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maltatoday SUNDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2018 26 Candidates of the far-right Azzjoni Nazzjonali – the party which claims to uphold law and order as its core principles – are facing a spate of criminal charges and other claims of alleged illegalities, MaltaToday can confirm. An AN candidate and candidates Paul Salomone and Pierre Cutajar, all face criminal charges, while AN dep- uty leader Anglu Xuereb faces claims in court by the Lands Department of illegal and abusive occupation of public land. He also owes government over €2 million over his property in Verdala, Rabat. A particular AN candidate was named in the government gazette of 26 January 2007 as one of four ac- cused before the Court of Magistrates at the court of criminal inquiry in the preliminary investigation brought by the police over a case of money laun- dering. His name cannot be published by court order. The case involves the transfer of Lm900,000 (€2,096,440) from Italy into Maltese bank accounts, changed into two bank drafts and distributed through a brokerage company. The case concerns a five-year investiga- tion started in 2001 between Italian and Maltese investigators. The crimi- nal court ordered that all the money and moveable property belonging to the accused could not be transferred or disposed of in any way. AN leader Josie Muscat has told MaltaToday that this candidate did not inform him of the case. Deputy leader Anglu Xuereb is accused by the Lands Department of having "illegally and abusively" oc- cupied public land in Qawra – namely the Suncrest Hotel and the Sunny Court Leisure Complex as claimed in the writ filed against him – and carrying out the construction of structures over it which he offered for use by third parties through public calls. He also faces court procedures by Malta Enterprise over €2 million in unpaid dues. Paul Salomone, who is the party's logistics secretary and a candidate on the first and 12th district, faces criminal charges for incitement to racial hatred. Pierre Cutajar, the AN candidate on the second and third district, has an extensive criminal record: including car and shop thefts in three incidents in 1980 and 2001; perjury in 2005 and a case of possession of cannabis in 2005. Despite the glaring record of being on the wrong side of the law, Azzjoni Nazzjonali on Friday held a press con- ference on "morality in politics", also addressed by Dr Josie Muscat. The press conference discussed the issue of morality in politics, particu- larly on the Roman Catholic beliefs of candidates and on the sacrament of baptism, and how "morality must be the starting point for the behav- iour of any person who brushes with politics." Attacking "extreme liberalism", at- tacking the Lisbon Treaty for intro- ducing Maltese families to "divorce, abortion and cohabitation", and the defence of hunters and trappers, were all hallmarks the press conference on morality on politics in which it was asked whether politicians are ready for "the exercise in political morality". Party leader Josie Muscat was asked by MaltaToday during the press con- ference what he would do if he knew of candidates who had problems with the law. "They would have to leave. Anyone who wanted to contest for our party had to accept our principles. There were people whom we refused. But a person who would have committed a mistake in their life should not be punished for life if they would have reformed," Muscat said. Send your letters to: The Editor, MaltaToday, MediaToday Ltd. Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 | Fax: (356) 21 385075 E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt. Letters to the Editor should be concise. No pen names are accepted. News – 24 February, 2008 Three criminal suspects, one debtor: Josie's 'law and order' party Opinion Our boys are falling behind Much is being said and done in Malta with regard to the advance- ment of women in society and possibly in parliament. In fact the media is agog with news related to women's rights at home and at work, so-called 'positive' discrimi- nation and all that jazz. However, while focusing on one sector of society, I believe that we are ignoring another important sub-division: our boys are failing at school! Recent statistics (some published in this newspaper) show that boys are seriously underperforming at school and putting less of a show at university, when compared to girls. The worrying thing is that no one seems to bother as girls drasti- cally outnumber boys at university level while at secondary level SEC examinations girls are also getting higher grades than boys. Perhaps I may venture to say that the authorities, in their zeal to ap- pear more liberal, more progressive and in step with the times, have conveniently 'forgotten' the other half. It is high time, I think, that we should be asking some ques- tions. What