It is quite ironic that Parliamentary Secretary Francis Agius ventures on such feeble PR campaigns such as the hand-shake photo appearing in your newspaper (TMID, 27 April) accompanying an article announcing that potatoes produced by Maltese farmers are being exported to Germany.

We have seen no photographs of Dr Agius shaking hands with Manikata/Ghajn Tuffieha/Xaghra l-Hamra farmers whose land and residences have been taken from the government to make way for a golf course. Dr Agius has never replied to requests made by my committee asking for a meeting with him, with the result that the farmers in question are still in limbo about their fate.

Similarly, we have seen no photos of handshakes with the Nadur and Ramla l-Hamra farmers whose water sources are in danger of being contaminated by a huge cemetery overlooking their fields – the necessity for which is highly dubious. The list of missing photos includes the Tal-Papa farmers at Birzebbuga, and could go on. If Dr Agius wants to earn some credibility among farmers he has to do much more than pose for photos of handshake. If he clings on to his present track record as parliamentary secretary for agriculture, he may consider himself on track for an imminent golden handshake from the electorate.

Mario Cardona

Chairman, Kumitat ghall-Harsien Rurali ta’ Ghajn Tuffieha

Manikata