Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/856150
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 2 AUGUST 2017 5 News PN gives Frank Portelli the thumbs down for xenophobic, homophobic rants Government promoting SmartCity residential units ahead of masterplan approval Disbarred lawyer's elderly parents offer themselves as bail guarantors MIRIAM DALLI THE Nationalist Party was forced to issue a condemnation after one of its leadership can- didates indulged in a xenopho- bic rant, as well as hitting out at gay men – who according to Frank Portelli would trap women into marriage to have children before walking away. The PN did not name Portelli but simply referred to him as "one of the leadership candi- dates" and said it was against xenophobia and homophobia. On irregular migration, Por- telli claimed that he would work towards repatriating 80% of ir- regular migrants as he insisted that he was against multicultur- alism. He accused asylum seek- ers of "bringing their wars to Malta with them". Distancing itself from com- ments made by Portelli on Face- book posts and during TV inter- views, the PN said it believed in respect and tolerance. "Comments that fan xenopho- bia, directly and indirectly, go against the principles and values of the PN and the party's line," the PN declared. In a separate Facebook post uploaded on 30 July at 1.22am, Portelli wrote: "Gay can marry a straight woman have chil- dren then walk away to marry a gay". A few minutes earlier, he shared a photo of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat with Imam Muhammed el-Sadi, captioning it "Muslims on Jo- seph". Hours later, he said that Malta "[celebrates] the end of Muslim Ramadan but not that of Christian Randan" – the Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of the holy month of Ramadan dur- ing which food and water are banned until after sunset. Portelli believes that "patriot- ism" is the PN's route to victory. Sharing MaltaToday's report of his comments, Portelli chan- nelled the celebrated playwright Oscar Wilde and commented, "There's one thing worse than being talked about... that's not being talked about". The PN insisted that it was against discrimination on grounds of gender identity and sexual orientation. "Any com- ments that may fan homophobic sentiments go against the party's beliefs." The PN went on to point out that, even during the leader- ship election campaign, all can- didates must remember that a leader should uphold the values and principles as written down in the party's statute. MATTHEW AGIUS THE elderly parents of dis- barred lawyer Patrick Spiteri have told a court that they were prepared to keep him at their home and would bear the responsibility if he failed to ap- pear for a court sitting. Spiteri remains in custody af- ter being extradited to Malta to face fraud, misappropriation and forgery charges of approxi- mately €7.4 million. Joseph and Maria Spiteri, 90 and 85 years old respectively, were present in magistrate Jo- sette Demicoli's courtroom last week as their son requested bail. The frail couple were helped up to the witness stand where defence lawyer Stefano Filletti explained that their son had asked them to stand in for him as guarantors. "What does that mean?" the fa- ther asked. Filletti clarified that if the court opted to grant their son bail on condition that he re- side with them, they would bear the responsibility for any breach of Spiteri's bail conditions. "Are you ready to accept him in your home?" the lawyer asked. Maria Spiteri said she did, saying that her son was always welcome at their home and that there was more than enough room for him. "I know that he will not break my heart," the woman said, voice quavering. Magistrate Demicoli noted the defence's suggestion that final submissions on the request for bail be heard after a medical report is submitted by a court expert who had been appointed to examine whether prison con- ditions were detrimental to the accused's health. At a previous sitting, Spiteri had told the court that he had been diagnosed with Behcet's Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes neurologi- cal damage, genital, throat and mouth ulcers and skin lesions. The court had been told how the conditions at Corradino Correctional Facility were exac- erbating his medical condition. A decree on bail is expected to be issued in the coming days. Assistant Police Commis- sioner Ian Abdilla is prosecut- ing. Lawyer Stefano Filletti is defence counsel to Spiteri. Lawyer Clement Mifsud Bon- nici is appearing parte civile for one of the fraud victims, Peter Clarke. The PN has distanced itself from Frank Portelli's comments CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The land is to be developed into the luxu- ry Shoreline apartments, despite changes to the Smart City mas- terplan not having yet been voted upon by Maltese MPs. But in its bid, the Maltese government too uses the residen- tial units as a selling point. "Within a range of a few metres the city offers hotels, mid to high residential sea-view residences and hospital," the docu- ment reads. "The city provides cutting edge infrastructure, unique lifestyle amenities and responsive support system." The government says that, being cognizant of the fact that this project would entail an investment of about €50 million, it was offering EMA the premises rent-free for a period of 15 years – which could be extended subject to agreement by both parties. The EU has placed a deadline of 1 April, 2019 for the reloca- tion of the agency but the Maltese government has pledged to have the building – and all other ancillary services – ready in place six months earlier. If relocated to Malta, EMA would be exempt from all direct taxes with respect to its premises, with the exception of those constituting payments for services rendered, and from indirect taxes on the supply of goods and services. EMA would also be exempt from direct and indirect taxes on the consumption of electricity and gas or any type of fuel consumed in the running of its premises. It would pay no duties and any import restrictions on vehi- cles intended for official use and on spare parts for the same vehicles. The Maltese government said it would grant EMA staff im- munity from jurisdiction with regard to acts carried out in their official capacity and exemption – for them, their spouses and dependents – from regulations restricting immigration and formalities for the registration of foreigners. Frank Portelli claimed that 'gay can marry a straight woman, have children then walk away to marry a gay' Frank Portelli is one of four contenders for the PN leadership The government is offering EMA the premises rent-free for 15 years Patrick Spiteri