The hours and entire days of hardship endured by families and businesses mean nothing to Government MPs, the Nationalist Party said after its proposal for a discussion in a parliamentary committee about a report on power cuts was blocked.
On Wednesday, all Labour Government members on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) voted against discussing the electricity supply cuts and scrutinising the Auditor General’s report, which two years ago exposed serious problems in Malta’s electricity distribution network during the summer of 2023.
The report by the National Audit Office (NAO), which the Government is refusing to discuss, showed how a lack of investment in the electricity distribution network contributed to the supply crisis that left Malta and Gozo in darkness three years ago, the PN said.
“The same shortcomings resurfaced in recent weeks, when thousands of Maltese and Gozitan people, including vulnerable individuals, were once again left without access to electricity,” the party said.
The discussion, requested by the Nationalist Opposition members serving on the Committee, was blocked by Government members on the pretext that it should be postponed until the report is updated.
“This decision was taken without any consideration for what tens of thousands of people endured over recent days. This is clearly a delaying tactic intended solely to avoid and postpone until after the summer parliamentary scrutiny of a report that exposes the Government’s failure in the energy sector,” the party said.
“It is evident that Government members no longer have their finger on the pulse of the people, and care even less about their suffering now that they no longer need their votes.”
The PN said that the Government has not only adjourned Parliament until October without continuing the debate on the most serious energy crisis our country has ever experienced, but it is now also refusing to discuss the crisis within the Public Accounts Committee. Through its members on the PAC, the Government has chosen to shield Minister Miriam Dalli and the Government from every form of transparency and accountability.
“For this Government, it appears that the people are only there to vote and pay taxes. In return, they are getting a Government that is not even capable of discussing the electricity cuts, let alone solving them,” the party said.
The statement was signed by PN MP and PAC chairperson Darren Carabott, and PN MPs and PAC members Graham Bencini and Eve Borg Bonello.
Meanwhile, the PL said in a statement that it wants a discussion based on facts while the PN wants to “stop halfway through.”
The PL said that it has “absolutely no objection” to the PAC discussing the work that has been carried out on Malta’s electricity distribution network. “On the contrary, it believes that such a discussion should take place based on the full facts and the most up-to-date information available,” the PL said.
“This is precisely why the Government members on the PAC formally requested that the Auditor General update his report, which covered the situation up to 2023, to also reflect the extensive work and investment undertaken between 2023 and 2026,” the party said.
The Auditor General said that a follow-up on the report was already being carried out.
The PL said that over the past three years, the largest investment programme ever carried out on Malta's electricity distribution network has been implemented, including the construction of new substations, the installation of underground cables, new transformers and other critical infrastructure.
“The Labour Party therefore welcomes a discussion at the PAC once the Auditor General has completed this update, ensuring that the Committee can examine the subject based on a complete and up-to-date picture, rather than a report which, by its very nature, could not include developments that took place after 2023.”
The Labour Party said it will continue to support robust and responsible parliamentary scrutiny of the Government's work. “However, that scrutiny must be based on complete, up-to-date and objective information, not halfway through this report,” it added.