The kind of Malta I want to live in is one where it is perfectly OK not to agree on which political party one supports: should being on opposite sides mean that we have to become hostile, vicious and unbelievably nasty?
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Wednesday, May 31, 2017
What kind of Malta do we want to live in?
As trump mulls leaving Paris climate deal, China and EU discuss alliance
Beijing and Brussels plan to set up new alliance to reduce global carbon emissions • EU climate commissioner: 'Now is the time to further strengthen these ties'
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EDITORIAL: VOTE CORRUPTION OUT
The four-week snap electoral campaign comes to an end today. People have had the opportunity to analyse and ponder on the stakes in this Saturday's ballot contest. One dominant issue of concern remained on people's minds throughout the campaign: corruption.
Both parties have showered voters with attractive proposals, but there is one very important electoral pledge which is coming only from one side of the divide: the removal of corrupt practices from the highest echelons of power.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is responsible for calling an election one year ahead of its time. The country's economy was blossoming. Though no major investment was attracted to the island during the past four years, the sectors inherited by this administration from Lawrence Gonzi's economically shrewd but politically weak government continued to bear fruit. That momentum would not have been stopped had the Prime Minister lived up to his 'Malta Tagħna Lkoll' 2013 electoral promise and sacked his Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi the moment the Panama Papers revealed that they had set up secret companies in Panama and the British Virgin Islands.
So much evidence and proof of their dealings came out in the span of a year, including the attempts to open bank accounts in which they promised to deposit at least one million euros each year. They never cared to explain how they intended to inject that much money from the salaries they each have as Minister and Chief of Staff. Yet the Prime Minister continued to defend his two closest allies while forgetting all those who worked with him in the past four years to generate the economic success he so fondly boasts about.
Cabinet ministers, Labour Party officials and supporters yearn to see these two politically exposed persons who are mired in corruption allegations out of the picture so they can continue to build on their vision for the country. Yet by now they know that their stubborn leader is hell bent on keeping these two on his team. This farce has sowed doubt in their minds: if Schembri and Mizzi are implicated in corruption then why not the Prime Minister himself? Why does he keep defending them following the four damning Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) reports leaked to the independent media?
Let us not forget that the FIAU investigated Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi on revelations of kickbacks for the sale of citizenship. Thanks to their financial guru and consultant to the Prime Minister Brian Tonna of NexiaBT, accounts for their secret companies have been opened in Pilatus Bank and thousands of euros were transferred from one company to the other without legitimacy. This has been established by the FIAU during a compliance visit it made with MFSA officials to Pilatus Bank.
Let's also not forget that another FIAU investigation found that money was successfully transferred in the two secret companies opened for Schembri and Mizzi via Dubai based company 17 Black, opened solely to be able to facilitate such transfers from the owners of the LNG tanker now situated in Marsaxlokk Bay, and possibly from the privatisation of Enemalta. NexiaBT was also responsible in opening a secret company in Panama to Cheng Chen, the Chinese negotiator for the privatisation of Enemalta.
The mounting evidence and FIAU reports leaked to this newspaper, and other media, led to magisterial inquiries. All magistrates are investigating Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri for money laundering and corruption while another is also investigating revelations by a whistle blower who worked at Pilatus Bank that the third Panamanian company, opened in secrecy by NexiaBT, is ultimately owned by none other than the Prime Minister's wife Michelle Muscat.
The Prime Minister has denied this throughout the campaign and even pledged to resign the moment it is established that Egrant Inc belongs to him or his family. But the Prime Minister needn't promise to resign over Egrant should he return to power this Sunday, because no one can believe such a pledge when he had the power to sack two of his closest political friends but failed to do so. Instead, he plodded along with them, defended them and ultimately called an election to try and save his and their skin.
During the past year, but most prominently in the past month, the Prime Minister avoided one-on-one interviews by the independent news platforms. This was a first, especially for a leader who courted the press heavily in the 2013 campaign. He ignored our repeated calls to appear on the INDEPTH series on independent.com.mt, he refused to go on the Broadcasting Authority's press conference, he declined interviews with The Malta Independent on Sunday and with The Sunday Times newspapers and he refused to go on RTK and newsbook.com. The only interview he went to was on Malta Today Managing Editor Saviour Balzan's show, where an Aperol-spritz or a Martini were the only missing props between two buddies sitting comfortably in each other's company, chit-chatting and tickling each other until the time was up and viewers were left none the wiser.
The Muscat government has been at war with sections of the independent media ever since the Panama Papers emerged. They loath freethinking journalists who dare stand up to their tactics. They tried to shut us up with subtle threats, they reduced the government's advertising budget in sections of the media that criticised them, and they tried to dangle fat contracts in an attempt to buy us out, but when all of this didn't stop the independent media from pointing out the hard facts, the spindoctors in Castile challenged our independence.
This newspaper has no affiliations with any political party and prides itself in being on the right side of history each time the national interest was at stake. We stood by Eddie Fenech Adami in favour of EU membership. We shared Lawrence Gonzi's determination to join the euro and we stood with Joseph Muscat in favour of divorce and lauded his efforts to introduce civil liberties. Now we feel we have to stand with Simon Busuttil and Marlene Farrugia against corruption.
Being independent does not make us indifferent. On Saturday 3rd June we urge the Maltese to vote corruption out.
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MaltaToday Survey | Labour 5 points ahead as ‘no replies’ increase
22% of respondents are either undecided or refuse to reveal their voting intentions up from 19% last week
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Analysis: Election Roundup – Day 30: An election unlike any other
This election will go down as one of the most anomalous we have had. The closest one to it is the one of 1987, when the country's fundamental rights of democracy, free expression and liberty were at stake. This time, Malta must decide between corruption and normality.
Simon Busuttil was right on the first day of the campaign. This is not an election between two parties offering different proposals for the electorate to choose from. It is an election on principles.
So much has been said and written in the past few weeks. We will have an election one year earlier than scheduled, one that was called in haste by a Prime Minister before an inquiry concerning him and his wife could be concluded. Since the campaign started, we have had two more inquiries launched, this time concerning his closest ally and, now we know, his closest friend, the OPM chief of staff. Only God knows what the inquiries will discover, and only God knows what else is out there waiting to surface. Many still argue that the election was called after four years because the prime minister fears the outcome of the investigation.
What is sure is that, whatever the result of the election, the suspicions will not go away on Sunday. Having the Prime Minister, in the words of the Opposition Leader, at the centre of a criminal investigation is unprecedented. No other head of government has been put in this embarrassing and shameful situation. We've had good prime ministers and less good prime ministers, but Joseph Muscat will be remembered, come what may, as the prime minister who was investigated by a magistrate while in office.
It has become the norm of the day to come across news that puts the Prime Minister and people close to him in bad light. Yesterday we had the news that there were plans to try to muzzle the media with multiple libel suits, a story that did not elicit any reaction from the government. We have come to almost expect that there is some revelation every day. But we should never allow ourselves to become immune to this state of affairs.
Prime Minister Muscat has gone from blaming a blogger to blaming his political adversary to blaming to Russians for the situation he brought onto himself. He has resorted to attacking the Leader of the Opposition on a personal level, seeing that he was losing ground. He has kept away from the media that could ask him the hard questions, and only chose to accept invitations from those media house that are friendly. Yesterday, he even chose not to announce a visit to a company mired in allegations of precarious work, simply because he wanted to steer clear of the media.
The normal activities linked with the campaign pale into oblivion when compared to the magnitude of what else is taking place around us. The political leaders continue to move from one event to another, and this short campaign has passed by in a flash, but the overriding issue remains how this country will emerge from the current crisis.
The Prime Minister went to Gozo to tell his supporters that he wants to increase employment in Gozo. But Gozo Minister Anton Refalo failed to give answers to our questions on how jobs were given with the ministry and Gozo Channel on the eve of the election.
