Sunday, 9th November 2008 - 17:09CET
Updated: Video: Muscat to announce proposals on utility tariffs
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said this afternoon that he will make concrete proposals on the water and electricity tariffs when he replies to the budget speech in Parliament tomorrow.
Dr Muscat made his comment as he led a Labour Party "manifestation of courage" in Valletta. The manifestation was a reaction to the new water and electricity rates. Those taking part carried Maltese flags and placards such as "Kontijiet tax-xokkijiet", "Gvern bla qalb" and "Yes we can" - Barak Obama's campaign slogan.
Dr Muscat rejected the Prime Minister's claim that the activity was theatrics, saying this was a manifestation of the people's feelings and an activity meant to instil courage in the people. (See video)
When he addressed the thousands present at the Palace Square, Dr Muscat said the people were getting the opposite of what was promised just seven months ago before the general election, He insisted that the wellbeing of the country demanded a change of direction.
The people wanted action so that their purchasing power would not continue to be eroded, so that the unemployed, including graduates could find jobs, so that healthcare would no longer mean long waiting lists, and so that leadership was accountable.
He hit out at the new tariffs and said the government was using them to cover its incompetence of the past 20 years. What was needed at a time of international economic turmoil was more money in the people's pockets and not the other way around.
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Comments
So when the OIL price goes up we have a whole chorus of teeth gnashing and In-Nazzjon turns to a Nightmarish tragedy and then when the prices go down we either get a-lot of "heqq" and "emm" or even worse higher Bills!!
Hand on heart Mr.Coppola; do you really think that the arrogant way everyone was bypassed to impose these shameful bills is a reflection of a govt. with a social concience??
Is this why you voted PN last march??
you're right, Good show joseph, he can do well as an Actor, lol !
Will we ever STOP bickering amognst ourselves and grow up? In the case of the ultility tariffs which is the subject of this debate, who cares about which face is in power now, or which party?
I am talking about a solution to the issue, and nobody takes notice of real solutions.
Boy You Sound So STUNNED By Dr. Joseph`s Muscat`s Reply To Gonzi/Gatt Budget.....!!!!!!
I don`t blame you as Joseph had shown us all, how to make clean politics..
Good Show Joseph...
Yours is a worthwhile contribution to the current debate coming from a non-Labourite. I presume you are a non-Labourite. Not that it should matter. But inside this hot-headed Republic it is not easy to come across a non-Labourite who is NOT rabidly anti-Labour. Pity, we are supposed to be an intelligent nation, but so much venom has been spread that it is hard to come by someone who is immune enough to the dose to write something really honest and, again, worthwhile. Good, keep it up.
It is NOT wind power nor solar. It is energy from almost nothing. Take magnets, they provide free energy to some special motors to spin them around, and virtuolly no cost, expect to build up the machines. There are prototypes readily available today.
VISIT: http://www.overunity.com/
Manifestations and political words are one thing, getting to cleaner and cheaper energy is another.
So are we to waste time arguing when there is a solution?
All we need is 5 engineers from Enemalta, just perhaps 5 million euros or less, and do away with the 120 million to be spent on the wind farms, and 50 million for the cable to Sicily.
With 5 million euros or so, one could build a much larger prototype for a nation's needs as Malta.
Words mean nothing to me, after knowing that there is a true solution.
that was not a budget Speech surely, better say he took, 2 hours to make personal attacks on the prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi, Minister Dr Austin Gatt and the rest !! this morning I heard some of his fan's grumbling about J.M for his speech, one of them said J.m he, ( j.m )
had let us DOWN and that he did not understand a thing, the other said this is Only the beginning, at Least they were Honest !!
Prosit I agree with you. MLP always opposed change. They do not look beyond the tip of their nose! They always try to make us forget their dirty past. It is true the proposed utility tariffs are to say the least hefty and should have been introduced in a much more gradual manner but Malta has to face reality and not subsidise waste.
I thought with JM labour would show some change but I dare say that JM has some similarities with Mintoff - his way of delivering speeches and not attending to national functions.
I am convinced that the country will be much better in a year or two's time.
Lets have demos but lets have true and clear alternatives too!!!
If this afternoon Joseph fails to bring out good proposals…. yesterday’s manifestation will be crowned as theatrics by all rights!!
