“Even with regard to the issue of the water and electricity bills, this

year started as the other ended. My hope is that a solution in the interest of families and companies will be found, since this will also be in the interest of the nation, especially in the current economic situation.”

Unfortunately, this year started with a number of traffic accidents, some of which were tragic and led to loss of life. These events should make all of us think about what should be done for our roads to be safer. Some months ago I wrote another article on safe roads but I received no feedback from those concerned on what they are doing to achieve this important goal. Of course, drivers and pedestrians need to do their part as well. Driving carefully and according to the traffic rules is very important.

It is obvious that our road network cannot cater for all these cars. Also, we do not have adequate traffic signs and street furniture. Not only, but some of these are also dangerous and hinder the driver from having a clear view of the street. For all this we have an authority that should work to improve these problems.

I would like to know what is being done in this respect. I believe that the people have every right to have some sort of reply. In my opinion the solution is not to have our country full of speed cameras. Road safety requires more than this. Those concerned should have a look at how our roads are constructed and, most importantly, repair all the potholes that our roads have, especially those that are found from the centre to the south of Malta.

Unfortunately, until now we can say that in this respect this new year started as the previous one ended, with fatalities on our roads.

The controversy continues

It might be a new year, but the old controversies persist. One of these surely is the water and electricity tariffs. While other countries such as Italy are lowering these tariffs, locally, the government is doing the opposite. Higher tariffs do not only impinge on our families but also on our industry. As such Malta’s competitiveness is under attack with these higher tariffs. I am sure that the government knows all this but, in spite of it, is obstinate in continuing on this wavelength.

We had a number of reports in the media stating that, with his decision, the government is jeopardising the future of a number of companies – not only small and medium companies but also the big ones. This means that a number of jobs are at stake. In this day and age we cannot afford to continue having more people unemployed. To have a large number of unemployed people is never good, but I reiterate that in this economic situation it surely is not in the national and individual interest.

The increase in the water and electricity bills that most of the companies are going to suffer makes it very difficult for them to compete with other companies abroad. This is because to produce the same product they are going to increase their costs, but not their productivity or efficiency. The members of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development appealed to the government in many instances to reconsider its position in this respect. Until now the Prime Minister has stayed stubborn in his decision to increase these tariffs. Another problem with these higher tariffs lies in the way these are calculated and in what is being taken into the equation, such as the inefficiencies of the sole provider.

Even with regard to the issue of the water and electricity bills, this year started as the other ended. My hope is that a solution in the interest of families and companies will be found, since this will also be in the interest of the nation, especially in the current economic situation.

Today back to school for parliamentarians

Schools have already reopened after the Christmas holidays. This evening, Parliament will resume its work after the holidays too. So, as I jokingly say, today parliamentarians will go back to school as well. In a sense this institution is always on a learning curve, especially after our membership in the European Union. Our parliament, which supposedly is the highest institution on the island, should wake up to the occasion and be a full member of the European Union too.

Now that the Lisbon Treaty has come into force, the national parliaments in all Member States have more responsibilities to shoulder. Our small parliament has to do all the work that emerges from the Lisbon Treaty. Therefore we have to work harder and quicker to achieve those reforms that parliament and parliamentarians have been waiting for for years now.

Allow me to remind you that, for example, our parliament is one of two national parliaments that do not have a representative in Brussels. It is a fact that the government is not so keen on having a stronger parliament, because then the work of the government will be better scrutinised. However, we have to respect the people and, as such, their representatives should be in a better position to defend their interests both in Malta and in Europe.

Carmelo Abela is Deputy Speaker and Labour’s Main Spokesperson for Industry and Foreign Investment.

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