Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/764316
SAVIOUR BALZAN POLICE investigators are estab- lishing the source of money that was used for the construction of an apartment block in Rabat by a former driver and canvasser of the education minister. Edward Caruana was appointed by Evarist Bartolo to serve as a pro- curement officer at the Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools, where he is now alleged to have exercised undue influence over the issuing of direct orders and other forms of procurement. The accusations were made by the former CEO of the foundation, which is tasked with the construc- tion of schools and supplying their furniture. The source of the money used to build Caruana's apartment block is now the final detail remaining to be established in the Economic Crimes Unit's investigation into the FTS scandal. MaltaToday has learnt that the investigation could involve more individuals than originally expect- ed. A scrutiny of bank statements is part of the investigations, where once banking transfers are fully analysed, the police are expected to be in a position to make arraign- ments. MaltaToday revealed the falling- out of FTS CEO Philip Rizzo with minister Evarist Bartolo in No- vember, after Rizzo pointed his finger at Caruana, whose brother Joseph Caruana happens to be the permanent secretary at the educa- tion ministry. A committed Nationalist canvass- er files a complaint, claiming he was discriminated against by the Labour Party after being turned down for a vacancy for a reception- ist at party HQ. Surely - just as the atheist turned down for the geogra- phy post at a Church school - this is what the Equality Act is designed to set straight? No, says policy chief Silvan Agi- us: "The keyword here is what the 'genuine requirement' for a job is. No one case is the same. So a tele- phone receptionist at Labour HQ is the receiver of potentially confiden- tial information, and it stands to reason that that person must share the employer's 'ethos'. It is a genuine requirement for the job. Would the same hold for a receptionist apply- ing for a job with the government? No: a political belief is certainly not a 'genuine requirement' for such a job in the public service." Critics fearing a top-down 'equiv- alisation' are sharpening their knives. Church school leaders in- sist that teachers must be part of 'company culture' - Christians - but is religious belief a genuine re- quirement for someone to teach ge- ography, maths, science, or history? And employers rue that as re- cruiters they will see the burden of proof shifted on them, fearing ca- pricious complainants. Agius, one of Helena Dalli's right-hand men, says the law is more nuanced than it is being portrayed. Our survey fi nds that those who see Christmas as a religious feast tend to be happier than others during the season SURVEY Newspaper post maltatoday maltatoday YOUR FIRST READ AND FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT FOUNDATION FOR TOMORROW'S SCHOOLS Police trace source of payments for property in investigation's final stages PAGE 6 today FOUNDATION FOR TOMORROW'S SCHOOLS €1.40 PEOPLE AMONG US AHMED BUGRE SATURDAY 24 DECEMBER MaltaToday will be on sale on Christmas Eve with its special edition looking back at 2016 ALEPPO AT CHRISTMAS JAMES DEBONO on the Syrian quagmire RELIGION MAKES US HAPPIER AT CHRISTMASTIME during the 16-19 Equality bill 'is no bait for Church' Policy chief explains why church school fears and employers' concerns are not grounded THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH 24 DECEMBER MaltaToday will be on sale on Christmas Eve with its special edition looking back at 2016 Josanne Cassar and Michael Falzon • p26 12 13 Edward Caruana suspended himself as of last week PAGE 3 today today SUNDAY • 18 DECEMBER 2016 • ISSUE 893 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY 14 15 'How long can you remain in Malta without ever having to think of a nationality?'