Debono casts doubts on 2008 electricity price hike

Nationalist MP Franco Debono took Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt to task over his decision to increase the utility bills in 2008, at a time when Debono says the price of oil was going down.

"Now things start to make sense," the MP who has criticised Gatt on several occasions said today.

Taking cue from a MaltaToday report that revealed kickbacks paid for Enemalta's multi-million oil purchases, Debono blogged that he had "very vivid memories of a 2008 parliamentary group meeting a Castille where Austin Gatt ferociously defended his utility price hikes, while I incredulously asked how come government was raising the bills when the price of oil was going down".

"Now things start to make sense... you can realise why you have been paying high utility bills," he added.

Debono commented that Malta continued to slip lower in the Corruption Perception Index whilst GRECO - an organisation that forms part of the European Council against corruption - continued to chase Malta to enact a law regulating party financing.

"If you follow the news unfolding in the media you can appreciate why I had the courage to vote against the budget while Gatt continued to form part of the Cabinet. And you can understand why I am proud I did so, in defense of my beloved country and its people," he said.

Insisting that the people wanted their country back, Debono added: "I am making it very clear that there is something very fishy in the way Gonzi plays to Austin Gatt's tune."