tax, fuel prices in Malta were actually among the highest in Europe, he argued.
“If this were a form three economics question, Enemalta’s statement would have received an F. They’re clearly trying to deceive people.”
The Opposition leader also laid in to the MRA, which he felt was not living up to its role as regulator of the energy sector. “A responsible regulator would have stepped in and immediately investigated Enemalta’s claims. But instead they do nothing. The MRA is an ineffective lapdog.”
Speaking at a Labour Party activity in Għaxaq, Dr Muscat repeated his criticism of the government’s decision to run the Delimara power extension on heavy fuel oil.
The government has said it will be looking into the best way of eventually converting the power station to run on gas.
“Had they listened to us and built the power station to run on gas in the first place, all this money would not have gone to waste,” he said.
Dr Muscat pointed to these problems, as well as to ballooning deficit and debt figures, as evidence that Malta’s economy was in the hands of an “amateur” finance minister.
The government deficit – projected to fall by €50 million this year – is currently €83 million higher than last year, while debt, previously estimated to rise by €100 million this calendar year, was up by €141 million by June. “All this means that in the past months the government spent €92 million in interest repayments – 30 per cent more than it spent on education,” Dr Muscat said.
His accusations elicited a reply from the Nationalist Party, which felt it was rich for Dr Muscat to accuse the government of amateur economic management.
In a statement, a PN spokesman said that every piece of economic advice proffered by Dr Muscat – from not joining the EU to using Cyprus as an economic model – had been mistaken.
The spokesman accused Dr Muscat of populist and vindictive politics, saying the Opposition had once again failed to put forward any job creation proposals.
Dr Muscat told workers not to pay heed to those who tried to frighten them into not voting for the PL. He said workers at both the National Sports Council and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage had been subjected to such scaremongering in recent weeks.
“I tell workers there and everywhere else – you have nothing to worry about,” he said.
Dr Muscat also touched upon the salary given to Malta’s outgoing EU Ambassador, Richard Cachia Caruana. The government revealed last week that Mr Cachia Caruana earned €143,000 a year.
But according to Dr Muscat, Mr Cachia Caruana was also entitled to claim up to €170,000 in expenses, as well as having received a €500 weekly raise in 2009.
“Does that remind you of anything or anyone?” Dr Muscat asked, making a veiled reference to a €500 weekly raise cabinet members gave themselves some years back.
The Opposition leader also congratulated Libya for having held its first elections in more than four decades yesterday, and wished the Libyan people peace and prosperity.