Letters | Sunday, 15 March 2009

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Unjust revision of water and electricity bills

Zminijietna – Voice of the Left supports the position taken by the 11 unions in favour of social justice with regard to electricity and water tariffs.
Zminijietna appeals to Government to accept unions’ invitation to another meeting on this matter. Government should seriously consider the stand taken by unions to revise the utility tariffs from beginning of last October. In this regard it is disappointing that the Resources Authority is only now accepting proposals from the public, when the same public is already heavily burdened by utility payments received.
Zminijietna – Voice of the Left does not agree with the present system regarding water and electricity bills, as it is regressive and antisocial. We are in favour of a system which safeguards basic consumption through a fixed affordable rate, whilst penalising wastage.
The philosophy of the polluters pay principle is not being applied in a serious, just and equitable manner. Government, through the Resources Authority, is applying a method that does not reflect the reality of thousands of families and small and medium sized businesses. We appeal that Government together with MRA, Enemalta and civil society commission a scientific study on this matter. Through this, Government will be in a position to implement a socially just system that penalises wastage and not careful use of water and electricity.

Alfred Vella,
Vice President
Zminijietna – Voice of the Left

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