ADPD issejjaħ għal azzjoni urġenti mill-gvern biex itaffi mill-impatt massiċċ fuq l-ekonomija Maltija tal-invażjoni tar-Russja fl-Ukrajna
“Biż-żidiet sfrenati fil-prezzijiet essenzjali li mistennija jkomplu fix-xhur li ġejjin minħabba l-impatt ekonomiku mill-invażjoni tar-Russja fl-Ukrajna Malta għandha tikseb sigurtà fil-ġenerazzjoni tal-enerġija f’pajjiżna billi żżid aktar investiment f’enerġija rinnovabbli, ġenerata lokalment. Barra minn hekk, speċjalment f’dawn iż-żmenijiet ta’ inċertezza kbira hemm il-ħtieġa li ż-żieda għall-għoli tal-ħajja tingħata ukoll f’nofs is-sena”. Dan qaluh iż-żewġ kelliema ta’ ADPD – The Green Party – iċ-Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo u d-Deputat Segretarju Ġenerali Sandra Gauci f’konferenza stampa f’Ħal Qormi.
Id-Deputat Segretarju Ġenerali tal-ADPD – The Green Party Sandra Gauci qalet li bħalissa kulħadd qed jinnota żieda fil-prezzijiet tal-prodotti essenzjali għall-ħajja. M’aħniex qed nitkellmu fuq kapriċċi imma neċessitajiet bħall-ikel. Kull xahar dan il-piż qed ikompli aktar jagħfas l-isfel lill-batut li l-uniku kapriċċ li baqagħlu hu li jitrejjaq. Imsieken min bil-paga minima jrid jipprova jkampa xahar sħiħ speċjalment dawk li għandhom xi allerġiji għal ikel partikolari jew dawk li għandhom trabi u tfal żgħar, meta l-prezzijiet ta’ affarijiet bħal ħrieqi u trab tal-ħalib komplew jisparaw ‘l fuq. Filwaqt li l-gvern ma għandux kontroll dwar x’jiġri barra minn Malta, iva għandu kontroll dwar x’jiġri Malta.
L-invażjoni tar-Russja fl-Ukrajna kompliet tagħfas il-morsa fuq ċertu produtturi li mhux dejjem possibbli għalihom li jgħaddu ż-żidiet fl-ispejjeż lill-konsumatur. Kumpaniji li l-produzzjoni tagħhom tiddependi fuq l-użu tal-qamħ u ż-żejt tal-ikel intlaqtu ħażin ukoll. Barra minn hekk, xi pajjizi qegħdin jaħżnu dak li s-soltu kienu jesportaw peress li ħadd ma jaf kemm dan il-kunflitt se jdum għaddej.
“Għalkemm il-gvern m’għandux kontroll dwar x’jiġri barra għandu l-obbligu li dak li jseħħ f’pajjiżna jitmexxa b’mod għaqli. L-ADPD titlob li speċjalment f’dawn iż-żmenijiet ta’ inċertezza kbira hemm il-ħtieġa li ż-żieda għall-għoli tal-ħajja m’għandhiex toqgħod tistenna il-baġit ta’ kull sena imma għandha tingħata ukoll f’nofs is-sena u li jkun hemm ukoll reviżjoni mill-qiegħ dwar kif tkun ikkalkulata l-paga minima. Fuq kollox irridu paga diċenti bi dritt, u mhux il-manna mis-sema fil-forma taċ-ċekkijiet waqt kampanja elettorali. Il-gvern ġdid għandu juri li bil-fatti huwa gvern li jisma’ u jwettaq dawn il-miżuri hekk kif jitlaqqa’ il-Parlament,” temmet tgħid Gauci.
Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD – The Green Party Carmel Cacopardo qal li anke minħabba s-sigurtà ta’ pajjiżna huwa importanti li jkollna l-akbar ammont ta’ enerġija, nadifa u rinovabbli, ġġenerata lokalment, u l-bqija mill-grid tal-Unjoni Ewropea.
