Santiago and maritime affairs

Ernest Hemingway’s Santiago in “The Old Man and the Sea” was unlucky. It took him 85 days to catch his big fish. But when he did, being on his own out at sea without any help, he had to tow it back to port, only to discover then that the sharks had reduced his catch to a mere skeleton.  It is the same with maritime policy. We need to coordinate with our Mediterranean neighbours to have meaningful and lasting results. On our own we can achieve very little.

A national integrated maritime strategy is an essential policy tool. Yet, as was pointed out by Parliamentary Secretary Edward Zammit Lewis, it is still unavailable. On May 19, European Maritime Day,  it was emphasised by Zammit Lewis that such a strategy would identify Malta’s maritime policy priorities required to support the Blue Economy.

The economic opportunities presented by the sea which surrounds Malta are substantial. We do however have to make use of such opportunities carefully, knowing that various impacts may result. Through the sea surrounding us we are subject to impacts as a result of the actions of others. Similarly Malta’s maritime activities necessarily will impact other countries, for better or for worse.

The excellent quality of seawater around the Maltese islands resulting from Malta’s recent adherence to the Urban Wastewater Directive of the EU is one positive contribution to a better Mediterranean Sea even though the sewage treatment system is badly designed as it ignores the resource value of the discharged treated water.

Through Arvid Pardo in the 1960s Malta made a lasting contribution to global maritime thought by emphasising that the seabed forms part of the common heritage of mankind.

The sea and its resources have always had a central importance in Malta’s development. Tourism, fisheries and water management easily come to mind. Maritime trade and services as well as the sustainable utilisation of resources on the seabed are also essential for this island state.

Whilst a national maritime strategy will inevitably seek the further utilisation of the coastline and its contiguous areas it is hoped that environmental responsibilities will be adequately addressed in the proposals considered.

A national integrated maritime policy, though essential, cannot however be effective if it  does not take into consideration the activities of our neighbours: both their maritime  as well as their coastal activities.

This is an issue which is given considerable importance within the European Union which seeks to assist member states in coordinating their maritime policies for the specific reason that the impacts of such policies are by their very nature transboundary.  In fact one of the EU Commissioners, Maria Damanaki,  is tasked with Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.  Her work is underpinned by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive which seeks to protect the sea in order that it could be utilised sustainably thereby contributing to attaining the objectives of EU2020, the ten year growth strategy of the European Union.

Within its maritime competencies the EU has also developed effective instruments of transboundary cooperation foremost amongst which are the Baltic Strategy and the Danube Strategy.  These macro-strategies of the European Union, as their name implies, focus on the Baltic Sea and the river Danube respectively. They bring together the European regions bordering the Baltic Sea and the Danube to cooperate in various policy areas such that the resulting coordination addresses challenges which no single country can address on its own.

Such strategies also serve as an instrument of cooperation with non-EU countries. Through the Baltic Strategy it is cooperation with Russia, Iceland and Norway whilst through the Danube Strategy eight EU member states cooperate with six European non-EU member states.  The EU has also more recently launched an Atlantic Ocean Strategy.

A national maritime strategy will  seek to identify those areas which can absorb strategic investments in order to develop the blue economy.  An important point worth emphasising is that a sustainable development of the blue economy will ensure that no negative impacts are borne by our communities residing along and adjacent to the coastal areas. Unfortunately not enough attention has been paid to this aspect in the past. Such negative impacts can be avoided not only through careful planning but also through proper consultation with both civil society as well as directly with residents.

Impacts which have to be avoided include air and sea pollution. In addition potential noise and light pollution need careful attention in particular if the operating times of the newly identified activities span into the silent hours.

Malta’s Maritime strategy needs a double focus: a national and a regional one.  Both are essential elements neither of which can be ignored. It is in Malta’s interest to take part in initiatives addressing transboundary impacts and simultaneously to integrate these initiatives within a national maritime policy strategy. Otherwise we will face Santiago’s fate. The result of our good work will be taken up by the sharks!

Originally published in The Times of Malta, Saturday June 8, 2013

Greening the Constitution

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party –  is in agreement that 50 years after its adoption Malta’s Constitution needs to be updated.  However such an exercise, as emphasised in AD’s 2013 electoral manifesto, should be carried out with the direct involvement of civil society. The Constitution belongs to all of us.

