L-imposizzjoni tat-taxxa ambjentali: Ipposponi l-ligi – L-Imsiehba Socjali lil Prim Ministru
23 July 2004
L-imsiehba socjali kollha kemm huma qeghdin isemmghu lehinhom
f’vuci wahda: li l-Prim Ministru Lawrence Gonzi m’ghandux ikompli jwebbes rasu u
jimplimenta t-taxxa ambjentali minghajr konsultazzjoni adegwata mas-shab
socjali. Il-Gvern akkost ta’ kollox irid li din it-taxxa tiddahhal fl-1 ta’
Awissu li gej.
Nhar l-Erbgha wara nofs in-nhar, il-Prim Ministru Lawrence
Gonzi sejjah laqgha urgenti mas-shab socjali f’Kastilja. Din il-laqgha bdiet
fl-4.00 p.m. u damet saghtejn.
Madankollu l-imsiehba socjali xejn m’huma
kuntenti bir-rizultat ta’ din il-laqgha, ghax minkejja li ghamlu madwar saghtejn
jiddiskutu, il-Gvern xorta wahda, l-Erbgha fil-ghaxija stess u sahansitra
l-bierah fil-ghodu u fil-ghaxija, baqa’ ghaddej qiesu ma gara xejn u kompla
jiddiskuti l-Abbozz ta’ Ligi dwar din it-taxxa fil-Parlament.
F’kummenti
lil l-orizzont, l-ghada tal-laqgha ta’ nhar l-Erbgha mal-Prim Ministru, Tony
Zarb, is-Segretarju Generali tal-General Workers’ Union sostna li “ghamilniha
cara hafna ghall-Prim Ministru li l-GWU qieghda tara din it-taxxa xejn hlief
aktar pizijiet godda fuq il-haddiema u l-pensjonanti. Jekk veru l-Gvern
jirrispetta lis-shab socjali ghandu jisma’ mis-sinjal car li qeghdin jaghtuh.
Dan is-sinjal huwa: IEQAF U TKOMPLIX TWEBBES RASEK.”
Tony Zarb zied jghid
li fil-laqgha ta’ nhar l-Erbgha, kulhadd esprima l-istess pozizzjoni li
m’ghandhiex thalli triq ohra hlief dik li l-Gvern jieqaf milli jkompli ghaddej
bil-ligi u jiddiskuti mas-shab socjali, biex wara li jigi idendifikat l-impatt
fuq il-haddiema, il-pensjonanti u anki min ihaddem, b’mod immedjat ikun hemm
ir-rimedji.
Huwa qal ukoll li l-haddiema, il-pensjonanti u l-familji
taghhom ma jistghux jerfghu l-pizijiet ta’ din it-taxxa u dan ghax digà qeghdin
jerfghu hafna pizijiet ohrajn. Semma fost l-ohrajn iz-zieda ta’ 3% fil-VAT u
zidiet li kien hemm fil-petrol, id-diesel u l-pitrolju.
“Dan il-kaz
ghandu jservi biex il-Gvern jinghata sinjal car mis-shab socjali li spicca
z-zmien li jibqa’ jittrattahom bhala tal-konvenjenza. F’kaz li l-Gvern jinjora
dak li qeghdin jghidulu s-shab socjali, ikun ifisser li qieghed bl-agir tieghu
jimmina il-kuncett ta’ shab socjali. Ikun inutli wara li l-Gvern jipprova
joqghod izieghel bis-shab socjali biex min-naha taghhom dawn ikomplu jiddiskutu
diversi problemi li ghandu l-pajjiz, liema problemi zgur ma kinux is-shab
socjali li ghabbew lill-pajjiz bihom,” qal Tony Zarb.
Huwa kompla jishaq
li “min-naha taghna, bhala union, se nkomplu naghmlu l-pressjoni biex dak li
ddecieda l-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-GWU jigi attwat u issa sta ghall-Gvern liema
diska jdawwar – jew dik li jsib is-soluzzjonijiet kif qeghdin jindikawlu s-shab
socjali, jew id-diska l-ohra, dik tal-konfrontazzjoni u l-arroganza.
“Li
nghid biss huwa li l-GWU se tkun b’ghajnejha miftuhin berah ghal dak kollu li
jkun qed isehh, biex imbaghad tiehu l-pozizzjonijiet taghha fl-interess
tal-haddiema, il-pensjonanti u l-familji taghhom. Kieku l-Gvern ried jara kif se
jirranga l-ambjent, flok ma mpona din it-taxxa messu ha l-inizjattivi li
ncentiva lil dawk ic-cittadini u jhajjarhom biex jaghmlu uzu minn oggetti
‘eco-friendly’.