1)Cut the rampant wastage at Enemalta......including inefficiencies, overtime for workers and management and the subsidies to ALL Enemalta employees
2) ALL Ministries should sell their cars and get new environmentally-friendly ones!! (pronto too!!)
3) Stolen electricity becomes a crime liable to huge fines and imprisonment!
4) The energy bills revised downwards and phased out on a period of three years fluctuating with the price of Oil!!
4) Plastic bags phased out in three years( since the govt. said it didn't need the .15c)
5) Everyone gets the right to have a solar Panel on his roof even in the cases of Appts.
6) Remove the right for a penthse. to own its roof space....we cant afford it!!!!!!
7) Invest in energy-effcient Public transport and throw the old buses away!!
8) Open the Tax bands more (the Budget measure was a joke)
...do you agree with my ideas Mr.Galea?? Dont you think that these shouldnt take 3 months of examination?? We know we are paying for ineffciencies of a parastatal company..............do we really need to stutter about solutions???!!!!!!!!!!
The diehards are hard to come out of their blue dye.
The floaters will have their eyes and ears on you tonight. It is they who count at the end of the day.
Give it your best shot.
Yes we can and yes we will
joe the plumber
means Same old mlp, Gallerija and Kuragg ??? min Jafronta lil ta madwaru hu Kurraggus ta veru mr joe !!
I remember the pots and pans protests. That was the result of the unsustainable policies of the socialist government that refused to invest in investing in the Country’s water and electricity supplies. People then protested because we used to spend weeks (in my case 2 months in the worst Summer) without water in the mains. Today we very rarely have water or power cuts but some arrogant people expect me, as a taxpayer, to pay for their consumption.
Tell your Gonzi to give us the promised tax cuts...Pronto!!!!
Is Dr. Muscat 11 years late? Or is the PN Government that is 11 years late (opportunistically)? 11 years ago when Alfred Sant talked and tried to address the financial problems of Enemalta, the PN took political advantage of the situation. If this problem had been addressed back then, the problem would have been spread by at least 11 years by now.
May I also ask: did anyone of you actually pay any hefty bills back then? - NO!!!
Did MCESD members already give up on the Government’s arrogance?… As it seems that none of them is doing anything… had it been another party in government, it would have been much different.
The people in this country are much much better from the ones are leading now .this is a really good statment
WELL. DONE JOSEPH.
It stands to reason that this is the price we have to pay for the christmas father approach the governement has taken to win the election using OUR money to pay for HIS propoganda. Galantom bi flus haddiehor!
Can you believe that the price of fuel hasn't been decreased when oil has hit an all time low for months? Can you believe that he's expecting people to travel by bikes? WHAT A FARCE! THANK GONZIPN!
Yes, why not protest against the "abuses" made in the name of capitalism? Thousands of Americans did in front of Wall Str! But, as many citizens can vouch, capitalism needs regulations too. The idea that "greed is good" as practiced by those who "abuse" the system, and amass for themselves millions of euros in forms of self given bonuses, is being amended. In the meantime, whilst PN ministers regulate for "us" (common mortals) to curb consumption. their BMW's and "new " Jaguar" continue to belch a heavy foot print. Yes, we can and we should change, cause "times" as Bob Dylan use to sing "are changinnnnnng"!
Let me guess.;......Surcharge to be reduced to 75%....................................
“When You Go Home,
Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Their Tomorrow,
We Gave Our Today.”?
You're not ashamed? You don't remember what happened in 1997? You don't remember it was a Nationalist Government hangover back then? Do you remember?
Are you sure you really meant to say "we can surely see 'NO CHANGE' in the MLP!!!...very unfortunate!" ?????????????????
Hellllooooooooooooooo!
Is it the "change in MLP" you were trying to search for in this manifestation of courage against the arrogance by which we are being treated as citizens by the party in government????????????????
Malta is in great mess, and you are being asked to pay taxes over taxes over taxes over more taxes, thus acquiring exactly the opposite of what GONZIPN promised us (don't you remember??)
I must say that this is the kind of comment I expect to read & hear from partisan fellows too blind to see & too shocked to think constructively.
ONLY IN MALTA.COM fil-veru sens tal-kelma!!!!!!
We are living in a new era, an era where the old political tactics are not anymore desired by many of us people.
