The way the government announced its proposals for the stiff utility tariffs increases showed a huge disinterest in the situation of thousands of families, Justyne Caruana, Labour Party spokesman for the family and equality said. The rise is expected to be phenomenal and the government had not commissioned any study about its social impact, she added.

This has been the tendency of the government, and it was leading to many families’ situation deteriorating into poverty or near-poverty, with the loss of jobs the tariffs increases will create.

It was to be condemned that these problems and difficulties which the water and power corporations were facing have been made public only after the election. The Labour Party, Dr Caruana added, was prepared to discuss the situation to truly promote the interests of families. Unlike the Nationalist government, the Labour Party was open to discussion to find the best solution possible.