In a letter to The Independent on Sunday entitled “Education ministry running in circles” on 25 July, I made some serious accusations of discrimination against the Education Department, and it wasn’t the first time either. I just wanted to point out how strange it is that the Ministry still refuses to defend itself – silence is an admission of guilt. The least I expected from the Ministry was the decency to admit the truth of what I said since it has been unable to provide any concrete law to substantiate its claims. I will not repeat here what was said in the other letters.

However, on 20 July, I received an e-mail from the office of Foreign Minister Dr Tonio Borg (I assume the Education Ministry contacted him because I certainly didn’t) claiming that (and I quote) “Dr Borg tabled the amendments to the citizenship act... and there was no retroactivity envisaged.” (This refers to my claims that according to the dual citizenship law I became a Maltese in 1964.) Dr Borg says no but he has never answered my e-mails to explain how a letter sent in 2008 can state, and I quote: “On the 21st Sept 1964 you became a Maltese ... you are deemed never to have ceased to be a Maltese...” Dr Borg, to say in 2008 that something started to take place in 1964 is retroactivity. You may not have ‘envisaged’ it, but that is what you said and in a court of law a judge acts according to the letter of the law and not on “envisagements’ (to coin a phrase). Just look up ‘retroactive’ in a dictionary if you don’t take my word for it.

Dr Borg also goes on to say that the Education Department acted according to the law in 1994 when they offered me a casual teaching job and not a regular one for which I was academically qualified. So I have asked Dr Borg by e-mail to answer the question that nobody wants to answer: If the department acted according to the ‘‘law’’ then where is it?

Of course the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given me the same answer like the other ministry – no answer at all. And they talk about the dignity of the individual?

And so, since I was the last one to make a move and all the other players are doing nothing, I guess this is where I say: “Checkmate”.

Joe Falzon

QALA