There is a great need for moderates and pragmatists instead of politicians that act as if they are our parents, we the people deserve better and we can fend for ourselves, in fact most politicians are more of a hindance rather than a helping hand for us.
Governments should be as flexible as possible becuase given the complexity of the world nowadays we cannot stick to one school of ideology, the important thing is not if a left or right idelogy policy is used but the end result and therefore successful solutions.
We need to learn to be more open minded and less petty minded and be as objective as possible and put pressure on politcians to deliver instead of being their lackeys.
Its a shame though that none of the top 3 had the time to lay a wreath at the War Memorial some hours earlier.
What a total lack of respect the MLP have for those that fought and died for the freedoms we now take for granted.
Shocking that UHM did not attend. Perhaps workers should learn who is best to look after their interests!
What a pity that on this small island exist a majority of people like you, who do not have the intelligence and freedom to leave their mind think by its own!! At least you make me more understand why our politicians continue to take us for a ride, with the exception of an eve of an election.
11 year ago was wrong and so is today!! Do you live on this island? Do you pay your water and electricity bills? If the answer is yes, then you should have been present there!!
So if you recall 11 years ago, you may remember that a certain Gejtu Vella organised protests against the then proposed water and electricity bills. To the extent of even calling a strike at the Malta Freeport, which in no way had or has any connection with Enemalta and Water Services! Oops but I forgot that was a Labour Government.
Shame on the UHM and even the other so called social partners. Maybe they prefer to distance themselves from any political manifestation but attending under a tent during Independence Day celebrations is not a political event??
Can we accept the basic notion that subsidies result in waste? No we can’t!
Can we realise that nobody is questioning the right to protest? No we can’t!
Can we as Enemalta’s Union discuss improving productivity with Management? No we can’t!
Can we understand Malta’s international obligations to reduce carbon emissions to combat global warming and rising sea levels that threaten the World’s coastal areas including our own? No we can’t!
Can we stop our arrogant attitude of expecting our neighbours to pay for our electricity consumption? No we can’t!
Can we understand the environmentally friendly principle that the polluter pays? No we can’t!
Can we accept reality, stop being negative and truly start a new political season? Sadly, no we can’t!
The thousands that went to Valletta do not agree with you.
Do you want to deny the people their right to show their discontent?
Edwin formosa Do you have sixth sense Edwin?
m. dalli Don't count your chickens before they hatch Dalli.
Albert Gauci Cunningham As they say Albert, curiosity killed the cat.
Jeff Inguanez I challenge you to show me one single bill that was sent with a higher tariff. NO bills were sent because the MLP got wise to what EneMalta wanted it to do. Increase heavily the Bills to offset its inefficiency. Dr Sant did not fall for the trap and no tariffs were raised. Now your minority Gonzipn Government wants to change everything in one shot. Giving the medicine all at once to the patient will kill the patient. That is what is going to happen to the patient called Malta.
who is speaking of 'freemarket' these people who are giving stateowned companies to one private company/. e.g the Gas Division of Enemalta is being given to a private owned company which will have a monoply on this essential service. also this private company in not repeat is not bring any investment in Malta because to build its bottling plant the maltese are going to pay 300 percent the price we are paying today. and remember the price of the crude oil is below 60 usdollars per barrel.
but we shall cry - vivagonzipnor gattt the man who is leading the pn
Wasn't Flimkien Kollox Possibli inspired from Sarkozy's slogan?
People went to the manifestation because they believed FLIMKIEN KOLLOX POSSIBLI, even possibly changing the mind of an arrogant and ever-distant government.
YES together WE CAN! And in a democracy we will.
That is unless the government labels freedom of speech theatrics, then we are in a dictatorship.....
We must forget parties, whether we support the English or Italian football teams, whether we hail from Malta or Gozo because we are all Maltese. And together we must remember that we do not work for the PM but he works for us!
YES WE CAN!
Needs a follow up when the utility bills are issued and the people really realise what is hitting them.
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The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love, 1963
I was hoping to see a Labour with new ideas, a Labour who can offer a breath of fresh air to this island devoid of mature politics and adequate policies.