There are a number of issues which require careful consideration. In AD’s 2013 electoral manifesto at least fourteen such issues are identified. They vary in scope from electoral reform to widening the issues in respect of which discrimination is prohibited, by including protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. AD also proposes the introduction of a Constitutional provision in favour of a balanced budget, thereby ensuring that government is forced to discard budget deficits and consequently to control the spiralling public debt.

One very important issue is the need to entrench environmental rights and duties in the Constitution. The proposed Constitutional Convention, supported by AD, should aim at Greening the Constitution. That is, it should aim at addressing environmental rights and duties such that they are spelled out in unequivocal terms.  Environmental rights and duties should as a minimum be spelled out as clearly as property rights in the Constitution. They are worthy of protection just as the rights of individual persons.

Article 9 of the Constitution very briefly states that “The State shall safeguard the landscape and the historical and artistic patrimony of the nation.”  Further, in article 21 of the Constitution we are informed that this (and other safeguards) “shall not be enforceable in a Court” but that this (safeguard) shall be “fundamental to the governance of the country” and that it shall be the aim of the State to apply it in making laws.

It is not conducive to good governance to first declare adherence to specifc safeguards, but then specifically excluding the Courts from ensuring that such safeguards are being observed.

The strategy of announcing principles but then not providing the legislative framework for their implementation was also taken up in environmental legislation. In fact articles 3 and 4 of the 2010 Environment and Development Planning Act  announce a whole list of sound environmental principles. However  in article 5 of the same Act it is then stated that these cannot be enforced in a Court of Law!

When I had the opportunity of discussing the Environment and Development Planning Bill with Mario de Marco (then Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Tourism and the Environment) I had proposed on behalf of the Greens that the declarations  in articles 3 and 4 of the Bill should not be just guiding principles. They ought to be made enforceable by our Courts subject to the introduction of  a suitable transition. Unfortunately Dr de Marco did not take up the Greens proposal.

As things stand today, article 3 of the Environment and Development Planning Act announces very pompously that the government,  as well as every person in Malta, has the duty to protect the environment. Furthermore it is announced that we are duty bound to assist in the taking of preventive and remedial measures to protect the environment and manage resources in a sustainable manner.

Article 4 goes further:  it  states that government is responsible towards present and future generations.  It then goes on to list ten principles which should guide government in its endeavours.  Integrating environmental concerns in decisions on socio-economic and other policies is first on the list. Addressing pollution and environmental degradation through the implementation of the polluter pays principle and the precautionary principle follows immediately after.  Cooperation with other governments and entities enshrines the maxim of “think global, act local” as Malta both affects and is affected by environmental impacts wherever they occur.  The fourth guiding principle is the need to disseminate environmental information whilst the fifth one underlines the need of research as a basic requirement of sound environment policy.  The waste management hierarchy is referred to in the sixth principle followed immediately by underlining the requirement to safeguard biological diversity and combatting all forms of pollution.  Article 4 ends by emphasising that the environment is the common heritage and common concern of mankind and underlines the need to provide incentives leading to a higher level of environmental protection.

Proclaiming guiding principles in our Constitution and environmental legislation is not enough. Our Courts should be empowered in order that they are able to ensure that these principles are actually translated into concrete action.   Government should be compelled to act on the basis of Maltese legislation as otherwise it will only act on environmental issues when and if forced to by the European Union as was evidenced in the past nine years.

Greening the Constitution by extending existing environmental provisions and ensuring that they can be implemented will certainly be one of the objectives of the Greens in the forthcoming Constitutional Convention.

published in the Times of Malta 18 May 2013

Mill-Manifest Elettorali ta’ AD dwar bidliet fil-Kostituzzjoni : (9) Budget bilanċjat

(9)     Budget bilanċjat

Għandha tiddaħħal dispożizzjoni Kostituzzjonali biex wara tranżizzjoni xierqa, jiġi żgurat baġit bilanċjat. Ħlief f’każijiet eċċezzjonali li jkunu jeħtieġu approvazzjoni ta’ żewġ terzi mill-Parlament.

(silta mill-Kapitlu Numru 6 tal-Programm Elettorali ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika)

Budget 2013 – AD offers its cooperation

Budget 2013 – AD offers its cooperation

AD – The Green Party joins Government and the Opposition in emphasising that at this difficult hour Malta needs to underline the need for economic and financial stability.

