Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/740013
6 YANNICK PACE REACTIONS to the measures announced on Monday even- ing in the budget speech were, as would be expected in a po- litically divided country, varied depending on which party one supported. The government described it as being "the most social budget in recent history" and one that supports the most vulnerable in society and distributes wealth across all sectors. The oppo- sition on the other hand, de- scribed the budget as lacking in vision and one that does nothing to help people living in poverty. MaltaToday spoke with a num- ber of people in Valletta and asked them which of the an- nounced budgetary measures they felt were positive and those they felt would be affecting them negatively. Quite a few people said that they had not bothered following the budget speech, with quite a few saying that no matter which party was in government, very little seems to change from one budget to the next. The vast majority of those that agreed to answer questions said that they were pensioners and as such stated that they were gen- erally pleased with the meas- ures in the Budget. Measures were announced which increase pensions, bonuses for the el- derly who don't qualif y for the pension increases, a weekly €20 increase for women pensioners and an increased carers' allow- ance. A number of individuals, echo- ing Prime Minister Joseph Mus- cat, said that they felt that the Budget was one of the best in recent times and did a lot for those in society who have fallen behind. Others however were not as pleased and expressed disap- pointment at the fact that there was no reduction in water and electricity tariffs, something which they said was what they were expecting the most. "There was nothing in the budget that really affects me, the government was meant to lower water and electricity tariffs but it didn't happen and we are now back to square one," said one woman. Others also complained at the increase in the cost of cigarettes as well as the new duty tax that will be imposed on cosmetic products such as soap, perfumes and hair products. maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2016 News Budget 2017 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2016 REACTIONS FREE public transport should be extended beyond 18-year-olds to a wider range of students, includ- ing the current drivers, student group SDM said. As announced in the Budget for 2017, all youths who turn 18 during 2017 will be entitled to a year's worth of free public trans- port, with the government hoping that this will incentivize them not to rush into obtaining their driv- ing licences. However, SDM, the Christian Democrat group, warned that this proposal alone will not re- duce cars from the Maltese roads or reduce traffic in general. "We are slightly disappointed at the lack of incentives offered to students in general to encour- age them to use public transport," SDM said. "We hope that this is a pilot project, which will then be extended to a wider range of students should it prove effec- tive. Consequently, in the lack of incentives for current student drivers, we believe that the for- mer will continue to use their personal cars." Elsewhere, SDM welcomed new capital projects at the University of Malta – notably the construc- tion of a new University Resi- dence and community car park, and the extension of the Materi- als Engineering Lab, the Maths and Physics building and the mul- ti-faith room – as well as planned renovations of the Valletta and Junior College campuses. How- ever, it said that research at the University was not prioritized. The student group also criti- cised the government for fail- ing to follow up on its proposal for students to receive discounts when purchasing bicycles and scooters. Malta Employers' Association disappointed The MEA critcised the govern- ment for failing to reduce elec- tricity tariffs and for adjusting the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), raising it to €1.75 a week when it had originally been cal- culated at €1.16. "The government should not have ignored the COLA mecha- nism, which had been agreed upon by all social partners," MEA director general Joe Farru- gia said. Another major short- coming of the budget, it said, was that the c o m m e r c i a l energy rates were not r e v i s e d d o w n - w a r d s to make those rates in Malta on a par with those prevailing in many industrial- ised countries. "Given the state of international oil prices, the cheap energy generated by the interconnector and the potential benefits of the new power sta- tion, this was a do- able meas- ure." The MEA also noted that the budget did not adequate- ly address the situa - tion at Air Malta, nor did it offer tangible solutions to the traf- fic situation, with the exception of the in- centives for company transport. Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar The environmental NGO warned that the proposed wid- ening of roads and construction of car parks will only increase traffic, decrying such projects as "putting the interests of develop- ers before the national interest". FAA also claimed that Budget measures to promote the pur- chase of property by foreigners, boost the purchase of property in Gozo, and spend €50 million on a social housing project will "al- most certainly" continue the pro- cess of building on open spaces, rather than encourage the rede- velopment of Malta's over 42,000 vacant buildings. Malta Union of Teachers The MUT warned that the Budget falls short on innovative initiatives and urgent decisions to attract new people to the teaching profession, which it said is facing an "imminent crisis". It also failed to develop a new educational cur- riculum that caters for students with different abilities, or take up the union's proposal for a per- manent committee on education that would "exonerate education from partisan wrangles". The Budget 2017 measures include free public transport for all 18-year-olds MEA director general Joseph Farrugia insisted electricity tariffs should have gone down Vox Pop: Pensioners satisfied with Budget 2017 The majority of pensioners who spoke to MaltaToday in Valletta welcomed the budget SDM wants free public transport extended beyond 18-year-olds