Sunday, 18th October 2009 - 12:36CET
Updated: Water and electricity rates may be rising soon
Black Monday apology was most hypocritical - Gonzi
(Adds PL's statement)
Water and electricity tariffs may be rising soon but Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi stopped short of saying so during an interview this morning.
Dr Gonzi, who was being interviewed by RTK journalist Leonard Callus, said he was greatly concerned that the price of oil was hitting $75 a barrel.
Water and electricity tariffs, he said, were being revised every six months and the last revision was in June when these were reduced by 20 percent. The price of oil at the time was $40 a barrel.
He said that the price of oil could continue to rise if the world recovered from the recession and the country would have to understand this.
In a statement, the PL said that the Prime Minister's declaration was irresponsible and continued to sow uncertainety by hinting that water and electricity tariffs would again be increased.
Such a declaration was worrying for families and employers, was of detriment to the economy and endangered jobs.
The PL saidthat in the next budget the government should declare what maximum tariff it was willing to tolerate so that families and businesses could do some forward planning. This would remove uncertainety and help the economy to grow.
Dr Gonzi also referred to the Labour leader’s apology on the Black Monday events.
On the anniversary of the country’s blackest day when Labourites under a Labour government which had control of the army and police attacked The Times and the home of the opposition leader at the time Eddie Fenech Adami, Joseph Muscat offered the “most hypocritical apology", he said.
This was because Dr Muscat first apologised and then asked PN to do the same. For what did he want the PN to apologise? For all the people beaten at tal-Barrani or during Independence Day celebrations, Dr Gonzi asked.
The Prime Minister said it would have been better had Dr Muscat not said anything.
But instead, he tried to please those who had been hurt by these events without annoying his own people.
On the €6.06 a week cost of living adjustment to be given in the next budget, Dr Gonzi said he did not decide the amount but this was established through a mechanism in agreement with the social partners. The government, he said, had to be careful not to lose the country’s competitiveness.
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Comments
If these type of things such as corruption, extreme raise in bills were done in eu countries a civil riot would have been the result. but in malta we are all too passive.
For those who are saying malta is a place subsidised i shall give you some figures. 20% of the population is considered to be living in poor standards and conditions. Statistics also show that by the end of next year the figures will have a rise of 5% bringing about a total of 25%.
This is no joke. In fact this translates that 1 in every 4 people in Malta can be considered as being in the verge of poverty.
And we know more then... we are in recession so prices went up. What is it now we are overcoming the recession and the government has no excuse to hide from. Noooo, on the otherhand, because we are overcoming the recession prices will go up.
so...
Recession = prices go up
No recession = prices go up
? = prices remain the same or go down
And what do you think the party in opposition would do ? there has to be some money coming in the maltese box..... if it isn't E & W bills it has to be some thing else so don't be stupid better stay with what there is then waiting for the unespected as you never know what you'll find!!! and people just watch what you WASTE!!!
IF it really happens......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THERE GOES OUR COST OF LIVING INCREASE, My Friends... Haaa..Haaa. Haaa....
But Unfortunately, DECEIVING is and has always been, GonziPN Regime`s, trade mark....
so in the summer we cannot put FANS on to keep our kids cool because the electricity is so high and now we cannot keep them warm in the winter because of the 100% INCREASE in GAS & the probable INCREASE in ELECTRICITY AGAIN!!!
Thanks a lot goverment! my last bill was 1750.84c & we hardly used electricity now what I have to get a loan to pay for the increase?
There was once a government that took the people for a ride and got what it deserved ... opposition benches for 20 years + 5 more.
Hon Gonzi many people suffered violence caused by PN supporters, both physically, and worse than that mentally. Not everyone remeber about the episodes of the dark days of the 60's.
I condem all type of violence. Muscat apologised. I am sure you shoulf do the same.
My family suffered during those days of the 60's and the sanctions oredered by Arcbishop Gonzi!
Are we paying the utility bills in dollars or euros?
I repeat - the shipyards was closed down because it was 1) a threat to our economy 2) a threat to democracy. Nothing more, nothing less.
You are even doing it in the international field by giving training to woul-be diplomats by AST...