PN Leader Simon Busuttil said he would void the entire Vitals Global Healthcare contract should investigations verify the allegations concerning a VGH consultant's payments within Pilatus Bank. He also pledged to remove the LNG gas tanker from the middle of Marsaxlokk Bay.
Weeks after Joseph Muscat made false allegations in relation to the rental of PN offices, the European Parliament yesterday confirmed that MEPs are in fact allowed to rent office space from national political parties, putting to bed another desperate lie spun by Joseph Muscat as he kicked off the campaign in Malta, the Nationalist Party said. It is yet another statement that got no reply from Labour.
The final leaders' debate on TV was mostly an anti-climax. The PM timidly tried to reply to the clear accusations of corruption made by Busuttil, but we all know who is on the right side.
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Busuttil and Muscat face off in an uneventful and timid final leaders' debate
In a Leader's debate that presented nothing new, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat focused on his government's proposals and economic performance, while his counterpart PN Leader Simon Busuttil stuck to his strong anti-corruption message.
When facing the allegations, Dr Muscat continuously deflected from the now-published damning FIAU reports on his chief of staff Keith Schembri choosing to focus on the Egrant inquiry, once again repeating his call for Dr Busuttil to resign should the initial inquiry yield no results.
Dr Busuttil, on the other hand, by tactically focusing on the corruption allegations, failed to properly translate his party's electoral manifesto.
In a timid affair, the PN Leader began by emphasising that Joseph Muscat was forced to call an early election in spite of winning by the "largest majority this country has ever seen."
"All because his government is plagued by corruption."
Appealing to the electorate, Dr Busuttil said that on Saturday the country had one clear choice, to either vote for honesty and integrity or "a Prime Minister who is under criminal investigation, a chief of staff who is under two criminal investigation."
Referencing the number of allegations revealed by The Malta Independent and The Times of Malta, Dr Busuttil said that " the Prime Minister closed his eyes to corruption, to theft, of our passports, our visas, the LNG tanker, Enemalta, and now even VGH."
The Prime Minister responded by assertively stating that the Opposition was obsessed with negative attacks, such as corruption, and could not see any positives in the country.
"It annoys people. I am not saying we have a perfect government, but everyone knows that our country is much better than it was four years ago."
He criticised the "campaign of fear and intimidation with the financial services and iGaming sectors", claiming that a new iGaming company 'Skybet' had just begun setting up offices in the country.
"Dr Muscat said he was not perfect and made mistakes," Dr Busuttil retorted," I am the same, but there is a difference, you planned this from beforehand."
"The Panamanian companies were opened in 2013, straight after PL had got elected. This is not a mistake but a plan, with criminal intentions."
Repeating his anti-corruption stance, the PN Leader hammered on the FIAU reports on Keith Schembri.
"This is the PM's best friend. If he goes down, the PM has to go down with him."
Dr Busuttil published the details of the FIAU reports on Pilatus Bank and Keith Schembri during last week's debate on Xarabank.
"Pilatus is a washing machine of money laundering," he said.
Pointing to the gaming sector, Dr Busuttil began quoting text messages he had received concerning the uncertainty of a number of large gaming company.
"They have a plan A or a plan B which depends on the election. Plan A is if Joseph Muscat gets elected, they will leave on Monday; Plan B would be to give the PN 3 months to sort out the situation. This is the level of danger Muscat has put the country in."
Dr Muscat mocked his counterpart telling him "you come here with texts, and I come here with an igaming company."
"He seems to enjoy playing with cards, like a poker player who is bluffing."
He said that there were indeed facts about corruption.
"We put in legislation for political party financing. The PL have presented their accounts, where are PN's? In a situation when he issued invoices to launder money into his political party."
The PL Leader went on to say that Dr Busuttil would be elected on a lie and maintained that this "was an attack not only against me and my wife, but against our country"
Dr Busuttil said he agreed that damage had been done to our country on the international stage, but said it was the Prime Minister's inability to tackle corruption which caused.
Turning to Dr Muscat's claims that he would resign if the allegations surrounding Egrant were proved correct, Dr Busutiil said that if this were the case the PM would have removed Schembri and Mizzi a year ago.
"Egrant does exist. It belongs to someone so important that it could only be passed through a Skype call. Who can be more important than Schembri and Mizzi? First it was Brian Tonna, then it was DCG, then I invented, and then it was Russia."
Focusing on his manifesto, Dr Muscat said that the PL have a clear and concrete plans that would cost 220 million a year, and add stimulus to the economy, while PN's would cost with 1.3 billion a year with vague costings.
He said that Dr Busuttil did not come to the debate with one argument or fact, and had "closed his mouth, ears, and eyes to DB and Fenech Adami"
Turning to PD Leader Marlene Farrugia, the PM said that he will not be able to control and would lead to massive instability.
He said that Simon Busuttil would not be capable to run a one-seat majority parliament.
"He has no idea how to run the economy, he makes basic mistakes on calculations."
The PN Leader replied by saying that it was Muscat's government that was unstable as it had to end before the completion of the legislature.
On the surplus, Dr Busuttil said that he had stated the PN was prophetic when the PN's 2013 manifesto said the country would reach a surplus in 2016.
"You even admitted that you had found a strong economy, we will create six new sectors, and strengthen our economy so it can benefit everyone."
"He praises closing the HFO plant, but he could only do it because he found the BWSC power plant and the inter connector."
He closed by saying that he promised that honest politics will become the foundation of the government.
The PM retorted by saying "That is the difference between you and me. You write, and I do."
He closed by listing a number of achievements by his government in a number of fields, emphasising the importance of his government in moving the country forward.
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[WATCH] Muscat and Busuttil’s final TV slog, a picture of the leadership they offer
Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat and Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil tonight faced off in a televised debate that reinforced the opposing narratives that voters are called to decide upon
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[LIVE] Joseph Muscat addressess Labour supporters in Fgura
Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat address party supporters in a public meeting in Fgura
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European Commission, Parliament congratulate Maltese ECOFIN Presidency
Both the European Commission and the European Parliament have congratulated the Maltese Presidency of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of the EU (ECOFIN), after having overseen the successful closure of seven legislative files during the past five months.
Minister for Finance Prof. Edward Scicluna, who is the current ECOFIN President, said that Malta succeeded in positively-surprising the EU through the results achieved and the compromises brokered, many of which were thought of being unachievable for the EU's smallest member state. In spite of the current wave of negative, and fake, news promoted by the Opposition, in reality Malta is not only fully compliant with EU rules and regulations, but at the forefront in promoting better regulation of the EU financial sector.
With regards to securitisation, which is one of the main elements in the EU's plan to develop a fully-functioning Capital Market Union by the end of 2019, Minister Scicluna said that the agreement is intended to provide a boost for the EU's securitisation market "by providing clear and transparent rules which also minimise risks, thus allowing for EU citizens and entrepreneurs to benefit from secure and accessible loans."
The other file regards the European Venture Capital (EuVECA) and European Social Entrepreneurship Funds (EuSEF) legislation, in respect to both banking and capital markets, which is indispensable for European SMEs to grow and develop. This regulation will help stimulate market financing, and thereby boost economic growth.
Minister Scicluna said that the Maltese Presidency also succeeded in securing an agreement whereby the European Investment Bank will be able to increase its lending to projects outside the EU aimed at addressing migration issues by €3 billion for the 2014-2020 period. "The plan sets out to tackle the root causes of migration, helping the beneficiary countries to achieve the sustainable development goals," said the Minister.
The Finance Minister also referred to taxation files which were successfully closed by the Maltese Presidency, namely with regards to Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive II (ATADII), the Dispute Resolutions Mechanism, blacklisting of non-cooperative jurisdictions and Anti-Money Laundering Directive.
