A statement issued by the Communist Party views the Government’s national energy policy as one that lacks social justice as it fails to address the increasing problem of ‘fuel poverty’.

“The rise in energy tariffs, especially on the basic consumption of gas and electricity is putting families in a precarious financial situation where in order to pay the energy bills their standard of living is being lowered. Last year a record number of old persons had to be hospitalised as they could not afford to heat their residence,” a spokesperson for the Party held.

The Communist Party once again appeals for a social policy with regards to domestic energy based on a study on the lines of the Caritas report to quantify the necessary basic amount of energy consumption needed by families. The Party insists that the basic consumption of energy should be safeguarded with a fixed reasonable rate, while waste of energy should be heavily penalised.

The party showed its disagreement with the Government’s policy regarding solar energy Farms as it is a vague policy that also lacks social justice. The Party believes that the state should invest in renewable energy from public funds, so that all families could benefit from this type of investment. To date the national policy on energy has discriminated against the have-nots.