This was stated by Carmel Cacopardo, Acting Chairman of AD – The Green Party when commenting on the budget presented tonight for Parliament’s approval. AD, added Cacopardo, is making this point, notwithstanding that it believes that in the present economic circumstances as a result of which Malta faces a deficit which has exceeded 3.3% of GDP it is not the right time to reduce income tax.

AD – The Green Party reluctantly accepts the decision as it understands the message which Parliament wishes to convey that certainty and stability  are essential values in this critical moment.

The reduction of income tax payable by those whose income is at minimum wage level is a welcome measure about which AD congratulates Government for its introduction. AD has also noted and applauds measures buttressing the creation of work opportunities, education and training.

Ralph Cassar, AD Secretary General added that Government has not yet announced any new incentives for those installing alternative energy sytems such as Photovoltaic panels an area in which Malta lags far behind other countries. AD also appeals to government to announce its plans on The Green Economy. It is the opportune moment to tackle the creation of green jobs with reasonable working conditions. Government’s plans in this respect are awaited.”

AD-The Green Party has noted the proposal of a number of infrastructural projects in respect of which it will comment when the relative details are known.

Cacopardo concluded by stating that in this first political message after the general election AD-The Green Party wants to affirm that it is committed in favour of its political programme emphasising civil rights, environmental protection and social justice.  With this in mind it offers its commitment to a critical cooperation to the political and social forces in the country.

Budget 2013 – Alternattiva toffri l-id ta’ kooperazzjoni

Alternattiva Demokratika tinghaqad mal-Gvern u l-Opposizzjoni biex temfasizza li f’din is-siegha ta’ diffikulta’ f’pajjizna hemm bzonn il-htiega li tkun sottolineata l-istabilita ekonomika u finanzjarja.

Dan qalu Carmel Cacopardo, Agent Chairman ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika huwa u jikkummenta dwar il-budget imressaq il-lejla ghall-approvazzjoni tal-Parlament. Alternattiva Demokratika qed taghmel dan, zied jghid Cacopardo, minkejja li temmen li fic-cirkustanzi ekonomici prezenti tal-pajjiz ta’ deficit finanzjarju li tela ghal 3.3% tal-Prodott Gross Nazzjonali m’huwiex il-mument opportun li jkun hemm tnaqqis fit-taxxa tad-dhul.

Alternattiva Demokratika tbaxxi rasha ghax tifhem il-messagg li jrid jaghti l-Parlament li c-certezza u l-istabilita tal-pajjiz huma valuri mehtieg f’dan il-mument kritiku.

It-tnaqqis tat-taxxa tad-dhul ghal min qieghed fuq paga minima hi mizura f’waqtha li dwarha Alternattiva Demokratika issellem lill-Gvern li ser jintroduci b’dan il-budget. Alternattiva tosserva u tapplawdi ukoll  l-mizuri li qed jigu emfasizzati favur il-holqien tax-xoghol, it-taghlim u t-tahrig.

Ralph Cassar, Segretarju Generali, zied li hemm settur ekonomiku li qed jiffaccja problemi ghax il-Gvern ghadu ma habbar l-ebda incentivi godda ghal min jinstalla sostemi ta’ energija alternattiva bhal pannelli fotovoltajici. Malta ghadha lura ferm f’dal-qasam. AD tappella lill-Gvern biex ihabbar il-pjanijiet tueghu dwar l-ekonomija l-hadra. AD temmen bis-shih fis-settur importanti tal-’green jobs’, b’kundizzjonijiet xierqa ghall-haddiema.”

Alternattiva Demokratika innotat il-proposta ta’ numru ta’ progetti infrastrutturali li dwarhom tikkummenta meta tkun taf id-dettalji relattivi.

Cacopardo temm jghid li b’dan l-ewwel messagg politiku wara l-elezzjoni generali Alternattiva Demokratika tafferma li ser tibqa’ impenjata favur hidma bla waqfien fuq il-programm politiku taghha favur drittijiet civili, harsien ambjentali u gustizzja socjali. Ghal dan l-iskop toffri l-id tal-kooperazzjoni kritika lill-forzi politici u socjali fil-pajjiz.