With respect to ATADII, Minister Scicluna explained that the new regulations will close down any hybrid mismatches created in order to exploit loopholes in international tax agreements. Thus, multinational companies will no longer be able to play one jurisdiction against another with the aim of eliminating their tax bills.
Another important file which was closed lately regards Double Taxation Dispute, which will provide for mandatory and binding arbitration mechanisms. This mechanism is aimed at eliminating economic distortions and inefficiencies in cross-border investments, said Minister Scicluna.
Thanks to another file which was successfully closed by the Maltese Presidency, a union programme will be established in order to support specific NGO activities, enhancing the involvement of consumers and other financial services end-users in Union policy making in the field of financial services.
Minister Scicluna said that Malta has shown that it can punch well above its weight, thanks to its hard working and competent officers based both in Malta and Brussels. These have succeeded in mustering the massive workload involved in a presidency, and carried out their work with efficiency.
Furthermore, he said, the Presidency's work continued normally, in spite of the current electoral campaign. Minister Scicluna said that thanks to the Presidency, Malta has shown that it is a successful economy which is at the forefront of promoting legislation that guarantees fairer trade and combats tax evasion and avoidance.
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Marlene Farrugia to file police report after Facebook threats
Partit Demokratiku Leader Marlene Farrugia said she will file a police report after threats she received on Facebook.
A post she uploaded on Facebook shows that she was threatened by a man named Chris Scerri.
Scerri wrote that "God forbid that I am your brother and be careful how you address Labourites." He then goes on to threaten to use the torch – symbol of the Labour Party – to "burn your mouth and I will not take it off your throat until the flame fizzles out".
Dr Farrugia urged the police to take action via her post on Facebook, and will be filing a police report later.
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[LIVE] PN holds political activity in San Gwann
PN leader Simon Busuttil addresses political activity in San Gwann
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Live: Thousands gather for Joseph Muscat’s mass meeting in Gozo
Three days before the general election, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat takes his campaign to Gozo. The Labour Party leader is addressing the thousands who gathered for the penultimate mass meeting during this election campaign.
You can watch the event live here below:
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PN leader denounces Labour video as desperate attempt by Muscat
Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil this evening denounced a video doing the rounds on the social media, which he described as a desperate attempt of a prime minister who is "drowning in corruption".
In a short statement, Busuttil said "I do not know nor am I personally related to anyone by the name of the William Robert Busuttil. Neither have I ever received any estate by way of inheritance or any documents pertaining to any such inheritance. The video being circulated by social media channels of Partit Laburista is clearly one big lie from start to finish. It is an act of desperation by Joseph Muscat who is drowning in corruption and now fears losing power after just four years in office."
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[LIVE] Supporters turn up in Xaghra for Labour mass meeting
After visiting the Comino family, Prime Minister and Labour leader Joseph Muscat is set to address a mass meeting in Xaghra, Gozo
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Live: Simon Busuttil addresses a political event in San Gwann
This evening, Nationalist Party Leader Simon Busuttil will address a political event in San Gwann as part of his campaign titled 'I Choose Malta'.
We are currently in the last week of the electoral campaign, leading up to a snap general election on 3 June.
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FAA criticises permission to demolish Zebbug, Gozo farmhouse
Despite having received over 500 objections from residents and eNGOs, the Planning Authority today approved the demolition of a traditional farmhouse right in the village core of the Zebbug Square, Gozo, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar noted this evening.
According to the FAA, "The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage ignored residents and eNGOs warnings and made no efforts to oppose this development."
Constructed in the vernacular style with timber beams and stone slab ceilings, and an arched loggia, this building should have been protected under current planning policies. In fact, because of its village core status the Planning Authority could have barely allowed changes to the facade, let alone approve its complete demolition.
"If rehabilitated this farmhouse would have been a unique chance for tourists to experience real Maltese architecture. Instead, the developers will demolish it and replace it with small concrete rooms masked with a fake facade, giving tourists nothing more than a cheap imitation.
"The Planning Authority keeps affirming its apparent determination to ruin Malta with each decision taken, and now with little left to demolish here, the same faith seems to have been decided for Gozo. It is shameful that with such destructive decisions they can still claim to have the nations interest at heart."
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Trawler captain, crew, win €21,900 claim over unpaid salaries
The owners of the Cyrpus-flagged vessel, which appears to be the same trawler that was gutted by fire in 2015, argued that the salaries had been paid well in advance
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Counting of votes to start at 10am on Sunday
Electoral Commission says that polling booths will allow assistant commissioners to verify that no photographs are taken while voting
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PD lays out plans for constitutional reform
Partit Demokratiku publishes plans for constitutional reform in an attempt to improve good governance
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Disgraces Lawyer Patrick Spiteri arraigned in court this morning
Patrick Spiteri, a former lawyer who was disbarred and is wanted on charges of fraud, misappropriation of funds and falsification of documents has finally been extradited to Malta and is expected to spend the next few weeks in custody.
Mr Spiteri appeared before two magistrates today while under arrest. He was extradited from Surrey, where he has been residing, to face charges of fraud and misappropriating some €7.4 million.
Media reports say that Mr Spiteri was arrested in the UK just yesterday due to the seven European Arrest Warrants against him. This is the third attempt by Maltese authorities to bring Mr Spiteri back. He had escaped from custody the first time, and on the second occasion he resisted being extradited on the basis that he had a medical condition.
It has been reported that he was successfully transferred to Malta while being accompanied by a doctor and officers, and was declared fit to stand trial.
He appeared before Magistrates Josette Demicoli and Consuelo Scerri Herrera over the various cases against him. He has a separate case pending before Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona and Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech. It has been reported that Magistrate Frendo Dimech will be recusing herself after having prosecuted against him in her role as deputy attorney general in the past.
Lawyer Stefano Filletti will be defending Mr Spiteri, and asked both magistrates to provide him with some time to get acquainted with the cases. Magistrate Scerri Herrera upheld the request, after giving a stern warning. Bail has not been requested in either sitting, and Police inspector Ian Abdilla is prosecuted.
Mr Spiteri had been living permanently in the UK since January of 2014. He resided in a €4 million country estate.
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Trump ‘set to pull out of Paris climate deal’
Reports suggest that the US will join Syria and Nicargua as the world's only non-participants in the landmark Paris climate accord
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Independent media not invited for PM opening of Playmobil extension
After recording the Broadcasting Authority Debate against PN Leader Simon Busuttil, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat visited Playmobil Malta to inaugurate an investment, however the independent media were not invited to attend.
The Malta Independent recently published revelations regarding cheap payments to subcontractors, which has led to individuals getting less than half the minimum wage, with some earning as little €1.90 per hour.
Well-informed and trusted sources, who came forward as a matter of conscience, informed the newsroom that Playmobil Malta currently employs 22 subcontractors on the island. Documents indicate that each subcontractor is hired to assemble products for the company at a rate of €3.99 per hour. Sources claim that the subcontractor, in order to make a profit and meet the ambitious targets set out by the company, then employs Maltese people who are paid between €1.90 and €2.00 per hour and work from home, a clear violation of employment laws by subjecting individuals to precarious conditions of work.
Government institutions have thus far ignored questions sent about this issue. PN Leader Simon Busuttil has said that, as a matter of principle, an investigation should be launched immediately.
The Prime Minister also opted not to hold his daily press conference today.
According to reports on One News, Playmobil Malta will expand its factory through a €44 million investment which will also create 200 new jobs.
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European Parliament ‘proves Joseph Muscat lied’ – PN
Weeks after Joseph Muscat made false allegations in relation to the rental of PN offices, the European Parliament today confirmed that MEPs are in fact allowed to rent office space from national political parties, putting to bed another desperate lie spun by Joseph Muscat as he kicked off the campaign in Malta, the Nationalist Party said in a statement.
Joseph Muscat knew the truth and deliberately lied. Again, in a conceited effort to mislead the voting public, the PN said.
