€25 blackout compensation ‘to placate’ residents – PN

The €25 ex-gratia payment the government will be giving to some 8,000 households, who endured over 12 hours without electricity, is just “a payment to placate residents”, according to the PN.

In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, PN spokesman for the energy George Pullicino criticised the government for not compensating business “who suffered tens of thousands of euros in losses due to the blackout”.

The former resources minister said a blackout similar to last week’s hadn’t occurred in years and, therefore, the government shouldn’t discriminate between businesses and households.

“Government should compensate everyone’s damages. Discrimination between businesses and households is senseless, especially since losses suffered by businesses outweigh those endured by households,” Pullicino said.

According to Pullicino, the government must not embark on the easiest road by writing a €25 cheque to households just to placate residents.

“Residents are not bribed by €25 and if they are to be respected, they should be compensated for damages suffered,” he said.

He added that Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi should shoulder responsibility for appointing a number of persons at the top “who were not up to it during the blackout”.