F’kummenti wkoll lil dan il-gurnal, Gejtu Vella,
is-Segretarju Generali tal-Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM), sahaq li l-union
ghamlet il-pozizzjoni taghha wahda cara lill-Gvern – li “jipposponi l-ligi halli
l-ewwel issir diskussjoni serja ma’ l-imsiehba socjali fl-MCESD. Il-ballun issa
jinsab f’saqajn il-Gvern. ”
Gejtu Vella qal li bhala
union,
“ninsistu wkoll li din l-eko-kontribuzzjoni jew taxxa ambjentali,
sejhilha kif trid, se ggib piz gdid fuq il-familji Maltin u Ghawdxin. Nhar
it-Tlieta kellna laqgha mal-Ministru George Pullicino u mas-Segretarju
Parlamentari Tonio Fenech fejn ergajna ghamilna l-pozizzjoni taghna cara u
ghamilna l-istess haga fil-laqgha ta’ nhar l-Erbgha, dik id-darba quddiem
il-Prim Ministru Lawrence Gonzi, il-Ministri George Pullicino u Austin Gatt u
mas-Segretarju Parlamentari Tonio Fenech.
“Il-pozizzjoni taghna hija cara
u jekk il-Gvern jaghmel li jrid, imbaghad wara naghmlu dak li hu mehtieg ahna.
Irridu konsultazzjoni vera u ghalhekk ninsistu li l-implimentazzjoni ta’ din
it-taxxa tigi posposta.”
Min-naha tieghu, id-Direttur Generali tal-GRTU,
Vince Farrugia, sahaq ma’ l-orizzont li “allahares Lawrence Gonzi jigi jaqa’
jqum minn kulhadd u jibqa’ ghaddej meta jaf li kulhadd huwa kontrih. Din il-haga
qatt ma grat fil-pajjiz li l-Gvern kellu lil kulhadd kontrih – is-shab socjali,
l-unions, l-ghaqdiet tal-konsumaturi u anke l-ghaqdiet ta’
l-ambjent.
“Nemmen li Lawrence Gonzi jifhem u ghalhekk nemmen li mhux se
jaghzel it-triq tal-konflitt. Jekk il-ligi tigi posposta hadd ma
jbati.”
Vince Farrigia zied jghid li Lawrence Gonzi m’ghandux ikompli
jwebbes rasu. Kulhadd jaf li l-ligi ghandha tigi posposta u ssir diskussjoni
serja. Huwa spjega li l-bicca l-kbira ta’ Lm4 miljun li se jdahhal il-Gvern minn
din it-taxxa ambjentali se jdahhalhom mill-grupp zghir ta’ negozjanti. Il-GRTU
qieghda tistenna li l-Gvern inehhi l-ingustizzja kbira li ghamel fuq kulhadd,
meta issa jrid lin-negozjanti jibghatulu cekkijiet ta’ eluf kbar ta’ liri
minhabba li jridu jhallsu t-taxxa fuq l-istokks li ghandhom, li huma prodotti li
ghadhom ma bieghux.
Jekk jigri dan, il-Gvern se johloq zieda fl-ammont
ta’ nies bla xoghol ghax in-negozjant ikun kostrett jkecci lill-impjegati tieghu
ghax ma jkunx jiflah ghal dan il-piz gdid.
“Din it-taxxa l-gdida ta’
l-ambjent mhux veru giet miftehma ma’ l-imsiehba socjali fil-laqgha li saret
qabel il-Budget tas-sena l-ohra f’Ghawdex. Dak in-nhar konna tlabna kjarifiki
fuqha u r-risposta li nghatajna mill-Gvern kienet li din m’hix se tidhol qabel
ma jintlahaq ftehim.
“Izda sirna nafu bit-taxxa permezz ta’ abbozz li
gie ppubblikat fil-Gazzetta tal-Gvern tliet gimghat biss qabel ma habbarha.
Ghalhekk mahruqin wahda nobis ghax il-Gvern haseb li se jigbor balla liri minn
fuqna u jhabbarhom fil-budget li gej, meta din it-taxxa qatt ma kienet diskussa.
