Coming up soon: Maltese passports for shady Iranians and other assorted USA personae non gratae

The Minister of Passport Sales

Well, if the government persists with its policy of absolute secrecy it can do anything, can’t it, and regardless of what Jabba the Hutt says, it is our duty – as journalists and electors – to raise these issues and make sure they are discussed.

Basically, with a very dangerous blanket policy of total secrecy coupled with total ministerial discretion (Jabba the Hutt is supreme under the law and can over-ride and gainsay the due diligence report and other advice) anything can happen and we are going to be none the wiser.

From The Times, 29 June 2004:

Dr Sant spoke at some length on Mr Dalli’s alleged involvement in the local representation of an Iranian shipping line operating at Malta Freeport.

He said that after a Maltese company had worked for several years to attract this line to Malta, the local representation was awarded to another company, Gauci Borda Shipping Ltd, which did not have significant experience in shipping work. It resulted that members of Mr Dalli’s family were involved in this company.

In 2010, Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) was placed on the EU’s sanctions list of companies which support/ed nuclear proliferation in Iran – in this case by shipping proscribed cargo.