I have heard all this talk on the increase in energy bills but there are a few things that I would like explained – first, is it because of the increase in the price of oil or because of Enemalta’s inefficiency? There seems to be a seesaw relationship between these two reasons depending on convenience of outlook.

All I can say is that energy-saving bulbs have been distributed, we have a policy of changing the time on our clocks in March and October – all this to save energy and money. But then I have seen streetlights left on during the summer all day! There were parts of Qala where, almost every day in the height of summer, the lights would go off at 7:30-7:45am and come on again at 6pm! So we save one hour of energy and waste three hours or more! It doesn’t make sense! And the taxpayer has to pay for this! Then again, when the blackout caused financial damage, Enemalta said it would not pay compensation! What a world we live in when the victim is expected to suffer for the mistakes of the victimizer! Reminds me of the banks in America and England, which were blamed for the recession because of their mismanagement of loans – and who suffered? – the taxpayer who had to pay more taxes to bail the banks out of the mess they created!

So why talk of accountability if the culprit is not the one to suffer for his mistakes but his victims!

Leo Attard

QALA