We want a modern energy system that ensures a supply of electricity for a better quality of life. This includes a transition towards more and more renewable energy, and a ‘smart’ distribution system that meets the needs of a zero-carbon economy. A number of people responded to ADPD’s call and met near the Parliament building in Valletta tonight to protest against corruption, incompetence and carelessness that led to the blackout situation and to request accountability.

ADPD – The Green Party Secretary General, Dr Ralph Cassar said that what is happening is the result of the economic idea that there are no limits to growth. Economic growth from which only the few benefit. An idea that resources are infinite. We have even reached a state where waste is a virtue, with those who use energy recklessly rewarded with huge subsidies. This is a result of carelessness, incompetence and corruption.

In his speech Cassar emphasized the link between corruption and energy, a blatant example being the purchase of gas, and since history repeats itself, the oil scandal ten years before it. In the meantime very little has been done about the distribution system on which the supply depends.

Minister Miriam Dalli should have taken responsibility for the situation and apologized to those who lost their lives as well as to those who had to endure whole days of power outages with the resulting health hazards, food waste, and loss of work and business. Instead, Minister Dalli is more preoccupied with posing for Project Green.

Enemalta, instead of being run by competent people, we have the usual political appointment of a CEO whose main experience was in the sale of passports at Castille.

Cassar listed a number of solutions that the Prime Minister, now that he seems to have become aware of the problems that are being caused by climate change, should pay heed to immediately. These are also listed in a petition that the ADPD is collecting signatures for here.

ADPD Chairperson Sandra Gauci thanked Enemalta workers especially because they are also victims of negligence and the squandering of money. It is clear that calling Malta the ‘best in Europe’ were just hollow words when one sees the incompetence of the Government in various areas as we have seen in the case of the power cuts.

She said that the blackout is a symptom of a sick system: a system based on cheap labour – on how many people we can pack on this tiny island to permit the bullies who want to employ people without paying them properly. “We have created a sick and unsustainable economic model based on the importation of modern slaves. We had been promised no more cheap labour, but instead we have Maltese workers in precarious employment and also foreign labour, also in precarious employment.”

Gauci asked for the resignation of Minister Miriam Dalli, of the board of Enemalta, and for an independent inquiry to see what mistakes were made and to make recommendations to address these shortcomings. Why was this predictable situation of higher demand for power in summer not been addressed before? ADPD will also ask the Auditor General to investigate how exactly the money allocated to the distribution system was spent and to establish that it was really spent where it should have been spent.

“We have made our solid proposals in favour of a sustainable and socially just energy policy. A policy that gives peace of mind on energy supply in a creative, sustainable and socially just way. We are not happy with crumbs. We are fed up of amateurish politics. Our country deserves better!” Gauci concluded.

***

Daqshekk korruzzjoni, inkompetenza u traskuraġni!

Irridu sistema tal-enerġija moderna li tiżgura provista tal-elettriku għal kwalità ta’ ħajja aħjar. Dan jinkludi tranżizzjoni lejn aktar u aktar enerġija rinovabbli, u sistema ta’ distribuzzjoni ‘smart’ li taqdi l-ħtiġijiet ta’ ekonomija żero-karbonju. Għadd ta’ persuni wieġbu għas-sejħa tal-ADPD u ltaqgħu ħdejn il-bini tal-Parlament fil-Belt Valletta illejla għal protesta kontra l-korruzzjoni, inkompetenza u traskuraġni li wasslet għas-sitwazzjoni tal-qtugħ ta’ dawl u biex nitolbu li jkun hemm kontabilità ta’ din is-sitwazzjoni.

Is-Segretarju Ġenerali ta’ ADPD, Dr Ralph Cassar qal li dan li qed jiġri huwa frott tal-idea ekonomika li m’hemmx limiti. Tkabbir ekonomiku li minnu jgawdu l-ftit. Idea li r-riżorsi huma infiniti. Saħansitra wasalna fi stat fejn il-ħela hija xi virtu, spiċċajna li anke min juża l-enerġija bl-addoċċ ġie ippremjat b’sussidji enormi. Riżultat ta’ traskuraġni, inkompetenza u korruzzjoni.

