Enemalta’s double standards halt project

To describe Patrick Dalli as very irritated with Enemalta would be an understatement.

The utility service has literally stopped the flamboyant businessman’s supermarket project in its tracks, as he makes a bid to re-open the shop after taking it back from the doomed Price Club chain.

Mr Dalli told MaltaToday that he was anxious to reopen Carter’s supermarket in Paola and employ more people. But, he said, not only is he having to tackle a legacy of problems left by the Price Club debacle, he has also been blocked by Enemalta’s unfair and bizarre tactics.

The bone of contention is a Lm6,700 bill incurred by Price Club which Mr Dalli is refusing to pay on a question of principle.

"They never stopped the electricity for the Price Club even though they did not pay their bills and then when I took back my own premises and only after court proceedings against Price Club and just before I entered the premises did they decided to cut the electricity," he said.

Mr Dalli explained that he found it bizarre that Enemalta allowed the Price Club to accumulate electricity bills from 17 May until 7 September 2001 without taking any action.

"I find it even more bizarre that the Price Club’s electricity supply at Swatar has not been disconnected," he added. "Just take a look at the floodlighting at Swatar."

The supermarket owner also questioned why, after the court ruling in his favour against the Price Club, Enemalta chose to cut the electricity to his premises two days before the customary 20 working-day period when a defendant is allowed to appeal.

Mr Dalli said that he had over 20 members of staff waiting to re-open his supermarket, which bears the same name as the original store. The premises will eventually require a complement of 55 people.

He explained that the Price Club owed him five months in rental fees together with pending bills of exchange amounting to thousands of pounds.

He also pointed out that when he took the supermarket back, it was evident there had been no maintenance, while the lifts, freezers and soffits were in complete disrepair.

He has now taken the decision to ensure his prospective customers know exactly why the store remains closed, by putting wording on the supermarket window which states: "This establishment cannot be opened since Enemalta Corporation refuses to supply

electricity".