is happening to our boys at school? Are they suddenly becoming daft and stupid? Why do we have more male truancy in our schools, as opposed to female truants? These are questions which must be answered and investigated. May I venture one suggestion: Could it be that boys are suffering from the feminisation of teach- ing? Nowadays most primary and secondary schools are staffed with female teachers and this could be affecting the teaching approach, outlook and delivery. Forget the old adage; what appeals to the goose does not always appeal to the gander. Perhaps with all this equality hul- labaloo, we are not having so much equality at the end of the day and the boys are coming out second best. I am therefore appealing directly to all the authorities concerned, especially the ministry of education and the ministry for equality, to in- vestigate and rectify this situation. A healthy society takes care of all its members and does not forfeit one sector as it pushes for the advancement of the other. We are possibly robbing Peter to pay Paul but equality does not work out that way! Antoine Pace Santa Venera Who is David Casa representing? Nationalist MEP David Casa's obsession to try and undermine at all costs the great success that the Labour Government is achieving in many sectors, goes on unabated. A report in Malta- Today – not yet denied by David Casa – said that the PN MEP is insisting with Pana committee members, to convince the EU to trigger Article 7. If what David Casa wishes is accepted and implemented, this would mean, among other things, that Malta's voting rights in the council of ministers would be suspended. And our country would be unable to block any at- tempt to harmonise taxes as has been the wish of the European Commission for so long, thus giving a mortal blow to our fi- nancial services sector, in which so many people are employed! In fact, when the Opposition leader was asked for comments about that report, Adrian Delia said that if Article 7 is triggered against Malta, "this would be devastating for our country." So it is clear that David Casa does not have the PN's approval for what he has been reported to be doing in order for Article 7 to be triggered against our country. And yet, David Casa has the cheek to say that what he is do- ing is "fight for Malta". Instead of "for" read "against". This begs the question: Who is David Casa representing in the European parliament, the PN or just himself? Is this not another proof, if any is needed, that Adrian Delia has no control whatsoever on both his parlia- mentary group as well as the PN MEPs? Eddy Privitera Mosta $25,000 Julia Taft Refugee Fund The US Embassy is pleased to announce the 2018-2019 US Department of State Julia Taft Refugee Fund. The US Embassy invites NGOs to submit proposals that feature sustainable projects to assist refugees or refugee returnees and benefit both the populations of concern and the host community. NGOs may request a maxi- mum of $25,000 for pro- grammes that will take place during the period of October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019. Organisations currently receiv- ing funding from the United States cannot apply. Please refer to the US Embas- sy's website for further infor- mation – http://mt.usembassy. gov/2018-19-julia-taft-refugee- grant-opportunity/. The deadline for proposals to reach the US Embassy is March 30, 2018. Joanna Zingariello Embassy of the USA Right of reply: Gozo Channel direct orders I refer to the report published in MaltaToday on 18 February 2018 (Gozo Channel employs work- force by direct order). The PQ replies that were pub- lished should not have read as direct orders, but as an extension of the current contracts. I again confirm that we had never, ever been awarded any direct orders from Gozo Channel. The exten- sions were being given due to the PSO the Gozo Channel has to go through. We no longer provide any service since a call for quote had been issued and the cheapest compliant was awarded with the contract until the PSO is final- ised. Our last day of provision was the 31st Jan 18. I have never, ever asked Mr Norman Hamilton for any help or favours due to my respect for his position and also because I am capable of doing things on my own steam and do not particu- larly need any one to have work. The only direct orders I know about are the direct orders given to Executive Security Services for the provision of mooring men and to Ozo for security, just before the election of 2017, by former minister Dr Anton Refalo. This can be easily verified with Gozo Channel. TBS was a joint venture be- tween Signal 8 and JF Security for the provision of mooring men, cleaners and cafeteria attendants. JF Security provided cleaners and cafeteria attendants, whereas we provided the mooring men. We tendered as a joint venture and the contract was legitimately awarded to us. Jovan Grech Signal 8 Security