Id-dilemma tal-Professur Edward Scicluna

Waqt il-kampanja elettorali l-kelliema tal-Partit Nazzjonalista spiss ftaħru li l-finanzi tal-pajjiż kienu fis-sod. Kellhom ċertifikat, qalulna, mill-Unjoni Ewropeja li l-iżbilanċ finanzjarju kien taħt kontroll skond ir-regoli tal-EU (Il-Patt tat-Tkabbir u Stabilita’). B’ċertifikat li l-żbilanċ finanzjarju kien taħt it-3%, kienu repetutament jgħidulna, l-pajjiż kien finanzjarjament qabad it-triq it-tajba.

It-tweġiba ta’ Alternattiva Demorkatika dejjem kienet li aħna konna nieħdu pjaċir kieku l-finanzi tal-pajjiż kienu amministrati sewwa. Imma kollox kien jindika li l-affarijiet kienu differenti milli kienu qed jgħidu l-kelliema tal-Gvern: iċ-ċifri finanzjarja għal Diċembru 2012 kienu għadhom mhux pubblikati. Kollox kien jindika li meta dawn iċ-ċifri jkunu ippubblikati l-żbilanċ ser jerġa’ jisplodi.

Rapport  dal-għodu fl-Independent on Sunday jagħtina raġuna.

F’artiklu fl-ewwel paġna intitolat : Figures show 2012 public deficit redlining at 5.4% of GDP hu ċar li s-sena 2012 kienet sena oħra disżastruża għall-amministrazzjonji finanzjarja tal-pajjiż.

Waħda mill-kionsegwenzi loġiċi ta’ din l-aħbar hi li kienet irresponsabbilta’ għal Partit Nazzjonalista (li kellu iktar minn ħjiel ta’ din l-aħbar) li jwiegħed tnaqqis fit-taxxa tad-dħul. Alternattiva Demokratika biss qalitu dan waqt il-kampanja elettorali. Għax il-Partit Laburista ukoll ma kellux il-kuraġġ li jiffaċċa ir-realta.

U xi ngħidu għall-ħafna wegħdiet elettorali li jiswew flejjes kbar? Minn fejn ġejjin il-flus? Id-deficit li reġa’ kiber (fil-fatt kważi irdoppja) jfisser li mhux tnaqqis ta’ taxxi ser ikollna! Jew żieda ta’ taxxi inkella tnaqqis fl-infieq!

Issa?

X’ser jagħmel il-Professur Edward Scicluna l-Ministru tal-Finanzi?

Għandu l-kuraġġ jgħid li kemm il-PN kif ukoll il-PL għaddew lill-votanti biż-żmien?

Snippets from AD’s electoral manifesto: (1) Corporate Social Responsibility

The following extract is taken verbatim from Chapter 14 of AD’s Electoral Manifesto

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
In today’s world various organisations publish reports on a regular basis in which they list their impacts primarily on the community in which they operate.
In Malta only two companies do so, Bank of Valletta and Vodafone. To date they have published two editions of their reports. Each of these publications is of a positive nature but in every case there is room for improvement both in the policy direction as well as in content.
It is necessary that all companies listed on the Stock Exchange as well as parastatal organisations such as Enemalta and the Water Services Corporation together with all companies employing more than 1000 employees publish such information. It is important to underline that environmental reporting is as important as financial reporting and hence it should also be audited.

L-estratt segwenti hu mehud kelma b’kelma mill-Manifest Elettorali ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika (Kaptlu 14)

Responsabbiltà Soċjali tal-Industrija u n-Negozju (CSR)
Fid-dinja tal-lum huma diversi l-organizzazzjonijiet li jippubblikaw fuq bażi regolari rapporti li fihom jelenkaw f’dettall l-impatti tagħhom prinċipalment (iżda mhux biss) fuq il-komunità fejn joperaw.
F’Malta huma żewg kumpaniji biss li jagħmlu dand: il-Bank of Valletta u Vodafone. S’issa ppubblikaw żewg edizzjonijiet tar-rapporti tagħhom. Kull wieħed minn dawn il-pubblikazzjonijiet hu ta’ kontribut pożittiv imma f’kull każ hemm lok għal titjib kemm fid-direzzjoni politika kif ukoll fil-kontenut tar-rapport.
Huwa neċessarju li dan ikun estiż għall-kumpaniji kollha elenkati fil-Borża kif ukoll għall-Korpi Parastatali bħall-Enemalta u l-Korporazzjoni għas-Servizzi tal-Ilma flimkien ma’ dawk il-kumpaniji fis-settur privat li jimpjegaw iktar minn 1,000 ruħ. Huwa importanti li jkun sottolineat li r-rappurtaġġ ambjentali huwa importanti daqs dak finanzjarju u għaldaqstant għandu jkun ukoll soġġett għal proċess tal-verifika.