But what I saw today was the same MLP that we saw under Alfred Sant. JM strikes me as a false person whose smile doesn't even reach his eyes. Even though charisma isn't the be-all-and-end-all, it's the aspect of a politician which strikes you first and foremost. And more importantly, the MLP did something which in a developed country would constitute political suicide: proclaiming a national protest before coming up with any concrete proposals themselves!!!!!!!! But of course they're coming up with them soon!!
Hemm hu l-pajjiz tal-Mickey mouse!
it looks that the teatrin that dr gonzi was mentioning went well . All you do are teatrin and his pigsty actions are not ?
Today you showed that you are acting in the national interest and the crowd you had was a show of force
Very good dear prime minister - you are a true leader by labeling our freedom of speech as theatrics.
Sorry to differ but we have been living quite some theatrics in the last few years. The last one was aired last Monday!!
Well don't worry.... Joe the Plumber will pay.......... instead of spending them on his family!
I attended and I was surprised listening to Dr Fern ,a neutral doctor with good charisma . Good speeches and no partisan talking as expected . I state to those who pretended to hear the usuall talks to listen to the speeches cause they stated the real feelings of the populin . I was disgusted hearing Dr Gonzi calling this sort of expressions as TEATRIN . Shame on our priminister for this sort of talking .
Labour is changing and telling people 'yes we can change things'. Do not be discouraged there is a way out of this mess.
It is Gonzi who is saying - no we can't cut taxes, no we can't reduce the price of fuel (even though the international price of fuel is down, no we can't not increase the price of water and elecricity even though all over the world the price of energy is going down.
You see mr gatt, times are changing. Labour tells people they can, PN tells people - no you cannot ... because of the international situation.
It is time for people to start realising who is being positive mr gatt!
The slogan is actually more important than the idea behind it!! Correct?
Is it possible, you can't find anything positive in the MLP? Yes we can, no we can't.. either way, you still find something to grumble about. Anyway, if you're happy enough paying the bills and taxes and tarrifs, then, no matter you'll end up seeing everything -ve in the MLP. May I remind you that anything +ve which may come out from the MLP's pressure on the goverment or when, hopefully, we would have an MLP led goverment, you would also benefit from it... unless your'e not one of those nationalists who used to 'flush' the childrens' allowances in the past.
Then he and his party make a solemn call from all the church towers and minarettes (OK we only have 1) of this country to call on the "nation" to "manifest" to pluck the "courage" and to "respond to this National call with Maltese flags" so that he (JM that is) will show us the way!!..........................We go to the "manifestation" and among all the usual "Lawrence ghamel hekk" and "Poplu msawwat, miflug u meqrud" JM tells us that we'll have to wait another day for his blessed proposals and we'll have to watch him dilly dallying infront of a camera for 2.5 hours so as to hear his 'solutions"
Why doesn't JM cut through the crap and tell us his proposals pronto!!?? Why all these PR stunts to get a solution??????!!
so then you admit that there is change within the PL!!!!
YES WE CAN
Feeling envious and furious with the turnout are you?
I must point out that your knowledge of Maltese political history is very, very, sparse. In fact the MLP has ALWAYS been the "yes we can" political party. In fact it was under MLP administrations that women and Under-18s were enfranchised to vote; that pensions and allowances for children were pioneered; that the minimum wage was pioneered; that Malta ended its history as a colonial base in 1979; that Malta had its own airline and shipping line, its own Maltese banks and also enabled industries like ST Malta, Baxter, Playmobile and many others to create thousands of industrial jobs; that pioneered Summer Time; that first broached the concept of Mediterranean peace and stability to achieve international peace; that first introduced a health service and polyclinics; that first pioneered technical schools; that established Malta's first school for electronics studies, and so on and on and on. Political history records that the Nationalist Party opposed most of these measures and introductions. I suggest you read up on Maltese history.
How about if we refuse to settle Enemalta bills in protest?
A protest that is 11 years late.
What had Joseph said in November 1997 when Labour presented its tariffs with oil at 12 dollars?
He had declared those tariffs 'courageous' and 'positive'!
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The three members of the leadership Toni, Joseph and Anglu were all there this afternoon, yet earlier on in the morning none of them could find some time to lay a wreath on the War Monument during the Remembrance Sunday ceremony and sent Joe Debono-Grech.
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Now we know that this was a 'national' protest: there was Tony Zarb!
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