Abela tells Enemalta to 'speed up' power grid works

Enemalta has been told to "significantly accelerate" its work on strengthening the power distribution network, the prime minister said on Sunday.

Speaking during an interview on ONE News, Robert Abela said the power outages of the past few days were “unacceptable” and the government was committed to doing “whatever was needed to avoid them”.

He blamed successive administrations for postponing the required investment, pointing out “the present government had spent an unprecedented €160 million on the power grid in the past three years”.

“Still, clearly, more needed to be done, and would be done,” Abela said.

He said the power outages were caused by climate change, which had made extreme temperatures more frequent and longer.

“That pushed up electricity demand to record levels, and also did not allow sufficient time for heat to dissipate around power cables.”

Another factor, he said, was digitalisation, automation and AI. Digitalisation. While these could reduce Malta’s demand for foreign workers, he pointed out digitalisation and AI needed considerable power supply.

Abela pledged his government will keep up its intensive investment in the distribution sector, adding he had told Enemalta to “accelerate its works as from this week”.

Police shooting: Justice within 'a reasonable time'

Abela said that it was during a meeting about the power cuts that he learnt of the shooting of two policemen on Friday. He expressed his solidarity with the injured police officers and the police force as a whole, and noted that the alleged shooter had been arraigned.

“What is important now is that justice is delivered within a reasonable time,” Abela said, adding that “justice delayed was an injustice itself”.

“The country could not have a repeat of a situation where another case involving an assault on a police officer was still awaiting its final outcome after eight years.”

Abela was referring to the case of traffic policeman Simon Schembri, who was hit by a car and dragged for several metres eight years ago.

The prime minister said he had visited police sergeant Johann Vella, who was critically injured on Friday, describing him as a friend of his.

“He was an exemplary officer, diligent in his duties,” Abela said.

He also underscored improvements introduced by the government for the police, including better pay and better equipment.

Thanks to recent legislation, he further pointed out, the man accused of the shooting, if convicted, would also be liable to a higher penalty as he had attacked a public officer.

Foreigners may be deported immediately

In his interview, the prime minister also pointed out that following the introduction of on-the spot fines for visitors, the principal migration officer, who is the police commissioner, has also been empowered to order the immediate deportation of tourists and other visitors, fined over €200, whose presence could be a risk to public order.

He also spoke on legislative proposals which would stop building works for as long as a development permit is contested.

PN is 'in a crisis of principles'

The prime minister hit out at the Opposition for walking out of parliament during the vote on the equality law, demanding consultation.

This bill, he said, was first announced in 2019 and it was published and handed to the opposition months ago.

“There had since been silence from the opposition,” Abela said, adding that the PN was “anti-equality”.

“Conservative elements are trumping common sense.This opposition did not believe in equal rights for everyone. And it was worth remembering that the current opposition leader had also voted against IVF legislation in the past.”

The PN, Abela said, is in a crisis of principles.