The micro-credit and tax credit scheme announced by the government in the 2009 and 2010 budget will be put into effect towards the end of the year, meaning that business owners will have missed out for two years, said PL MP Gavin Gulia.

Dr Gulia spokesman for the economy and the self employed, said this during a visit he paid to business owners in Paola.

He said that while entrepreneurs were being asked to pay high bills, they would have to wait another year for any incentive schemes. He said that from what he had heard from the local community in Paola, entrepreneurs needed such schemes because sales were down and costs had gone up. He said these were attributable to water and electricity bills as well as government fixed prices.