The Green Party has been invited by the alliance of unions and will be participating in the national demonstration against the utility tariffs that are being imposed by the Government.
In the coming days AD will also meet representatives of the unions to discuss the issue in detail.
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: “AD shall be participating in the national demonstration being organised by the alliance of various trade unions. The utility bills imposed by the Nationalist Government are socially unjust and unsustainable, and are creating hardships on workers, families, pensioners and businesses. Besides, the same Nationalist Government is fairing poorly in incentivising the use of alternative energy. To make matters worse, Government’s privatisation of gas has created a private monopoly and exhorbitant prices overnight’.
‘The Nationalist government’s bulldozer attitude is ignoring the various voices of civil society. It is for this reason that there is no alternative but to protest in the streets. Demonstrations are part and parcel of the democratic process and any talk to the contrary is unacceptable. Whilst the international price of oil cannot be ignored, customers should not pay for the electricity corporation’s inefficiencies. A fixed tariff rate should be introduced for basic and sustainable consumption of energy. Basic use of water and electricity should not be penalised, unlike wasteful practices’.
Ralph Cassar, Spokesperson for Industry, Energy and Transport, added:’AD is once again appealing to Government to commission scientific studies to determine how basic consumption can be quanitified, taking into consideration ecological, social and economic factors in the consumption patterns of individuals, families, businesses and organisations of different sizes’.
‘Above all, Government should get its act together, finalise the national energy policy and get serious about alternative energy. It should ensure that energy efficiency, cleaner energy and solar and wind energy are given priority. In the long run, alternative energy and investing in energy efficiency is more sustainable and less costly than dirty and expensive oil. Government’s choice of dirty energy at Delimara power station is surely a step in the wrong direction, and will only increase Malta’s energy and public health problems in the coming years.’
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