Il-paniku tal-Gvern mhux veru huwa biex jibza’ ghall-ambjent, imma biex jigbor
il-flus qabel il-budget,” sostna Vince Farrugia.
Anton Borg, il-President
ta’ l-FOI, ukoll kien ta’ l-istess fehma li Lawrence Gonzi m’ghandux ikompli
jwebbes rasu. “Fil-waqt li bhala employers m’ahniex inkwetati li din il-ligi se
tghaddi mill-Parlament ghax il-Gvern assigurana li wara li l-ligi tghaddi
mit-Tieni Qari, jekk ikun hemm problemi se jwaqqaf kollox fl-istadju
tal-kumitat, m’ahniex kuntenti xejn bl-ezitu tal-laqgha ta’
l-Erbgha”.
Sadanittant ghal mistoqsija ta’ l-orizzont qabel il-laqgha ta’
nhar l-Erbgha dwar it-talba ta’ l-imsiehba socjali biex il-process li se jdahhal
fis-sehh din it-taxxa jigi pospost hix gustifikata, il-Ministru ghall-Affarijiet
Rurali u Ambjent George Pullicino wiegeb li “fl-opinjoni tieghi,
il-konsultazzjoni saret u ghadha ghaddejja. Le, m’hemmx raguni ghaliex inwaqqfu
d-diskussjoni fil-Parlament. Fl-opinjoni tieghi, il-pozizzjoni tal-Gvern hija
cara – hemm bzonn nigbru l-flus biex ninvestu fl-affarijiet li hemm bzonn
naghmlu.”
George Pullicino kompla jishaq li hadd ma jiehu gost imur
il-Parlament u jipproponi zidiet, imma l-verità hija li jew nibq-ghu nidhku
b’xulxin u nghidu ghandna pjan u dak il-pjan jibqa’ fl-arja, jew inkella rridu
nsibu l-mezzi li l-inqas iweggghu lin-nies.
“Stajna ghamilna mod iehor.
Stajna qbadna u qsamna l-ispiza fuq kull bieb u dar u fuq kull familja ndaqs.
M’ghamilniex hekk. Ippruvajna mmorru lejn sistema li tindirizza l-gbir tal-flus,
imma tindirizza wkoll l-idea li inti tbiddel it-tendenzi fil-konsum.
“Mhux necessarjament is-soluzzjoni perfetta. Lesti nkomplu niddiskutu
anke wara li l-ligi tghaddi biex nirfinaw l-affarijiet, imma dan il-pajjiz
ghandu bzonn li jaghmel il-bidu.
“U dan il-bidu rridu naghmluh illum
qabel ghada jekk ma rridux li nibqghu bil-problemi tal-qasam ta’ l-iskart li
ghandna llum li hafna drabi hallejnihom taht it-tapit u li hemm bzonn naghmlu xi
haga dwarhom,” kompla jghid il-Ministru Pullicino lil
l-orizzont.
X’irid jimponi
l-Gvern…
– Fliexken u bottijiet tax-xorb maghmulin mill-Hgieg, plastik
jew metall – 1c fuq kull flixkun jew bott li jkun fih xorb mhux alkoholiku (bhal
‘soft-drinks’ jew ilma) u 5c fuq kull flixkun jew bott li jkun fih inbid jew
xorb alkoholiku.
– Prodotti kozmetici bhall-fwejjah u make-up – 5c fuq
kull prodott.
– ‘Tyres’ ta’ vetturi u muturi – Lm2 kull ‘tyre’.
–
Batteriji – 10c fuq kull batterija normali (minn dawk li normalment jintuzaw
fid-djar jew fl-ufficini) u 70c fuq kull batterija tal-karozzi.
– Zjut –
10c fuq kull litru ta’ zejt uzat fil-karozzi u 5c fuq kull filter
taz-zejt.
– Apparat domestiku – Lm12 fuq kull apparat li jkessah
(‘fridges’ u ‘air-conditioners’); Lm3 fuq kull oggett li jsahhan l-ilma
(bhall-‘geysers’); Lm5 fuq kull television jew monitor (mhux akbar minn 28
pulzier); Lm15 fuq kull television jew monitor (akbar minn 28 pulzier); Lm2.50
fuq kull apparat tat-telekomunikazzjoni (bhat-telephones u mobile phones); Lm10
fuq kull apparat li jintuza ghall-hasil u t-tisjir (bhall-‘washing machines’ u
‘cookers’).
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