Don't you think that you are contradicting yourself and the other pro-pn apologists when you continue to refer to the past and say that the PL has not changed and then you yourself are saying that the PL and AST are giving training to would-be diplomats?
Doesn't this mean that the PL has changed and is training its members to be diplomatic?
And can you tell the readers what is wrong if the PL is training would-be diplomats?
Or is diplomacy a reserved field for pn supporters?
You are a perfect example of contradictions galore from the pn and its apologists.
As regards the increse in the cost of living we are to expect an immediate increse in the price of most commodity items, thus pushing inflation up. Goverment should have an effective control mechanisim to ensure that price inreases are not abused.
Once elected to power Dr Gonzi had promised a new way of doing politics in . Yesterrday's statement does not show that he keeping to his promise. He rides too high a horse to apologise!
Families are too worried about the bills popping into their mailbox, to care in the slightest way about your definition of hypocrisy, Dr Gonzi.
Under-valuating water does nothing to increase our wages/salaries/pensions.
The proper pricing of utilities will reduce wastage, enocourage investment in conservation and recycling and provide economic returns in the medium and long term, which in turn will result in the Maltese product being more competitive - thus increasing wages/salaries/pensions.
In the current scenario we are all losers.... and our childen even more so.
Well, I now know how stupid I was, and I should have either come into Malta as an illegal criminal or had been an unknown father to my child, or a criminal. I just saw the latest Prison built in England for Criminals out of the taxes of people who followed moral values like me and I tell you it is much better than I could ever aford to build my own home after chasing the then published moral values, by both state and chuirch.
Our wages/salaries/pensions are also pathetic.
J Busuttil
Encouraged by the PN when it was in Government. The Government had every right to decide not to allow the Church to deny burial in a PUBLIC cemetery. Read Ganado's Rajt Malta Tinbidel and see how the PN used the Church for its ends. Surely Ganado was never an MLP supporter.
Mike Richards, L.Ciappara
Don't bet on it Richards. As for Gonzi and PN not apologizing, that's another reason why the PN is going to bite the dust come next election.
And who benefited from what happened in the 60's??
Archbishop Mercieca apologised for what happened in the 60's, and this was accepted by the Labour Party.
As regards to you Dr.Gonzi, the way you spoke today doesn't do any good to national reconciliation.
I suggest you check your facts. Even after lst year's increase in tariffs, Malta has the lowest water tariffs in the EU, after Italy. And this withstanding the fact that this is the 9th thirstiest country in the world, and by far the thirstiest in the EU. And Malta is the only country in the EU that does not have a sewerage tariff (even Tunisia has introduced this !).
More than half our drinking water comes from desalination (Reverse Osmosis) and yet we only pay 0.23 Euro cents (i.e. less than a Euro cent!) for each litre of water to EU drinking water standards, delivered at pressure to our roof tanks.
Really and truly, the water tariffs are still pathetic.... and this at the expense of future generations.
Gonzi why don't you apologise on behalf of your past masters.
I'll bet 100 to 1 that neither EFA nor Gonzi or any one in the P.N. hierarchy will dare only remind us of that scandal and abuse of churches.
One is amazed that the TOM/STOM have forgotten the event. It is unatural.
Actually there is no Corporation tax in Malta.
A regime who promises heaven on earth (before general elections) and then forgets all the day after the electoral results.
This government will be remembered for the eradication of the middle class with all its repercussions, as the chain reaction will be disastrous for most businesses.
It is a shame for the Maltese people as at the moment it seems as we are being governed by a crisis management. I believe more aches are around the corner. Do not expect anything on budget day, but be on the look-out for more taxes ( excuse me....tariffs) in the next 365 days of the year.
Oh, how I wish somebody offers me a vip flight to get away from all this!!!!!!!
Bobby it was not the PN which excomunicated your grandmother. It was the church. So how can the PN apologise for something he did not do and which the PN leader at the time did not agree with? Remember the PM is not the head of the church in Malta. It is the Archbishop and HE has already apologised.
Wasn't the PM himself who has stated on a number of occasions that everyone makes mistakes? It seems as if it was just empty rhetoric, and he strongly believes the PN has never been responsible for any wrong doing.