Speaking to the international press, European Parliament spokeswoman Marjory van den Broeke said "An MEP may indeed rent an office from a national political party, provided certain conditions are respected and the rent is at market price, in order to prevent an indirect financing of the national party. Renting an office is one of the expenditures covered by the General Expenditure Allowance."
All PN MEPs rent local constituency offices from Media.Link at market prices, respecting all conditions set out by the Parliament and have always made public their audited accounts, line-by-line every year for everyone to see. Every cent is accounted for, publically accessible and has always been certified as being used in compliance with European Parliament rules.
PN Head of Delegation David Casa said: "This was an issue that, despite the sad lies of Joseph Muscat, was never in any doubt and just goes to show how far Joseph Muscat is willing to go to mislead voters. I am pleased that the truth has come out before the election allowing voters to weigh the facts before choosing who will lead our nation in the next legislature. Despite the clear, black on white evidence, I would not hold my breath on Joseph Muscat admitting his lies and issuing an apology."
Joseph Muscat has failed to give any account of why, in his time as MEP, with a 20,000Euro a month allowance, he only employed one person, the PN said.
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MEPs using allowances to rent offices from themselves
Dozens of MEPs are paying their national political parties from their expenses allowance, and only 133 of the EP's 748 members were willing to disclose documents on how they spent the money
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MaltaToday Survey | Labour voters more likely to attend mass meetings
While 39% of respondents who will be voting for Labour in the next election attend mass meetings, only 29% of PN voters do likewise
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28-year-old Somali national charged with attempted murder is remanded in custody
A 28-year-old man charged with attempting to stab another man to death was remanded in custody.
Mustafa Ahmed Mohamed, who resides in Marsaskala appeared before Magistrate Monica Vella this morning facing charges related to the attempted homicide of Mursal Aden Diriye.
Police inspector Jeffrey Scicluna told the court that Diriye was certified as having suffered grievous injuries when he was stabbed multiple times with a sharp and pointed instrument at Xatt il-Mollijiet in Marsa on 24 March.
Mohamed was also charged with grievous bodily harm, breaching public piece and carrying a knife in public.
Defence lawyer Martin Fenech appeared for the accused who pleaded not guilty. Bail was denied and the Somali national was remanded in custody.
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PM, Schembri ‘colluded’ with Henley in media threat plan, used unofficial email addresses
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, his right hand man Keith Schembri and Justice Minister Owen Bonnici colluded with Henley and Partners in the latter's attempt to threaten the press and stop it from writing against the controversial passport-for-sale scheme, information published by Daphne Caruana Galizia purports to show.
This was made public in an email Mrs Caruana Galizia sent to Joseph Muscat, Keith Schembri, Owen Bonnici, IIP CEO Jonathan Cardona and Christian Kalin, group chairman of Henley & Partners. The letter was also copied to the Leader of the Opposition, to editors at The Malta Independent, the Times of Malta, Malta Today and LovinMalta, and to Emma Woolcott and Harry Eccles-Williams at Mishcon de Reya, the law firm used by Henley.
The blogger revealed that the four government officials opted to use @josephmuscat.com email addresses, rather than their official @gov.mt address.
"I have in my possession evidence, in the form of email exchanges between the addressees of this message, that Henley & Partners' threat/decision to sue me in the UK courts was taken on instruction from, and in collusion with you, the Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, his chief of staff, Keith Schembri, and the Justice Minister, Owen Bonnici," she wrote.
She claimed that Mr Kalin, following a meeting with the Justice Minister, outlined "a plan under which letters designed to intimidate with the threat of a financially ruinous and extremely cumbersome law suit in the "UK courts" were to be sent to me, to the Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi, and to 'three media houses' in an attempt at dissuading us from further scrutiny of Henley & Partners and its opaque and damaging activities in Malta."
The plan was then put past the Owen Bonnici and Jonathan Cardona "for their approval" and was also forwarded to the PM and Keith Schembri. The PM replied with "I don't object" and Keith Schembri said: "Thanks, Chris. This looks good. Very kind regards."
At some point the decision was taken to drop the idea to threaten the media houses and Dr Azzopardi and focus solely on Mrs Caruana Galizia "with a barrage of letters and emails from Mishcon de Reya."
Mrs Caruana Galizia says the government officials chose to use unofficial email addresses "given that these are the addresses which you use for your illicit and highly unethical negotiations and correspondence with Henley & Partners and others."
She also commented on the level of familiarity shown by Mr Kalin with regard to the Prime Minister, calling him by his first name, but points out that the emails were addressed to "Keith, Joseph" in that order of precedence.
She also accused those involved of using their unofficial emails "to keep the exchanges from being part of official government records as they should be."
The journalist also revealed that she went before Magistrate Aaron Bugeja this morning, who is leading the Egrant Inc/Pilatus Bank inquiry, and informed him that the PM, his chief of staff, the Justice Minister and the chief of Malta's Sale of Citizenship Scheme are all using @josephmuscat.com addresses "for their illicit exchanges concerning Henley & Partners." This, she said, would indicate that "they are doing the same in their other (nefarious) plots."
"I also suggested that he should act immediately to gain investigatory access to the josephmuscat.com email server as he will probably find many of the answers he is looking for there."
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Man charged with attempted murder over Marsa stabbing
Ahmed Mohamed remanded in custody after being charged with attempting to stab another man to death.
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2017 election: 341,856 registered voters, counting to start at 10am on Sunday
341,856 registered voters are eligible to vote in this general election, Electoral Commission Chairman Joseph Church said this afternoon during a press conference. 169,352 are men and 171,904 are women.
Mr Church said that until Tuesday evening, 10,361 eligible voters had not yet picked up their voting document and voters have till Thursday at midnight to collect it.
The Electoral Chairman said that voting will take place on Thursday in the all hospitals: Mater Dei, Karen Grech, St Luke's, Mount Carmel and Gozo hospital.
Last Saturday 4,173 went to cast their vote since they will be abroad this Saturday. Early voting also took place at St Vincent de Paule home for the elderly, where 671 out of 860 eligible voters cast their preference. Other elderly people in homes also voted, for a total of 2,713 out of 4,250 eligible voters.
In this election 3,570 Assistant Commissioners and other helping staff will be involved in the electoral process.
The voting on Saturday will be from 7am to 10pm. The boxes sealed after the closure of the voting process will be taken to the Naxxar counting hall. Once the boxes arrive, they will be opened and votes will be sorted and turned face down.
Mr Church said on Sunday at 10am the counting of the votes starts.
Louis Fsadni, an election expert within the commission, said that various measures have been taken to reduce the possibility of mistakes during the counting process. Supervisors and counting agents will be constantly monitored by cctv cameras. The equipment will also be able to record the footage taken live.
Mr Fsadni said that polling booths in this election are made of cardboard and will allow assistant commissioners to see that voters in the booth will not take any pictures with mobile phones or any other equipment, since this is against the law.
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[WATCH] Election Chat • What are the polls saying?
With Election Day only three days away, MaltaToday's senior journalist and pollster James Debono discusses the latest survey results in the latest edition of Election Chat
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2017 election will be last one with manual counting
The 2017 election will be the last election in which votes are counted manually, Louis Fsadni, a veteran of 10 general elections and part of the team overseeing the electoral process, said today.
Speaking to the media during a visit to the counting hall in Naxxar, Mr Fsadni said that as from the MEP election scheduled for 2019, the counting process will be done electronically.
The system will then be used again the following year for the local council elections before being used for the first time in the general election in 2022.
Mr Fsadni said that the Electoral Commission has issued a call for tenders for the provision of scanners and other equipment that is needed for the counting to take place electronically.
The electronic counting will replace the manual counting which takes up to three full days for the process to be completed. The single-transferable vote system used in Malta is a complicated method that sees the transferring of votes from one candidate to another, and sometimes hours have to pass between one count and another.
