The PN has renewed its call for the Government to introduce an automatic compensation scheme for businesses and families affected by repeated and prolonged power cuts.prolonged power cuts.
The PN said the electricity crisis has reached a point where businesses have been forced to close, while others have lost entire hours of work, disposed of spoiled food and products, and suffered damage to equipment. The party said these disruptions have particularly affected the self-employed and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Referring to an appeal made earlier this week by the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, the PN insisted that the Government should immediately introduce an automatic compensation scheme for all those who have suffered losses because of prolonged or repeated power outages. The party said compensation should be based on “clear and transparent criteria”, including the duration of the outage, damage to equipment, loss of stock and products, lost sales, and the forced closure of businesses. It also stressed that the process should be simple, free from unnecessary bureaucracy.
The PN argued that the problems within Malta’s electricity distribution system are not new, saying population growth and increasing energy demand were foreseeable and should have been addressed through timely investment in the country’s infrastructure. It added that the Government cannot promote economic growth while failing to guarantee a stable electricity supply.
The PN also thanked businesses that, despite facing their own challenges, opened their premises to help the community by providing places where people could cool down during the heatwave or charge essential devices. According to the party, these acts demonstrate solidarity among Maltese and Gozitan businesses, but it said such efforts should not replace the State’s responsibility to provide essential services.
The statement was signed by Michael Piccinino, Shadow Minister for the Self-Employed, Small Enterprises and Cooperatives, and Darren Carabott, Shadow Minister for the Economy, Technology and Strategic Projects.
Follow News Of Malta 
for the latest stories and updates.
