I was disappointed to see yet another letter titled, “George Cross Island Association in crisis by a former member of the GCIA Malta GC Branch (TMIS, 21 June). There is no crisis within this Branch or the Association and the present Branch Committee is working well together to achieve the aims of the GCIA.

My original letter to The Malta Independent of Monday 1st June was correctly reproduced with the heading “The George Cross Island Association Malta G.C. Branch – A New Chapter”. Unfortunately, the same letter to The Malta Independent on Sunday of 7 June was edited by the newspaper, in which case I am not to blame for “misleading” anyone.

On behalf of the present committee, I take exception to the inference that some of us should not have put ourselves forward for election because we are also members of another association. For clarification, the present committee is made up of four Maltese and three British members, five of whom just happen to belong to the British Residents’ Association and one of whom was on the previous committee. This committee was elected from, and by, fully paid-up members of the GCIA at a properly constituted EGM and our other affiliations had absolutely no bearing on the result. It is difficult to understand why there would be any objection to my being on the committee when I was personally approached by Major Clews last year to join his committee and, in his letter of 19 April to The Malta Independent on Sunday, he said that it was time for the younger generation to take over at the EGM.

In reply to “Peter Robinson who, it appears, blocked a motion to seek redress for the actions of the National Council against Malta Branch and also for the threat of violence made by Mr Gaw against me”, this is misinformation because I did not block any motion. My only contribution in this respect was to object to the statement being read out at the EGM, as it did not allow for a reply from the other party concerned. In addition, the new committee unequivocally condemn any threats of violence whenever they occur, but this is a personal dispute in which the Branch cannot become involved.

Lastly, the letter states “it is now being run by a body that is a stranger to the Maltese war veterans and the people of Malta who by their sacrifices earned the George Cross”. As a service “veteran” of 36 years standing, “Remembrance” is ingrained in my very being and that is also why I will do my utmost to ensure that Remembrance of this period and the sacrifices made will continue to be fully observed by the Branch.

This is the last correspondence from the GCIA Malta GC Branch on this matter.

There is no “forgotten breed”. We will Remember them.

Peter Robinson

Chairman

GCIA Malta GC Branch