Il-PBS u l-Labour Party: xi smajt għand tal-grocer

 

Sewwa qal Simon li in-nies għandha tiftaħ ħalqha għand tal-grocer. Ara xi smajt:

” Smajtu d-diskors ta’ Gonzi?

Iva, anke ta’ Debono smajt. Imma veru m’għaddiex imma l-budget?

Mela inti m’hux tgħix f’dinja jew? Ma tafx li Franco ivvota mal-Opposizzjoni u l-budget ma għaddiex?

Iva. Naf. Imma ma nistax nifhem x’inhu jiġri għax il-PBS għadu qed ixandar ir-reklami dwar il-budget. Għadda jew m’għaddiex?

Dak taf għaliex għadhom għaddejjin bir-riklami? Għax issa meta jitilgħu il-Labour mhux l-istess budget ser jagħmel il-Professur Scicluna? Isib ix-xogħol lest!”

Fil-Parlament għada t-Tnejn: mera għal Lawrence Gonzi

Għada t-Tnejn 10 ta’ Diċembru 2012, Lawrence Gonzi, Prim Ministru, b’diskorsu, jġib fi tmiemu l-ewwel fażi tad-diskussjoni dwar il-budget ghall-2013. L-oratorija m’hiex ser tonqos imma s-sustanza wisq nibża’ li ser terġa’ tkun assenti.

Ser iwieġeb dak li qal il-Kap tal-Opposizzjoni, li l-anqas hu ma qal kull ma kien jeħtieġ li jingħad. Lawrence Gonzi ser jipprova jfissrilna kif inhu meħtieġ li l-inċertezza li hawn fil-pajjiż tinqata’ billi jkun approvat il-budget.

Lawrence Gonzi iwaħħal f’kulħadd talli l-inċertezza mhux biss nibtet imma firxet l-għeruq tagħha fil-fond. Jaħseb li hu biss m’għandu l-ebda ħtija. Kulħadd għandu l-obbligu li jerfa’ r-responsabbiltajiet tiegħu, jgħid. Imma dawk ta’ madwaru huma esklużi.

Din kienet leġislatura ħażina sa minn l-ewwel jum: għandha fuqha s-saħta tal-Mistra. Saħta li titfa d-dell fuq iż-żewġ naħat tal-Parlament.

Is-saħta tal-Mistra qegħda fuq Lawrence Gonzi għax fl-iskandlu tal-Mistra ipprova jgħatti l-iżbalji u ma kellux il-kuraġġ morali li jgħid li JPO kien żbaljat. Ipprova jpinġieh bħala vittma meta l-vittma vera kienet il-komunita’. Konmunita’ li suppost kellha istituzzjoni maħluqa apposta biex tiddefendiha – il-MEPA. Minflok  iżda din il-MEPA kienet kompliċi u għażlet li tiddefendi l-istupru tal-pajjiż.

Is-saħta tal-Mistra qegħda fuq Joseph Muscat ukoll.  Il-predeċessur tiegħu Alfred Sant kien iddeskriva lil JPO bħala morally and politically corrupt.  Imma Muscat ma ħass l-ebda skruplu biex jinqeda bih.

Hekk ġara fil-każ tal-barriera li Gonzi u RCC riedu li titħaffer quddiem il-Kon Katidral ta’ San Ġwann. Hekk ġara ukoll fuq il-mozzjoni biex il-Parlament iddikjara li m’għandux fiduċja f’RCC.

Id-dnub ma jorqodx u jidher li qed joqrob żmien il-kontijiet.

Il-konfront ta’ Gonzi ma Franco Debono hu żejjed għal partit li diġa qiegħed jegħreq. Kien hemm mument partikolari iżda li kien hemm possibilita’ li l-affarijiet ma jikkumplikawx ruħhom. Kienu ippreżentati quddiem il-Parlament żewġ mozzjonijiet.

