PN: Labour has Alice in Wonderland proposal

All existent data and technical expertise show Labour’s plan to reduce water and energy tariffs will drive Malta to the wall, just like what had happened on VAT in 1996, according to the Nationalist Party. In a two-hour presentation, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech yesterday tore into Labour’s proposal, accusing the party of amateurism. “This is just an Alice in Wonderland proposal,” he said. “Contrary to what Labour is saying, the plan will cost some €300 million more and will mean more taxes and higher utility bills,” he insisted. Mr Fenech gave details to back up his argument that Labour’s plan was based on incorrect time frames, costs and techni-cal considerations. He said the proposal proved the Government’s choice to build a gas pipeline would provide cheaper energy for Maltese consumers. On time frames, Mr Fenech said experts were already claiming it was impossible to have a new 200MW power station in place within just two years. Labour says a power station it is proposing will be in place two years from being elected. But, according to the minister, even if construction work starts the day after Labour came to power, which would not be the case, the project would still not...