“With the spiralling increase in the price of essential commodities that is also expected to continue in the coming months due to the economic impact from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Malta should safeguard its energy security by accelerating further investment in locally generated renewable energy. Moreover, especially in these volatile times it is necessary that the cost of living increase is awarded twice a year”, ADPD chairman Carmel Cacopardo said.

ADPD – The Green Party Deputy Secretary General Sandra Gauci said that everybody is aware of the increase in the price of essential commodities. It is not luxury items that we are talking about here but daily necessities such as food. Vulnerable people are being overburdened with these month-on-month price increases so much so that sustenance becomes the only ‘luxury’ they can afford. This is especially hard on those dependent on minimum wages who have to cater for food allergies or those with babies and infants. The prices of items such as nappies and milk powder have also shot up. Although government cannot control what happens abroad it can take the required mitigating measures in Malta.

It is a known fact that the Russian invasion on Ukraine has put further pressure on certain producers for whom it is no longer viable to pass on the increase in costs onto consumers. Companies who utilise wheat and sunflower oil in their produce have also been feeling the pinch. Moreover some countries are hoarding their stocks since they are wary of how long this conflict will last.

“Although the government cannot control what happens abroad it is duty bound to manage well what happens in our country. ADPD has proposed that especially in these volatile times it is necessary that the cost of living increase is awarded twice a year as well as a thorough overhaul of the way that the minimum wage is calculated. We demand a decent wage by right. We do not want the insulting, patronising Father Christmas government giving out cheques through the mail during an election campaign. The new government should reflect its mantra that it is a “government which listens” by taking the necessary action as soon as Parliament meets, concluded Gauci.

Cacopardo said that even from an energy security perspective it was important for Malta to have the largest portion of its energy portfolio made up of clean and renewable energy generated locally, with the rest obtainable from the EU grid.

 “Putin’s war has brought to the fore the urgent need for Europe to gain its energy independence. We are all affected by this war which once more proves that geo-political issues have a large negative impact on all.  Malta’s energy sovereignty needs to be addressed forthwith. ADPD joins the call by the Greens within the European Parliament for the European Commission to fast track its process towards a 100% renewable energy target. We must not waste any more precious time,” insisted Cacopardo.

“We also need to protect our agriculture. Our farmers have been dealt one heavy blow after another. In addition to climate change impacts our farming community has to deal with major roads gobbling up good farmland as has been the case with the Central Link project. Moreover agricultural land is being converted into recreational land as a result further depleting the extent of cultivated farmland. In these tough times having our agriculture in good shape would be a bonus which we can ill-afford to lose,” concluded Cacopardo.