L-ewwel mozzjoni kienet ippreżentata minn Franco Debono innifsu u kienet kritika tal-politika tal-Gvern ta’ Gonzi dwar il-Ġustizzja u l-Intern. Kritika qawwija u kienet tieqaf hemm.

It-tieni mozzjoni kienet ippreżentata minn Jose’ Herrera u Michael Falzon: barra li kienet tikkritika l-politika tal-Gvern dwar il-Ġustizzja u l-Intern kienet tipproponi ukoll vot ta’ ċensura fil-Ministru Carm Mifsud Bonnici.

Gonzi għażel li jpoġġi fuq l-agenda tal-Parlament il-mozzjoni tal-Opposizzjoni u ħalla fuq l-ixkaffa l-mozzjoni ta’ Franco Debono. Jiġifieri għamel għażla favur mozzjoni b’konsegwenzi negattivi u warrab mozzjoni li kienet tikkritikah u tieqaf hemm.

Nafu fejn wasslet din l-għażla. B’għażla ta’ Gonzi l-Parlament spiċċa sfiduċja lil Mifusd Bonnici. Deċiżjoni li Gonzi seta’ jevita imma ma riedx. Għaliex għamel hekk hu jaf.

Meta Gonzi jħares fil-mera ma jara l-ebda sinifikat fil-każ ta’ korruzzjoni ta’ Noel Borg Hedley (ex-Segretarju Privat tal-Ministru Tonio Fenech) li fil-Qorti ammetta akkużi ta’ korruzzjoni mill-iżviluppaturi JPM Brothers.

Il-fjask tal-Arriva bir-responsabbilta’ politika dwaru li kellu jinġarr minn Austin Gatt l-anqas ma kellu sinifikat għal Gonzi meta jħares fil-mera.

Issa  ħarġet oħra. Fir-rapport tal-Awditur Nazzjonali l-inkompetenza fl-amministrazzjoni finanzjarja tal-kumpanija tal-Gvern Wasteserve hi imfissra fid-dettall. L-iktar li jispikka hu dak il-kuntratt ta’ miljun euro li spiċċa jissarraf f’kuntratt ta’ disgħa u għoxrin miljun euro. Qiesu ma ġara xejn. Is-sejħa biex George Pullicino jerfa’ r-responsabbilta’ politika u jwarrab ma tfisser xejn.

Quddiem dan kollu it-talba ta’ Gonzi biex il-budget ikun approvat tistona. Għax il-vot fuq il-budget mhux biss vot favur budget rigressiv imma hu ukoll vot favur Gvern li hu moralment zopp. Gvern li jrid lil kulħadd jimxi sewwa imma hu mhux kapaċi jagħti l-eżempju. Għax repetutament irrifjuta li jerfa’ r-responsabbilta politika ta’ għemilu.

X’ser jiġri għada jiena ma nafx. Naf iżda ħaga waħda: li l-Gvern wasal sa hawn għax Lawrence Gonzi ma kienx kapaċi japplika għalih il-kejl li bih hu jkejjel lil ħaddieħor.

Il-Partit Nazzjonalista ġustament qed jitlob li l-Imħallef Lino Farrugia Sacco jirreżenja. Jekk il-PN japplika l-istess kejl għall-Kabinett ta’ Lawrence Gonzi m’għandix dubju li jinbidlu l-Ministri kollha, Gonzi innifsu inkluż!

Jekk il-budget ma jkunx approvat

Bosta qed jistaqsu: x’jiġri jekk il-budget ma jkunx approvat?

M’hux sewwa qed jgħidu oħrajn li fil-waqt li t-taxxi l-ġodda l-Gvern qed jiġborhom mill-ewwel il-benefiċċji irridu nistennew dwarhom.

Ir-risposta insibuha f’Liġi imsejħa Att dwar il-Protezzjoni tal-Erarju.

Fis-subartiklu (1) tal-artiklu 2 ta’ din il-Liġi insibu dawn il-kelmiet :

“Kull meta Ministru jagħti avviż lill-Iskrivan tal-Kamra tad-Deputati ta’abbozz ta’ liġi dwar dazju ġdid jew dwar żieda ta’dazju li ġà jkun hemm, dak id-dazju ġdid jew dik iż-żieda ta’ dazju għandhom jittieħdu u jinġabru, minn dik l-awtorità li tiġi stabbilita fl-abbozz bħala responsabbli għall-ġbir relattiv minn dak in-nhar li tinħareġ Proklama biex tgħarraf li ħareġ avviż kif imsemmi qabel.”

