Kaizenlog

PR05/04/2009

German Experts tell Government: Sikka l-Bajda wind farm not viable – AD asks Government to confirm

Matenity leave – despite rhetoric about family values government opposing harmonisation of minimum entitlement in the EU

During a Sunday “Kafe mal-Hbieb” meeting at AD’s office in Sliema today morning AD Chairperson and MEP candidate Arnold Cassola touched on various issues including utility prices and energy generation, while AD€ ¢⒠’¹s MEP candidate Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros focussed on the maternity leave issue.

Yvonne Ebejer Arqueros said: “We are constantly hearing from government how important the family is, but then when it comes to family friendly policies Malta is still lagging behind other countries in the European Union. We have been promised investment in childcare facilities for years on end but we are still far away from offering an effective service. Ironically Lawrence Gonzi’s government is also resisting the EU commission’s proposal to harmonise the minimum maternity leave to 18 weeks throughout the EU. It seems that government is keen on keeping Malta’s maternity leave the lowest in the whole of the EU. The financial crisis should not be used as an excuse for opposing such measures. In the past improvements to work conditions including the 40 hour week and vacation leave were resisted and opposed by conservatives on the premise that these measures will ruin the economy. It is clear that this has not been the case. On the contrary, the current crisis has not been
triggered by improved conditions of work but by greed and playing Russian roulette on unregulated and unfettered financial markets. Helping women and improving their conditions of work should be a priority for the Maltese government – this is a concrete and real issue of family values. AD supports the commission’s initiative and an AD MEP will support legislative initiatives in the European Parliament aimed at increasing the maternity leave – this is real and true support for families.”

Party Chairperson Arnold Cassola told the supporters present for the meeting that the current uncertainty brought about by the government on the prices of water and electricity is unfair to all of us. “Lawrence Gonzi’s government is using utility bills as an electoral tool, keeping unions and all of us in the dark about the government’s long term strategy. AD also asks what difference will it make for government to privatise Enemalta’s gas division – when now instead of a state monopoly we have a private monopoly? Is government favouring private monopolies in such an important sector? Isn’t it dangerous to cede control totally to a private monopoly?

Arnold Cassola explained: “We are in this situation because of the neglect of the energy sector over more than 20 years of government. We have not invested in efficient and cleaner energy generation; we have remained prisoners of oil producing countries and failed to invest in locally generated energy from renewable sources at least for part of our energy requirements. Lawrence Gonzi has still not published any studies about energy from the wind from the proposed wind farm at Sikka l-Bajda. Has Lawrence Gonzi promised a wind farm there without first studying the proposal? Has he proposed a wind farm their knowing that there will be unresolvable problems so that then he€ ¢⒠’¹ll say that wind energy is not viable? AD is informed that German experts have informed the government that a wind farm in Sikka l-Bajda is not viable. Can the Prime Minister confirm this information?”

AD had proposed a land based wind farm so that the country can first gain experience in the technology and start training workers in new and renewable sources of energy. The lack of planning in this sector is conspicuous by its absence.

Ralph Cassar
PRO

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