Updated | Gonzi challenges Muscat to reveal energy plans

Addressing a PN political activity in Mqabba this morning, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi hit out at the Labour Party's attempts to deny people their right to vote and underlined the importance of the forthcoming election.

Speaking on the televised debate between himself and Labour leader Joseph Muscat on Friday, the Prime Minister challenged Muscat to reveal how, when and by how much will utility bills be reduced by a Labour government.

"I have been waiting for an answer for 48 hours. I asked Joseph Muscat how, when and by how much Labour will reduce the water and electricity bills, but I have not heard the answer yet," Gonzi told an animated crowd of PN supporters.

"Where is your answer? What is your answer? We have told you what or programme is but we don know what is yours," The PN leader said.

In his closing remarks, Gonzi told the party faithful: "Let us look forward with hope because this party deserves the confidence of the people."

Turning on the recent damage at the Delimara power plant extension and Labour's claims that it would reduce energy bills, Gonzi insisted that the government is committed to help all families pay less for their bills without affecting their quality of life.

He explained that the government will widen its schemes to assist families invest in photovoltaic panels and other sources of alternative energy.

Hinting at initiatives which could possibly be included in the 2013 Budget, Gonzi said that families who have no access to roof tops will be given the opportunity to invest in solar panel farms in which persons can become shareholders.

However, the PN leader also said that families who cannot afford to undertake such initiatives, will also receive some kind of financial assistance to reduce the burden of the energy bills.

On the Delimara power plant extension, Gonzi noted that the eight turbines powered by Heavy Fuel Oil are functioning well, however a ninth turbine which generates energy through the steam produced by the other eight turbines suffered damages.

"The other eight turbines are working perfectly and can be switched on right now. But, we want to take over the extension once all turbines are working. BWSC are in the process of resolving the issue and only then will the extension be handed over to government," gonzi said.

On the Opposition's attempts to strike voters off the electoral register by presenting court writs Gonzi said: "We are now nearing the end of the legislature and the people will have the privilege of voting in the general election. The Nationalist Party always believed that the electorate has a right to vote and decide who will run the country for five years, it's a decision that will effect the country's future for five years, not five days."

He pointed out that Labour is trying to strike people off the electoral register and deny them the right to vote.

"Labour is doing an audit of the electoral register. This is scary. We have already heard Labour MP Helena Dalli say that as soon as Labour is in power they will carry an audit on all of us. It will mean that they will check who is who," Gonzi said.

"This is not right. This only shows that the Labour Party has not changed and it will never change." The Nationalist Party leader who was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd in Mqabba, warned: "An error on election day cannot be fixed a couple of days later. It's a serious choice that will last for five years. It's a crucial decision which must be taken carefully."

This week, Labour came under attack by the Nationalist Party for having filed some 187 court writs this year to strike off people from the electoral register.

The practice is intended to remove voters who, as according to an electoral law that is as yet unchanged, are not in Malta for an aggregate of six months in the last 18 months prior to the last published electoral register; or are dead or mentally infirm.

The Prime Minister who was answering questions by a number of persons with disability and their families said: "Every single person is precious for us. When parents of disabled persons ask what will happen of their children once they can longer take care of them, the answer should be that society treats everyone, whoever it is, sick or healthy, disabled or not, equally. Everyone must be treasured."

Gonzi explained that the government provides services and support on three different levels. He said that the first level of support comes in the form of assistance to families who care for disabled persons.

"The primary aim is to help families remain united and live at the same household as much as possible," Gonzi said.

The second level, the PN leader said, comes in the form of assistance, which enables disabled persons to live independently in the community, even if their parents or family is no longer capable of caring for them.

The Prime Minister said these initiatives enable disabled people to continue living within their own community.

Residential care in homes, which government is providing in a number of localities is the third level of support for disabled persons, Gonzi said.

Gonzi, who served as Chairman of the National Commission for the Disabled for more then seven years in the early days of his political career, stressed that a very large number of disabled students in Malta are included in mainstream education which is seven times better then the EU average. He explained that "only 0.3% of disabled children attend special schools in Malta."

"The government is committed to provide long-term opportunities in education, health and providing jobs for disabled persons," Gonzi added.

"If this country becomes a model in treating disabled persons with dignity, we would have reached the value of respecting every single person's humanity," Gonzi said.