Fid-diskors tiegħu Cassar emfasizza r-rabta bejn il-korruzzjoni u l-enerġija bħal ma ġara fix-xiri tal-gass u fl-iskandlu taż-żejt għaxar snin qabel. Imma s-sistema tad-distribuzzjoni li minnha tiddependi il-provvista dwarha sar ftit li xejn.

Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli kellha terfa’ responsabbiltà tas-sitwazzjoni u tiskuża ruħha ma’ dawk li tilfu ħajjithom kif ukoll ma’ dawk li kellhom isofru ġranet sħaħ ta’ qtugħ tad-dwal bil-periklu għas-saħħa, rimi ta’ ikel, telf ta’ xogħol u negożju li ġabu miegħu. Imma minflok, il-Ministru Dalli hija iktar preokkupata biex tippoża għal Project Green.

Anke fl-Enemalta, minflok ma tħalliet titmexxa min-nies kompetenti kellna s-soltu ħatra politika ta’ CEO li l-esperjenza ewlenija tiegħu kienet fil-bejgħ tal-passaporti.

Cassar elenka lista ta’ soluzzjonijiet li l-Prim Ministru issa li jidher li induna bil-problemi li qegħdin jiġu ikkawżati fit-tibdil fil-klima, għandu jagħti kashom illum qabel għada. Dawn huma ukoll elenkati f’petizzjoni li l-ADPD qiegħed jiġbor il-firem għaliha hawn.

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD, Sandra Gauci, bdiet billi irringrazzjat lill-ħaddiema tal-Enemalta għax-xogħol tagħhom għaliex huma ukoll vittmi tan-negliġenza u l-isparlpaljar ta’ flus. Huwa ċar li d-diskors ta’ Malta bħala l-aqwa fl-Ewropa kien biss kliem fieragħ meta wieħed jara l-inkompetenza tal-Gvern f’diversi oqsma bħalma rajna fil-każ tal-qtugħ tad-dawl f’dan l-aħħar jiem.

Hija qalet li l-qtugħ tad dawl huwa sintomu ta’ sistema marida: sistema ibbażata fuq iċ-cheap labour – fuq kemm kapaci nippakkjaw nies fuq din il-biċċa gżira biex ipaxxu xi 4 bullies li jridu jħaddmu mingħajr ma jħallsu sew. “Ħloqna mudell ekonomiku marid u mhux sostenibbli ibbażat fuq l-importazzjoni ta’ skjavi moderni. Basta wegħduna daqshekk prekarjat: u mhux talli l-Malti ġabuh prekarju imma ġibna minn barra ħaddiema u għamilnihom prekarji wkoll.”

Gauci talbet għar-riżenja tal-Ministru Miriam Dalli, tal-board tal-Enemalta, li ssir inkjesta indipendenti biex naraw xi żbalji saru u biex isiru r-rakkomandazzjonijiet ħalli jindirizzaw dawn in-nuqqasijiet u il-għala din is-sitwazzjoni prevedibbli ta’ domanda ogħla ta’ dawl fis-sajf ma ġietx indirizzata qabel. L-ADPD se titlob ukoll lill-Awditur Ġenerali biex jinvestiga kif eżattament intefqu l-flus allokati għas-sistema ta’ distribuzzjoni u biex nistabilixxu li veru ntefqu fejn suppost kellhom jintefqu.

“Għamilna l-proposti konkreti tagħna favur politika enerġetika sostenibbli u soċjalment ġusta. Politika li tatgħi serħan tal-moħħ fuq il-provvista tal-enerġija u fl-istess ħin tagħmel dan b’mod kreattiv, sostenibbli u soċjalment ġust.  Daqshekk ikkuntentajna bil-frak. Daqshekk ikkuntentajna b’politika dilettanteska. Pajjiżna jixraqlu aħjar!” temmet tgħid Gauci.