Din il-Liġi kienet ġiet introdotta fl-1928, jiġifieri meta fil-Gvern kien hemm Gerald Strickland tal-Partit Kostituzzjonali Prim Ministru f’koalizzjoni (Il-Compact) mal-Partit Laburista immexxi minn Pawlu Boffa.

L-Att V tal-1928 kien ġie introdott biex jiġi evitat li jkun hemm l-ispekulazzjoni meta tkun introdott xi dazju jew taxxa ġdida. Għax mingħajr din il-liġi hemm il-periklu tal-ispekulazzjoni kif ukoll ta’ attivita’ li tevadi d-dazju jew it-taxxi. Għax jekk bejn meta titħabbar dazju jew taxxa ġdida jew miżjuda u meta tibda tinġabar jista’ jkun hemm min, per eżempju, jixtri petrol jew diesel b’sisa baxxa u mbagħad jerġa’ jbiegħu meta togħla s-sisa u jdaħħal fil-but id-differenza.

Naħseb li lkoll naqblu li abbuż bħal dan m’għandux isir.

Imma imbagħad il-liġi taħseb ukoll x’jiġri jekk il-budget (jew il-liġi li tintroduċi t-taxxa jew dazju) ma jkunx approvat.

Is- subartiklu (1) tal-artiklu 3 jitkellem ċar ħafna u jgħid hekk :

“Kull somma li tinġabar minn dak id-dazju ġdid jew minn dik iż-żieda ta’ dazju għandha tinżamm b’depożitu u għandha titħallas lill-erarju wara li l-abbozz tal-liġi jiġi approvat għal kollox, jew tingħata lura lid-depożitant, kollha jew biċċa minnha, jekk l-abbozz ma jgħaddix jew jekk id-dazju kif propost jiġi mnaqqas, jew jekk l-abbozz ma jgħaddix fi żmien sitt xhur mill-ewwel laqgħa tal-Kamra tad-Deputati.”

Mela l-Gvern għandu sitt xhur ċans. Jekk sa sitt xhur iI-budget, jew il-liġijiet li jimplimentaw il-budget, ma jkunx approvat ikun irid jirrifondi t-taxxi li ġabar lura.

Hemm ukoll il-possibilta’ l-Gvern ikollu jħallas ukoll l-interessi. Imma dak dettall legali li jmur lil hinn mill-iskop ta’ dan il-blog.

Nota : l-kelma dazju tinkludi kull taxxa, immaterjalment x’tissejjaħ.

Labour : ensuring a smooth transition

Franco Debono has made many a statement during the past 12 months. He abstained when a vote of no confidence was submitted against Minister Austin Gatt. He explained that he did so as he wanted to give the man and his party another chance!

He has been stating for days now, that he will not vote in favour of the budget  because he considers that Austin Gatt should have resigned months ago due to his political failures. Whether  Franco Debono will keep his word is anybody’s guess. But if he does the budget will not be approved. We will have to keep guessing what comes next for some more days.

With this in mind the budget’s relevance is limited.

But we need not panic as Labour will come to the rescue. Labour, we are told, will deliver.

Progressive Labour will deliver income tax revised rates which will ignore low wage earners and reduce tax payable to those who are already reasonably well off. No tax deductions can be guaranteed for low wage earners by Labour.

Progressive Labour, like conservative PN, does not agree with the need to revise the minimum wage. It is not in the interest of employers to do so. And it is their vote which progressive Labour is after.  The employers’ vote, that is!

Why should progressive Labour accept the GWU’s proposal to have the cost of living adjustment paid in two installments?  There is consensus between the PN and Labour that the GWU’s proposals should be ignored. It is only Alternattiva Demokratika which has offered support for a progressive incomes policy as proposed by the GWU.

Labour, the progressive party, has opted for a conservative approach: the PN’s approach. It is the only way forward as in this way it ensures a smooth transition,  continuity and stability!

…………… and they looked from pig to man and from man to pig again and could not tell which was which.  The more things change, the more they remain the same.

published at di-ve.com  on Friday 30 November 2012