The electronic counting process will reduce the process by a long time, possible leading to the conclusion within 24 hours of the end of the voting process.
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Sicilian jailed for 80 months over 2015 armed robbery
Two Sicilian men accused of theft aggravated by violence and holding a weapon without a licence
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General Election – 3rd June, 2017: collection of voting documents
The Electoral Commission notifies that Thursday, 1st June, 2017, is the last day in which voting documents may be collected from the Electoral Commission's Office at the Naxxar Counting Complex (Ex-Trade Fair Grounds, opposite the football ground) and from the Identity Cards Office, 28A, St. Francis Square, Victoria, Gozo, for voters registered in Gozo. Office hours for Thursday shall be from 8.00 am to 2.00 pm and from 3.00 pm till midnight. Any person collecting the voting document must call personally at the Electoral Commission's Office to collect it from the Electoral Commissioners. These voters have to present their identity card. No other document will suffice for this purpose.
The Electoral Commission is providing facilities to sick persons who are unable to go out of a private car when calling at the Electoral Office so that a Commissioner delivers the document to them.
According to law, no voting documents may be printed, collected or delivered on 2nd and 3rd June, 2017.
Without a voting document no one shall be allowed to vote on polling day.
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General Election – June, 2017: voting documents of hospital patients
The Electoral Commission appeals to relatives of voters recovering in Mater Dei, Karen Grech, Mount Carmel and Gozo General Hospitals (who were registered as patients up to 6.00 pm of Monday, 29th May), that if they are in possession of the patient's voting document, they are to immediately consign the said document to the patient to enable him/her to vote at the Hospital on Thursday, 1st June.
Whoever holds a voting document pertaining to another person would effectively be denying the person's right to vote, in breach of the law, which states that a "...person who is in unlawful possession of any voting document.... shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine (multa) or to imprisonment or to both such fine and imprisonment" (Art. 112, Cap. 354).
The Electoral Commission notifies that when such cases arise, the Police authorities will be asked to intervene.
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Director of Victim Support Malta Roberta Lepre resigns after nine years
Victim Support Malta director Roberta Lepre is serving her last day with the organisation, after nine years of dedicated work on improving the lives of victims.
Victim Support Malta is an independent non-profit organisation with the aim of assisting victims of crime through the criminal justice system. Dr Lepre is an established criminal lawyer and made the announcement of her stepping down as director via social media. She wrote:
"Today marks my last day serving as Director of VSM. Over the past nine years, I have worked relentlessly to give victims of crima a stronger voice and to demand that their rights are upheld and that they are supported in a dignified manner. Things have started improving a little, but much more needs to be done.
"I am proud to say that VSM is now a strong orginsation which can carry on working towards this important mission. I thank all my collaborators but most of all the victims themselves, who taught me so much."
The reason for her departure is currently not known.
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Saturday election outcome hinges on the ‘undecided’
Surveys published during the weekend confirm that a majority of decided voters are opting for the PL but all surveys contain a high percentage of undecided or no replies, ranging from MaltaToday's 19% to the Sunday Times's 29.5%
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Million-euro Super 5 jackpot during election week
One of Malta's favourite lottery games, the Super 5, has once again reached the €1 million jackpot prize
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AD urges electorate to reject system ‘awarding strong lobbies’
Alternattiva Demokratika urges electorate to keep in mind the protection of public land when voting next Saturday
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[ANALYSIS] Turf wars in the 2017 election
Who are the most strategic categories of voters who can provide a path to victory to Labour or PN? James Debono asks
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Alternattiva Demokratika pledges to protect public land
During a press conference in Sliema AD Chairperson, Arnold Cassola, said: "We have to protect our public land.The land belongs to our children and grandchildren and we have no right to sell it off. The MIDI project in Tigne' is a perfect example of how things should not be done. There were supposed to be four squares in the original project. We have been left with only one and an immense concrete slum, that is aesthetically nauseating, whilst also ruining the World Heritage Valletta skyline. We must ensure that these ghastly mistakes are not repeated with the proposed high rises in Town Square and Fort Cambridge. The residents in Sliema, Qui Si Sana and Tigne' deserve to breathe clean air, enjoy open spaces and traffic free zones".
Danika Formosa, candidate on the 9th and 10th districts, said: "The residents in Gzira are also being buried under a number of projects which include unsustainable highrises. They have been deprived of a part of the Gzira coast which is going to be privatised for the benefit of four hotels in the area. This is not on. The people of Sliema and Gzira deserve to have a green lung where they can enjoy some open spaces and fresh air free from the building frenzy and congestion that is always on the increase. Alternattiva Demokratika is proposing that since the MIDI developers have not adhered to the terms of their contract, Manoel Island should be returned to the state, who should then declare it as a car free national park for one and all to enjoy".
Marc' Andrea Cassar, AD candidate on the 1st district, further stated:"Both the PN and the PL were in favour of giving Manoel Island to MIDI. Nowadays, everyone understands the impact of such a short sighted decision. Likewise, the development in Tigne should have included a number of public squares. Instead, there is now only one public square, and many flats!" Unfortunately, things have not changed. The PN and PL's electoral generosity has now even led certain land owners in Bahrija to request their land to be listed as adevelopment zone."
"This system which awards strong lobbies must be resisted and rejected. The strongest message you can give is through voting for consistency and credibility – Vote Green, Vote Clean."
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Only five of 17 visits to China by Konrad Mizzi made public
The revelations in the latest of reports complied by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU), which were leaked to The Malta Independent, show that former Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi travelled to China 17 times in the span of two years in the run up of the privatisation of Enemalta. However, an exercise conducted by this newspaper shows that only five visits of the seventeen were made public.
In a report that is not yet concluded the FIAU extracted information from Minister Mizzi's credit card transactions and found that he travelled to China 17 times out of public funds. A thorough analysis of DOI's press releases and reports in the media shows that the public was informed only five times out of these 17, according to information that is in the public domain. The first one was PR1897 issued on 11 September 2013 when Minister Mizzi travelled to China to sign a memorandum of understanding.
The DOI only informed the public of another official visit by Dr Mizzi to China a full year later, on 12 October 2014, when it announced that Minister Mizzi travelled to the country to finalise the share transfer transaction. The next visit to China intercepted by the media was in January 2015, when the Chinese State press revealed that he was on an official visit there.
In August 2015 an Enemalta board meeting was held in China, which Dr Mizzi attended, but it was only in April 2016 that the Times revealed that it had taken place. Later on, in June 2016, the DOI announced that Minister Mizzi travelled to China for talks with Shanghai Electric.
In its report the FIAU said that "on the basis of information obtained through Dr Konrad Mizzi's credit card activity, Dr Mizzi travelled to China 17 times during the period 10/09/2013 to 24/03/2016. It was noted that despite having family in China, he stayed in hotels for at least 16 of these trips.
The FIAU also said in its report that no transactions were noted on MrMizzi's accounts in relation to the purchase of flight tickets. The FIAU said that the volume of trips to China at a time when Malta and China were already signing deals in relation to Enemalta raised suspicion.
Attempts to establish the number of times Minister Mizzi travelled to China were also made in Parliament. Despite being asked at least 3 times to list his travels to China Minister Konrad Mizzi avoided answering the question. In fact there are at least 3 Parliamentary Questions on the subject: PQ17565, PQ24004 and PQ17774. The answer to these PQs excluded the travel arrangements of the Minister himself.
In the meantime the FIAU report, extracts of which were leaked to The Malta Independent by a source, also revealed that Konrad Mizzi travelled to Dubai twice on official business. This was confirmed by this newsroom in DOI PR 160260 issued on 9 February 2016 and in PR 162632 issued on 23 November 2016
The FIAU investigation found that 17 Black is a company registered in Dubai created for the purpose of transferring money to Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri through their respective Panama companies Hearnville and Tillgate. The unit confirmed that money was transferred to 17 Black, whose function was to transfer money to the Panama companies belonging to the Energy Minister at the time as well as the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff on July 23, 2015.