Water ,Electric, increase in price,the various outlets,cannot absorb these price rises,so in turn it is passed on to the consumer, ,pricing Malta,slowly but surely out of the tourist market
You are very insensitive to the plight of other people.
Kullhadd jizbalja u kullhadd ghandu jghid sorry. Dwar il-black monday ma rridux ninsew li kien hemm attakk fuq il-hajja ta mintoff ghalkemm b'daqshekk qatt ma kellu jsir dak li sar. Fuq kollox dawn il-ftit hadd am qabbadhom biex imorru jkissru.
Il-labour fl- 80's ghandu jibqa' mfakkar ukoll bil-bosta beneficcji socjali li kiseb ghall haddiema u plots li illum lanqas biss joholmuwhom iz-zghazagh taghna.
Il-ftit vjolenza li saret ilu li patta ghalija il-pl u pn jibqa' jirkeb minn fuq dan l-episodju 30 sena wara hija gimmick biex il-poplu jaljina ruhu mill-bosta skandli u korruzzjoni u dejn kbir li l-pajjiz jinsab wara 25 sena ammistrazzjonita tal-pn grazzi tal-par idejn sodi u l-hafna tlablib li hafna haddiema u middle class baqghu jibilghu sena wara sena. Issa daqshekk ghax is-sewwa jirbah zghur,
I want you to apoligise to me personally since I was one who at the end of 1987 I received a political transfer and after I presented my case to the Commission of Injustice, I received a compensation of about Lm3000. This transferred was promoted by a \PN Gozitan delegate who had vowed to punish me and my whole family for the only reason that we were, are and remain supporter of Malta Labour Party. Although this delegate is not yet in office, still he still enjoys these rights. Ghawdex zghir u n-nies maghrufa, Onor. Prim Ministru.
Very well said Mark, you are really showing how BLUE you are.
Li tizra tahsad they say.
I just wonder HOW people in Malta are able to pay these bills, because salaries are extremly low! There is something very wrong here!
EFA and Gonzi destroyed our oldest industry.
If for you the price is not high enough and are willing to pay others cannot pay. Are you suggesting that they be denied water and electricity?
If the tariffs are not high enough so are our wages/salaries/pensions.
Why don't you suggest to Gonzi to increase them by the same amount that he increased his own and his ministers and parliamentary secretaries wages/salaries/pensions?
Maybe the people will not continue to grumble and be able to make ends meet.
Can i just say as a Brit living and working in Malta, your comments are about as crass & moronic as it gets! times are tough and getting tougher..i suggest you go back to blighty and remember the hard times you had there that drove you to retire in Malta/Gozo.... maybe you will then understand why people exclaim they cant afford! ...If you're so well off then i suggest philanthropy !
M .Shaw
And forget black monday. that was ages ago! stop living in the past for heaven's sake!!! we are facing black mondays and tuesdays etc... the whole week! and with this increase, how black is our future going to be???
and just in case anyone is wondering... i am one of those nationalists who vote PN each and every time, because unfortunately our opposition is worse than the party in government ... the lesser of bothe evils i guess...
W&E rates went down by a mere 20% - right?
So why the hike in rates - RIGHT???????????????????
"so you won't appologise about the fact that my grandfather is burried in a MIZBLA prime minister?"
Why should he? Please somebody answer me, why on earth should he! The Church should!
And to this so called mizbla, it is simply an unconsecrated part of a cemetry! After all, anybody buried there chose to go against church rules, no matter how stupid they were, and so shouldn't care less if they were buried on un-consecrated ground!
@Galea L
Whats a hypocrat.?
Problem is that we are pumping our aquifers dry. What happens when this strategic resource disappears in 15-20 years time? How are we going to get our water from then? Shouldn't we address this issue NOW to ensure that our children can continue to exist on this island?
And yes, whether we like it or not, any investment in sustainable solutions will hurt our pockets in the short and medium term.
One hopes that any revenue accrued from an increase in water tariffs will be used wisely by the powers that be.
A warning note : It would be suicidal to increase the water tariffs without first controlling the illegal extraction of groundwater. Last year's increase in water tariffs pushed farmers, companies and even individual households to drill more boreholes to extract groundwater - thereby excarbating the groundwater problem.
