Dr Sant was referring to a government statement issued after his press conference last Wednesday, in which Dr Sant suggested a price watch to monitor the sale of goods, a system which the government said had been running since 1996.

The reality is that everyone is being burdened with the cost of living in many categories that are extremely important for a decent way of life. The reality is that at present we are experiencing price fluctuations, some down, many more up, Dr Sant said.

The reality is that if the uncertainty that has enveloped the country is allowed to grow, the economic stagnation will expand too. The reality is that the structure with which the government monitors prices is not sufficiently efficient to inform the consumer about inflation and protect him from price increases, he added.

In the light of all this, the government has a duty to take effective measures to protect the interests of Maltese families, said Dr Sant. There is a need for a price watch that really works.

He said that this should be carried out on items that are important, including products and services, and such an exercise needs to be maintained for at least a year to smooth the changes that are taking place.

In a counter-statement, the Competitiveness and Communications Ministry said Dr Sant’s declaration was a repetition of what he had said in Wednesday’s press conference.

“The Maltese people have matured and know what the facts are,” the statement said.