Furthermore, although Dr Mizzi repeatedly claimed that he never gave the go-ahead for the opening of a bank account, the FIAU discovered that he travelled to Dubai for this purpose. Dr Mizzi in fact travelled to Dubai so as to present documentation to the bank in person.
The unit also confirmed attempts to open a bank account when Dr Mizzi granted a power of attorney in which he gave absolute discretionary powers to Karl Cini and Brian Tonna of Nexia BT to carry out any actions necessary with the set up of the Trust structure which included the Panama company and related bank account. This includes the authorisation to sign all the necessary documents.
When replying to questions in front of the PANA committee, DrMizzi flatly denied he had authorised his financial advisors to open the bank account. He toldfrom The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2rE5ZAN
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The future of our children at stake - Therese Comodini Cachia
Next Saturday all of us need to make a decision. We have to decide on the state of the country we want to live in.
We have three Magisterial inquiries going on at the moment and also another investigation from FIAU, regarding the LNG tanker. These inquiries undermine Malta's reputation as a country that can attract further new investments.
With the future of our children at stake, the importance of the choice we will make next Saturday is more crucial.
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Malta retains third lowest unemployment rate in EU
Malta had the third lowest unemployment rate in the European Union in April, data published by the EU's statistical agency shows.
Eurostat said the unemployment rate in Malta in April stood at 4.1%, placing after Germany (3.9%) and the Czech Republic (3.2%).
The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 9.3%, down from 9.4% in March 2017 and down from 10.2% in April 2016. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since March 2009.
The EU28 unemployment rate was 7.8% in April 2017, down from 7.9% in March 2017 and from 8.7% in April 2016. This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since December 2008.
Eurostat estimates that 19.121 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 15.040 million in the euro area, were unemployed in April 2017. Compared with March 2017, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 253,000 in the EU28 and by 233,000 in the euro area. Compared with April 2016, unemployment fell by 2.225 million in the EU28 and by 1.529 million in the euro area.
The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (23.2% in February 2017) and Spain (17.8%).
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Patrick Spiteri extradited to Malta on €7.4 million fraud, appears in court
Tax lawyer and financial advisor Patrick Spiteri, wanted on several fraud and misappropriation charges worth €7.4 million, has been finally extradited to Malta
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I will void entire VGH contract if alleged Pilatus Bank payments are verified - Simon Busuttil
PN Leader Simon Busuttil said he would void the entire Vitals Global Healthcare contract should investigations verify the allegations concerning a VGH consultant's payments within Pilatus Bank, at a press conference in Marsaxlokk.
Responding to a question from The Malta Independent, Dr Busuttil said "If the deal is tainted then the whole contract should be removed," Dr Busuttil
The Times of Malta have alleged that they have been provided with documents indicating that VGH consultant Asad Shukat Ali received tens of thousands of euros in payments in a Pilatus Bank account.
A couple of weeks ago a damning report reached The Malta Independent from a source who worked closely with Pilatus Bank indicating that there was an FIAU investigation into Pilatus Bank on dubious accounts held for Politically Exposed Persons in Malta and Azerbaijan.
The source who backed up the claims with documents from the bank said that "In one particular bank account, the equivalent of approximately €1,000,000 was transferred into an account classified as high-risk from the bank account of a third party. No documentary evidence was recorded on file on the origin of the funds. Furthermore, this third party made a number of other significant deposits to different bank accounts pertaining to companies owned by the same UBOs (PEPs in a high risk jurisdiction) within a short period of time."
The documents also stated that the lack of transparency within the bank "clearly reveals that the bank is being exposed to very high risks of Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism (ML/FT) without basic mitigating measures being applied."
Referencing the allegations into PM's chief of staff Keith Schembri, Minister without Portfolio Konrad Mizzi, and Nexia BT Owner Brian Tonna, Dr Busuttil said that "Pilatus Bank was the common denominator."
Barts Medical School
Dr Busuttil was asked to clarify how he intended to renationalise the Gozo General Hospital but keep Barts Medical School if both projects form part of the same VGH contract.
The PN Leader maintained that the projects were separate from one another, and maintained that he was not against private investment, but was against the privatisation of the only public hospital in Gozo.
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Editorial - Interview no-shows: See how they run
The Prime Minister has declined in fact an invitation to be interviewed on the Independent's INDEPTH. He has also not showed up for a Times Talk interview.
At the same time he has criss-crossed Malta a dozen times and meets people by their thousands at the mammoth PL mass meetings.
At many of his press events, the Prime Minister is normally surrounded by journalists who tend to ask him all sorts of questions, usually not related to the subject of the press conference.
So it cannot be that the Prime Minister is scared of being asked questions or that the short election campaign he has triggered has exhausted him. Or that he has run out of time.
It can only mean his scorn and disdain at that section of the media that refuses to be subdued and forced to sing from his own hymn book.
He has only appeared at Xtra, run by MaltaToday's editor and part-owner Saviour Balzan, apart from that vituperative appearance at Xarabank, which must rank as one of the worst, most acrid, bitter, personalized clashes in Maltese political history.
The conclusion is quite obvious: Dr Muscat is quite happy to speak to massed crowds or to be interviewed by friendly media but ill-at-ease when confronted directly. Maybe (this is the benign interpretation) he is afraid of putting up such a bad show as he did on Xarabank. He claims he was provoked but a real leader of men should have enough self-control to withstand provocation.
These however are no ordinary times and the charges raised against Dr Muscat, culminating in the allegation regarding Egrant and Mrs Muscat are indeed extraordinary.
The Prime Minister's preferred oratory consists of declamation, many times delivered in stentorian tones, which seems well-suited to Dr Muscat's vocal range. It expresses anger amazingly well just as it also expresses optimism about a future unlike any other.
There is (more than a tinge of) disdain. It seems to convey the impression he has persuaded all those he could persuade and is now so secure of winning he will not bust a gut to try and persuade the TMI or The Times readers.
The country's leaders have reached a sorry state that whoever wins on Sunday will have to make conciliatory noises and bring together a people split as never before when the echoes of the leaders' hatred against each other is still deeply ingrained in people's memories. Whether on Sunday and afterwards the people remember the hate soundbites more than the conciliatory words has yet to be seen.
People will not miss Joseph Muscat's non-appearance on INDEPTH and Times Talk. He has been all over the place, addressed countless crowds and pressed the flesh for all he is worth. But even if he does take questions and even if some of these questions come barbed, that is no real alternative to being grilled by a non-friendly but independent media.
In a way it is almost like how he has treated the Pana committee of the European Parliament. When the questions tend to be difficult, Dr Muscat tends to shy away. He even got a minister to replace him for the Broadcasting Authority press conference where there are more than enough safeguards he will not be swamped.
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Artisanal fishers claim discrimination over removal of fuel tax exemption
The Marsaxlokk Artisnal Fishers say they have been prohibited from claiming a tax exemption on fuel unless they join another fishing co-op
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Marsaxlokk Artisanal Fisheries protests against ‘blatant discrimination’, files judicial protest
The Marsaxlokk Artisanal Fishers (MAF) association filed a judicial protest requesting an immediate stop to the "blatant and abusive discrimination being perpetuated in regard of its members". The MAF is made up of artisanal fishermen who fish in a traditional and sustainable manner.
The MAF was set up according to law to protect the rights of small-scale-low-impact fishermen as opposed to large scale and industrial fishing operations. All its members are registered according to law and should benefit from Energy Taxation Directive 2003/96/EC which allows for certain exemptions of tax on fuels used for navigation in fishing.