It would be very foolhardy and irresponsible if government were to make the same mistake again.
- and not because of climate change.
if you are correct, my friend, we should soon start having maltese sleeping on the streets due to the Electricity and Water bills.
I suggest we home these people in the Shipyard's buildings ... now that they are empty of the thugs.
The way in which I now see how these so-called nationalists and their collage of hodgepodge cronies tear into this energetic young man as tore into all previous labour leadership with the furious abandon of starving rottweilers, remind me of the words of ernst toller
And suddenly, like light in darkness, the real truth broke in upon me; the simple fact of man, which I had forgotten, which had lain deep buried and out of sight; the idea of community, of unity.
thank you dr muscat for reminding me that man can still be an agent for the collective good.
Gonzi did this country its biggest favour by closing down the shipyards - they were a threat to our economy and to democracy (hope you remember thugs attacking people and breaking up everything)
Although I do not like paying any type of bill, I agree that bills should reflect the true price of energy production. Else, people who are more efficient in their energy use are not rewarded. How can we invest in any type of alternative energy (and water reservoirs) if the price is not high enough to justify the expense.
Doesn't anybody know that the EU Water Framework Directive stipulates that Malta's water tariffs have to :
- incorporate all sewerage (collection and treatment) costs and
- the 'resource' cost of water which we extract FOR FREE from our groundwater sources.
as from 2010, or face fines.
The former will result in an increase of (at least) a Euro 0.50/m3 in the water tariffs; the latter, on its own will result in a doubling in the water tariffs !
And I have not touched on the fact that (in all probability) the WSC still pays a fraction of the actual electricity cost. Before the revisions in the water tariffs last year, WSC was paying around 6 cents/kWh of electricity consumed by its RO plants - when the production cost to Enemalta had already exceeded 14 cents/kWh. Enemalta was effectively subsidizing water production to the tune of millions of euros a year - which explains why the water tariffs are so low when compared to the electricity tariffs.
And this in a country which has the highest Water Competitivity Index in the world (a measure of water demand versus water availability) !!
You yourself said that you can afford to live here.
Good luck to you, but most people do not afford to Fletcher.
As for property owners, a few people have a lot of properties, but that doesn't mean that everyone does.
If a person has 10,000,000 euros and 9 other people have a thousand euros, per capita according to statistics each has 1,000,900. Is that the truth Fletcher?
This brings me back to your statement that you could afford to live here, but you cannot afford to live in your own country. Don't you think that this may also apply to Maltese citizens in their own country? So please spare us your sermons Fletcher. We are no longer your colony of the British Empire where the sun used to never set. It has set a long time ago.
As a young citizen; I'm ashamed of you.
Honestly I never expected this from Gonzi. I remember him as speaker and seemed a man of principles at the time.
It has become habit to always blame the Global recession but sorry we are not that stupid.
I voted PN twice but certainly won't do the same in the next election especially if increase in cost of living , corruption and injustices are not dealt with.
There seems to be no conscience at all.
I also found this remembrance and recent Black Monday issue pathetic.
My family as PN supporters suffered too in those times, but please people are not stupid.
Energy should be spent on solving current problems.
Our nation is striving to change, change the blue vs red mentality but Gonzi as a great Conservative is still trying desperately to take political mileage.
Malta deserves much better, Malta deserves a fresh government with fresh ideas and im sure that Joseph would be doing a wonderful job in achieving this!
Can the government publish a report on the cost measuring success by EneMalta, reduction in wastage of water and electricity and labour's productivity in both corporations before they think of increasing the water and electricity rates.
For us who do not fly on private jets, our pockets are already over-streched.
Just two examples for you.
Remember Finanzi fis-sod?
Remember the promises to the Shipyard workers?
I ask one question. Who is trying to unite this nation in your honest opinion ?
1) the person who is offering an apology for the second time in a row
2) the person who describes the apology as hypocritical.
Ieqaf u ahseb
Keep it up Joe. The people are building trust in you.
Apologise? Regret? ma tarax..
It does not even feature in the PN wikidictionary. By saying so, the PM has just insulted half the population and should apologise.