“Il-gwerra ta’ Putin turina kemm hi urġenti l-indipendenza Ewropea fl-enerġija. Aħna lkoll affettwati mill-gwerra, u l-gwerra ta’ Putin turi li kwestjonijiet geo-politiċi għandhom effett negattiv kbir. Is-sovranita’ fl-enerġija ta’ pajjiżna għanda tiġi imħarsa u l-ADPD tingħaqad mal-appell tal-Ħodor fil-Parlament Ewropew u ninsistu li il-Kummissjoni Ewropea tgħaġġel il-proċess tal-bidla lejn enerġija mija fil-mija rinnovabbli. Qed nitilfu ħin prezzjuż,” insista Cacopardo.
“Hemm bżonn ukoll li inħarsu l-agrikoltura f’pajjiżna. Il-bdiewa laqqtuha waħda wara l-oħra. Mhux talli qegħdin kull ma jmur jintlaqtu ħażin mit-tibdil fil-klima talli rajna li art fertili ġiet issagrifikata għal infrastruttura tat-toroq bħal fil-każ tal-proġett tas-Central Link. Barra minn hekk, art agrikola qegħda tibda tintuża għal żvog rikreazzjonali li jkompli jnaqqas l-art ikkultivata għat-tkabbir tal-frott u l-ħxejjex. F’dawn iż-żmenijiet diffiċli huwa importanti li l-agrikoltura ġewwa pajjiżna tiġi mħarsa għaliex mingħajrha nbatu ħafna ilkoll”, temm jgħid Cacopardo.
calls for urgent action by government to minimise the massive impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the Maltese economy – ADPD
“With the spiralling increase in the price of essential commodities that is also expected to continue in the coming months due to the economic impact from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Malta should safeguard its energy security by accelerating further investment in locally generated renewable energy. Moreover, especially in these volatile times it is necessary that the cost of living increase is awarded twice a year”. This was stated by ADPD – The Green Party spokespersons – Chairperson, Carmel Cacopardo and the Deputy Secretary General, Sandra Gauci at a press conference in Qormi this morning.
ADPD – The Green Party Deputy Secretary General Sandra Gauci said that everybody is aware of the increase in the price of essential commodities. It is not luxury items that we are talking about here but daily necessities such as food. Vulnerable people are being overburdened with these month-on-month price increases so much so that sustenance becomes the only ‘luxury’ they can afford. This is especially hard on those dependent on minimum wages who have to cater for food allergies or those with babies and infants. The prices of items such as nappies and milk powder have also shot up. Although government cannot control what happens abroad it can take the required mitigating measures in Malta.
It is a known fact that the Russian invasion on Ukraine has put further pressure on certain producers for whom it is no longer viable to pass on the increase in costs onto consumers. Companies who utilise wheat and sunflower oil in their produce have also been feeling the pinch. Moreover some countries are hoarding their stocks since they are wary of how long this conflict will last.
“Although the government cannot control what happens abroad it is duty bound to manage well what happens in our country. ADPD has proposed that especially in these volatile times it is necessary that the cost of living increase is awarded twice a year as well as a thorough overhaul of the way that the minimum wage is calculated. We demand a decent wage by right. We do not want the insulting, patronising Father Christmas government giving out cheques through the mail during an election campaign. The new government should reflect its mantra that it is a “government which listens” by taking the necessary action as soon as Parliament meets, concluded Gauci.
ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said that even from an energy security perspective it was important for Malta to have the largest portion of its energy portfolio made up of clean and renewable energy generated locally, with the rest obtainable from the EU grid.
“Putin’s war has brought to the fore the urgent need for Europe to gain its energy independence. We are all affected by this war which once more proves that geo-political issues have a large negative impact on all. Malta’s energy sovereignty needs to be addressed forthwith. ADPD joins the call by the Greens within the European Parliament for the European Commission to fast track its process towards a 100% renewable energy target. We must not waste any more precious time,” insisted Cacopardo.
“We also need to protect our agriculture. Our farmers have been dealt one heavy blow after another. In addition to climate change impacts our farming community has to deal with major roads gobbling up good farmland as has been the case with the Central Link project. Moreover agricultural land is being converted into recreational land as a result further depleting the extent of cultivated farmland. In these tough times having our agriculture in good shape would be a bonus which we can ill-afford to lose” concluded Cacopardo.