In a press release issued this morning, it said that members of the MAF association were arbitrarily informed that they would no longer receive this exemption unless they joined another fishing co-operative. This sudden withholding of an exemption which is accorded to all fishermen is grossly discriminatory and breaches the right to freedom of association, the MAF claimed.
It only serves to put small scale traditional fishermen out of their job. The MAF called upon the authorities to reverse their unjustified decision. The Judicial protest was filed against the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Agriculture Roderick Galdes, the Director General of Fisheries Dr. Andreina Fenech Farrugia, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi and the Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. It was signed by Dr. Claire Bonello
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Tony Blair refuses to comment on corruption in Labour government he endorsed
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who last Sunday endorsed Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in a pre-recorded video clip did not reply to questions sent by this newsroom whether he was aware of the corruption revelations and the Magisterial inquiries investigating the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff and Minister Konrad Mizzi.
Yet a spokesperson for Mr Blair did reply to one question whether the former UK Prime Minister received payment for his contribution in last Sunday's PL's Mass meeting in Floriana.
This newsroom sent a number of questions for Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair through the Institute for Global Change, an organisation in which Sir Blair is the Executive Chairman.
The Malta Independent asked whether Mr Blair was aware of the latest allegations regarding the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Minister Konrad Mizzi, and the Prime Minister's refusal to remove them from their posts. No response was given.
Both Mr Schembri and Minister Mizzi were mentioned in the Panama Papers, having been found to have acquired companies in Panama. Following this, a number of FIAU reports have been leaked in relation to these two men. The European Parliament's PANA committee investigating money laundering asked for the three gentlemen to reply to questions but only Minister Mizzi was forthcoming. Mr. Schembri continues to refuse to appear before the PANA committee while the Prime Minister delayed his participation to after the magisterial inquiry is concluded.
Mr Blair has also been criticized in the British press over trusts he held to manage his accumulated wealth. UK newspapers reported that he was quizzed by the taxman over his trusts in foreign jurisdictions.
Asked whether Mr Blair was paid for his two minutes of fame on the 'Fosos', a spokesperson for Mr Blair said "There was categorically neither any suggestion of a payment nor was one sought."
In the video clip, the Former UK Prime Minister said: "I've known Joseph Muscat for some time, and he is an example of what a progressive politician can do for the people. Over the past years unemployment is done and a lot has been done for LGBT rights and minority rights. I am delighted to see Malta carve out a position for itself not just in Europe, but in the wider world."
"Elections are a moment of great opportunity. I want to wish Joseph all the best and congratulate him on all he has achieved so far."
This newsroom asked Mr Blair whether he was paid for the video, and if yes by whom and how much?
Mr Blair is known for charging hefty fees when delivering speeches, one example being a £90,000 fee he was paid for making a speech in Azerbaijan, this is what led to the suspicion that Mr Blair was paid for his endorsement. Mr Blair is not alien to controversy, following the war in Iraq.
Mr Blair was also asked about how he got to know the Maltese Prime Minister and when they met, however no response was given.
Mr Blair was not the only former world leader to speak in support of the Maltese Prime Minister during last Sunday's meeting.
Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was present at the activity. He endorsed that "Joseph Muscat was, is and will remain my friend. There is still much to do and we have to do it here in Malta. Europe is the biggest challenge of the last 60 years but it needs humanity. Europe needs the values of Malta and Italy, of the Partit Laburista. It needs all of you," Renzi said. He of course made no reference to the corruption revelations mounting on the Prime Minister. Mr. Renzi has been the center of corruption allegations back home with a scandal that involved his father.
On Monday evening, the PL media showed a video of the Swedish Prime Minister endorsing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
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Live: Simon Busuttil addressing press conference
PN leader Simon Busuttil is addressing a press conference.
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Refalo silent on claims of election eve jobs with ministry, Gozo Channel
The Gozo Ministry has remained silent in the face of claims that it has been employing dozens of individuals in the weeks and days preceding the general election.
The Malta Independent sent questions to the ministry, which is headed by Anton Refalo, after PN candidate and EPP spokesman David Stellini, who is a Gozitan, alleged in a Facebook post that the ministry was desperately dishing out election-eve jobs.
When contacted by this newspaper, Mr Stellini said he was informed that certain individuals "were told to sign contracts so that they could start receiving a government salary while they are still working their notice with their employers in the private sector."
He also claimed that up to 90 people had recently been employed as 'labourers' at the Cittadella, earning a minimum wage. "Some people will obviously take such an opportunity. While a minimum wage may not be attractive to everyone, some people accept the offer to have some job security."
He said he was informed that, in one particular case, an individual was called by the minister himself, who told him to "come tomorrow to sign your contract." The PN candidate said this effectively meant that this person was drawing two salaries simultaneously – one from the government and one from the private sector.
Mr Stellini also claimed that "many others" had been employed with Gozo Channel.
On Wednesday 17 May this newspaper sent a number of questions to Dr Refalo and to his spokesperson, asking how many people had been employed by the ministry and Gozo Channel since 1 April. A week later we sent a reminder. The spokesperson replied that "the Ministry is still in the process of obtaining the information requested."
Another week has passed and the ministry has still not sent its replies.
This is not the only case of jobs that have been handed out in the days prior to the general election. Last week The Malta Independent reported how some 87 labourers had been hired by WasteServ to work at the Marsascala recycling plant.
Recently it was revealed that the Water Services Corporation had hired around 150 fitters, who also live within the same electoral district that Konrad Mizzi is contesting. Just last week the WSC employed another 18 people who mostly hail from Mizzi's district.
Then there is the issue of AFM promotions, with over 400 announced in the past two weeks. 136 backdated appointments, some dating as far back as 1996, were dished out this week. Three weeks ago another 403 promotions were awarded. The promotions were awarded on the recommendation of an army grievances board set up in 2013.
Other candidates have resorted to simpler ways, and have showered their constituents with gifts of wine, baskets of fruit and even hot-cross buns.
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Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Portland stabbing suspect yells slogans at court hearing
A murder suspect accused of killing two men during an anti-Muslim rant against two girls on board a train in Oregon appeared in court, shouting slogans and defending his act as 'patriotism'
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Theresa May could lose majority in parliament, new poll analysis predicts
British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party risks falling short of winning an overall majority of seats in parliament in a national election on 8 June, according to research by polling firm YouGov
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Huge car bomb kills dozens in Afghan capital
A huge explosion has hit the Afghan capital, Kabul, close to foreign embassies and the presidential palace
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US 'open' to resuming TTIP talks with EU
The United States is 'open' to resuming talks with the European Union on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, a senior US official said
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'We need structures to avoid repetition of Panama Papers' - Evarist Bartolo
What would you say are the good and bad things that have been done during the last four years in the education sector?
The Alterative Learning Programme was a very positive step forward. Before this process came along, the fifth-formers who did not go on to sixth form or MCAST were lost. I think we have managed to offer them a good transition and I hope that this programme grows and reaches more people. We are so far reaching some 150 students and I feel that this is not good enough. We need to create more programmes for this particular sector.
What I feel was bad is the lack of proper reach. These are programmes that really work, like the co-educational system has, in fact, worked but there are still students who are lost.
The introduction of middle school was also a positive step forward. The government has also introduced accounts clubs and we have more than 800 students participating in them.
For the way forward, I think we need to make the system more enjoyable. Let's reduce homework and heavy bags. These are small things but they make a lot of difference.
What do you think are the best proposals for this sector in the Labour Party's manifesto?
The proposals are related to student and teacher well-being. We are facing a difficult time because of the changes in society. I believe that we need to address the size of the syllabus. Teachers are so busy that they simply do not have time to educate. When a student stops the classroom to ask a question, the teachers need to have time to discuss and explain. Schools are not a factory for exams.
I think the proposals for the removal of fees for exams, and for Matsec exams to be taken in the same school, are also of vital importance.
The education sector is facing a crisis due to the shortage of staff. What do you intend to do about this?
It is no consolation, but I do not think we are in a crisis just yet. I repeat, this does not justify or console anything or anyone. But up to now we do not have a crisis. We have a shortage of teachers in certain subjects, such as Mathematics and English. The average age of our teachers is actually lower than the EU average and figures show that the number of teachers resigning from their jobs is lower than in many EU countries.
The real problems will come in the future, with the process of the Master's degree for educators, for instance. I think teachers need all the support we can give and we certainly need to review their conditions of employment.
What about LSAs?
Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) are a separate matter. Just as happens with everything else in history, we first of all introduce the change and then we adapt it later. We do not check certain things before we begin offering a service and I think LSA training has to be more hands-on.
Looking at the past legislature, what would be the particular parliamentary session that you will never forget?
Definitely the session where we voted for Civil Union. I remember stepping outside parliament and suddenly being hugged by this woman. She said: Thank you on behalf of my son." I had to stop and avert my face because I was in tears.
Let me take you back to the Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools saga. Will Edward Caruana be part of your Ministry?
A big 'No'. He has already been removed and I don't intend to get him back in.
When it comes to work, I don't look at someone's political loyalty. Believe me, sometimes it is the Party's loyal who crash you into a wall. I trusted people more than I should have done and I now realise that we need a change in the Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools.
Throughout my career I have spoken repeatedly about good governance. Do you think I would risk something of the sort within my own walls? I was sorry about how things worked out.
I once asked you if you believe Konrad Mizzi should take Alfred Sant's advice and step down. You said that you did. Do you still believe this today?
I stand by what I said. I believe that we need to create the structures to ensure such things never happen again. Panama Papers should serve as an opportunity to learn, to address this. We need laws and systems to protect us from ourselves. I take comfort in what the Prime Minister is saying: that we made mistakes but are willing to learn from them.
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Labour recycling a 10-year-old story - George Pullicino
What would you say are the good and bad things that have been done during the last four years in the education sector?
One thing that I can praise is the fact that, despite the many changes, the process went smoothly and the sector did not experience any particular shock.
My problem, in a lot of cases, had to do with 'deadline fatigue'. It was very clear that, in many circumstances, the government was dragging its feet. Deadlines were all being moved, one after the other, both for physical projects and for changes in educational programmes.
It seems to me that, many a time, every project had to be halted because agreement with the relevant stake-holders had not been reached. This was one of the more frequent criticisms. Obviously, we cannot fail to mention the whole FTS saga and the fact that the government had failed to continue with the school building programme.
What do you think are the best proposals for this sector in the Nationalist Party manifesto?
We have presented 16 concrete proposals for the education sector. My favourite is the proposal aimed at addressing the lack of creativity in our schools. We also have to look at the real need for free child care. Our point is that free child care should not only be given to those who work, because in this manner we are only providing this service to incentivise employment. I believe we also have to look at the social factor in all of this. Our educational system needs to be synchronised with social and family behaviour.
What we really want to see is a link between school education and social policy which is more defined. This is where I believe we are lagging behind.
The education sector is facing a crisis related to the shortage of staff. What do you intend to do about this?
I think the government needs to address the professional status of teachers and LSAs. Our manifesto looks into this as well. We need to understand that the current status is not possible with the current economy. We have young graduates who just find it illogical to go and work in a school instead of working in IT or online gambling. Concretely, we are proposing the introduction of security cameras and proper gate-keeping.
We have to remember that teachers are the ones who will probably influence you the most throughout your childhood.
We have to remember that it is probably teachers who have the biggest influence on children.
Looking at the past legislature, what would be the particular parliamentary session that you will never forget?
The debate on Zonqor: that 12-hour marathon was unforgettable. The fact that it turned out the Prime Minister made his decision on the development after only 10 minutes really says it all. The experience of the developer was questionable already. But I expected, at least, that a serious Prime Minister would have told investors that he would be discussing the agreement beforehand.
I just could not understand why the university needed a site by the sea. Do they need a high PH value to set up a university there?
The Labour Party is lashing out at the way you handled the BWSC permits and are demanding your head on a plate. What is your reaction?
This is a non-story. They are recycling a 10-year-old story. All that happened is that our legal notice was not in line with EU law. We took the necessary advice from experts, including Enemalta and the Environmental Directorate, and they all suggested that we change the law to be in line with the EU directive.
We presented the legal notice publicly and the Labour Party knew about it and had all the time in the world to contest it. It's no surprise that, just before an election, they pull this particular rabbit out of the hat. Where's the scandal?
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Analysis: Election Roundup – Day 29 – A prime minister unwilling to face hard questions
As more and more election leaflets continue to be thrown into our letter-boxes – what a waste of money, as if people are influenced by the glossy pictures – we are nearing the end of the highly-charged election campaign.
Yesterday we had the confirmation of a Prime Minister who is too much of a coward to face hard questions by the media. Both The Times and The Malta Independent had their invitations to interview him turned down; well, it's better to say "ignored", which is perhaps is a worse kind of attitude from someone who receives an invitation.
Joseph Muscat chooses to only go where he is most comfortable, with the likes of Reno Bugeja and Saviour Balzan, where he is praised and thrown soft-balls, rather than face challenging questions on his shortcomings.
It says a lot about the person. It says a lot more about the politician who comes from the media, who was a journalist, and who is now afraid of being put on the spot. People who are still undecided should take note of this before making up their mind.
Knowing that recent forays were not too equality-sensitive, in Labour'e evening event Prime Minister Muscat tried to woo women by reminding them of the achievements made by Labour in the liberal field.
Earlier, the Prime Minister was caught in another unfortunate moment, when he said that Keith Schembri had offered his resignation when he (Schembri) was passing through some difficulties because of ill-health. This contradicted what Schembri had said in a round-robin email a day earlier, that he had offered to resign because he did not want to be a distraction, given that his name was being mentioned too often, and for the wrong reasons. Who is telling the truth?
For his part, PN leader Simon Busuttil said that Joseph Muscat, given his involvement and his inability to act, will have to resign "when" Schembri is arraigned.
The campaign took the Nationalist Party one last time to Gozo. The PN held a mass meeting there during which PN leader Simon Busuttil pledged to deliver results within the first 100 days of taking office. The PN is the only party to have produced an electoral programme specifically for the sister island.
Today, the leaders will be involved in their last pre-election debate organised by the Broadcasting Authority. They will be in a more-controlled environment when compared to Xarabank.
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[LIVE] Labour Party rally in Qormi
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat addresses a rally in Qormi
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Seven-year-old biker seriously injured after impact with car
A seven-year-old boy was seriously injured this evening when he was involved in a collision with a car while riding a bike, the police said.
The accident happened in Jesuits Hill, Marsa at 5.30pm.
The boy collided with a Vauxhall Corsa driven by a 23-year-old of Hamrun.
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35 dialysis machines bought for Mater Dei Hospital
Thirty-five renal dialysis machines were bought for Mater Dei Hospital, Health Minister Chris Fearne said today.
Addressing the media, the minister said the machines will go a long way to improve the services offered in the renal unit.
There are 185 patients who need haemodialysis and another 90 carry out dialysis in their own home.
This €5.6 million investment is an important addition to dialysis services offered at Mater Dei, with some patients needing it for three times a week.
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Marlene Farrugia: ‘Only Forza Nazzjonali can save hunting and trapping’
Marlene Farrugia dismisses warnings that PN-PD coalition will lead to instability, arguing Labour hasn't led a stable government since 1976
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Live: Joseph Muscat addressing political activity in Marsascala
This is one of the last remaining political activities before the electoral campaign winds down on Thursday. Voting takes place on Saturday.
Watch the Prime Minister's speech live in the video feed below.
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