REGARD ALL BVI CORPORATIONS AS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE

The new Russian Oligarch tactic, to transfer beneficial ownership of a substantial portion of their assets to opaque British Virgin Islands companies that they control, when coupled with the reluctance of BVI local government to disclose what companies they control, has led us to the conclusion that compliance officers must now regard ALL BVI companies as Russian-owned, unless and until proven otherwise by competent evidence.

Reportedly, there was an internal investigation, with predictable results that disputed the massive transfers, but which was conducted under secret conditions which make it suspected to be a whitewash, and an effort to cover up the truth. Apparently, the UK Foreign Office is attempting to obtain details of the findings, but given the BVI's long and sordid history of banning investigative journalists from the island, and deporting those who have the temerity to show up, we doubt that the allegedly corrupt local government officials will be forthcoming with the information, even though UK law applies.

Therefore, given that the element of risk is elevated, due to the global sanctions imposed upon Russian Oligarchs, who support the Russian regime that launched the invasion of the Ukraine, and that Enhanced Due Diligence will be inadequate, in ruling out Oligarchs as beneficial owners of specific BVI companies, it is strongly suggested that compliance officers at all EU, UK and North American financial institutions redline all BNVI companies, until an effective procedure can be found to guarantee beneficial ownership, current to the day of inquiry.

Compliance has bee dealing with BVI obstruction of information for decades; the opaque nature of the island's companies now require that you determine that the risk levels are simply too high for you to accept as a gatekeeper. Rejection of all BVI companies has become the prudent action, without exception. Do not end up being the subject of a massive regulatory fine, or worse, when your inaction is deemed willful blindness. Govern yourselves  accordingly, ladies & gentlemen.

RAMPANT CORRUPTION AT WALMART/SAM'S CLUB IN CALIFORNIA

The purpose of this article is to demand that the United States Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) conduct an investigation into the alleged corruption of Walmart/Sam's Club. Who is protecting the rights of the stockholders at Walmart /Sam's Club ? This article will be published in several parts, in order to expose the daily corruption at the world’s largest retailer. We will profile the company officers engaged in several specific acts of the violation of numerous State and Federal laws; some may actually have crossed the threshold of criminality. Our sources come from the personal testimony of  honest and respectful managers/whistleblowers who have grown tired of the status quo of corruption at local clubs, and are speaking out to expose it publicly.

Walmart hired a former Trump DOJ official who formerly "oversaw" criminal foreign bribery enforcement. This was at the same time Trump's DOJ decided NOT to prosecute Walmart for criminal foreign bribery allegations on three continents. The revolving door spins; Corporate crime pays. 

John Scudder is Senior Vice President and U.S. Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer. He leads the company's multi-disciplinary ethics and compliance program and team for Walmart U.S. and Sam's Club. 

Sam’s Club (NYSE symbol: WMT) a division of Walmart Inc., is a warehouse club with 597 locations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Its Headquarters is located in Bentonville, Arkansas. Sam's Club employs more than 10,000 employees. Kathryn McLay is Chief Executive Officer at Sam's Club.

Walmart/Sam's Club has set up a complaint hotline,  known as Global Ethics and Open Door for Employee/Associates to report suspected unlawful activities that concern them,. However, it is the contention of over 90% of the employees, many of whom are victims, and other Associates, who are convinced that the Sam’s Club/Walmart complaint system to report questionable behavior by management, is designed to cover up and shield the bad actors from being held accountable for their corruption, violations and abuse of associates.

 

This company has a long and sordid history of employment-related lawsuits from present and former workers. The complaints of State and Federal Labor law violations appear in hundreds of court case filings, that read like a broken record. Sam’s Club, the retail warehouse chain owned by Walmart, failed to pay thousands of workers for time spent waiting for the stores to close, in violation of California law, according to a new lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles, entitled Carlos Sanchez vs. Sams West, Inc.

 (https://www.bloomberglaw.com/public/desktop/document/SanchezvSamsWestIncaArkansascorporationdbaSamsClubDocketNo221cv05/1?1647911641)

We have found that this is not the only litigation against Sam's Club in California as there are many more in different local jurisdictions throughout the state, all appearing to be labor law related, including age discrimination, harassment, and retaliation for reporting to and exposing corrupt management.The company's regional division in California, which seems to generate the most lawsuits and complaints is under the leadership of 28-year tenured employee Market Manager Brenda Caldera. As the manager at one of the Los Angeles area Sam's Club, located in El Monte, Ms. Caldera has been accused of violating numerous state and labor laws in several court filings. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendamcaldera/recent-activity/ ) She manages and operates clubs in her district as her own mom and pop establishments, hiring the worst of the worst managers and supervisors off the streets, some with zero retail or work experience. Some like a 21 year old Saraeva Morales, with no work experience, and who frequently uses racial slurs about other races, was promoted to supervisor at Sam’s Club Number 6609 at Palm Desert California, by Ms. Caldera and her corrupt managers.

Walmart/Sam's Club investors and stockholders would be astonished to learn this is the type of person according to her Facebook page posting of February 3, 2022 is the person in charge of $10 Million worth of inventory at that club. Most employee associates have complained to Sam's Club. about the matter. The fact that this individual was chosen by Brenda Caldera to be a supervisor is a disgrace to all the hardworking associates with over 16 years on the job. See her 2022 Facebook page below with multiple racial slurs in the posting. 

______WARNING: YOU MAY FIND THIS DISTURBING._______

Saraeva Morales-Villa

Facebook

t38SafpnF1ae5bohrui7u2ary 3d  ·

tcFme3bSnr1usar3y 8633  · 

Throwing on the green vest 

Sam’s newest Supervisor 

Saraeva Morales-Villa

160 Friends

Intro

supervisor at Sam's Club

Studies at College of the Desert

Lives in Coachella, California

From Los Angeles, California

Photos

Friends

160 friends

Ailyn Rios

Emily Avina

Adrian Villarreal

Lizzy Murguia

Adriana Montaño

Malia Guebara

Lucy Valencia

Julia Weems

This is part one of several parts of the story that this blog will be covering in the future. In our next part, we will profile additional corrupt managers at several clubs, their program of manipulation and deception, whereby they  set up associates they consider to be whistleblowers and cooperators. Global ethics officers who look the other way while employees' corrupt activities pose a financial risk to stockholders and other employees, can be liable for civil damages, for regulatory action, and for any crime that they may commit while on duty. It appears that a number of state and federal agencies have taken a major interest into the alleged crimes and daily labor law violations at Sam's Club; Stay tuned.

BERNARD GRECH IS RIGHT; IF LABOUR WINS THE ELECTION, DAPHNE DIED IN VAIN

 

PEOPLE GET THE GOVERNMENT THEY DESERVE

SUN "JASON" QIANG, CHINESE COMMUNIST AGENT, WANTED FOR HARASSING PRO-DEMOCRACY GROUP, BRIBERY OF FEDERAL OFFICIAL

 

ReplyForward

DOMINICA'S PRIME MINISTER PAYS THE COUNTRY'S UN AMBASSADOR TWO MILLION DOLLARS TO FALL ON HER SWORD

 

Just when you thought that the Dominica-Syria scandal was as bad as it could be, it just got worse. The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Commonwealth of Dominica and Syria, a designated State Sponsor of Terrorism, and facilitator of Hezbollah, as well as supplier of troops for Russia in the Ukraine invasion, was repudiated by Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who claimed it was unauthorized, and the fault of his country's UN Ambassador, Loreen Bannis-Roberts.

Skerrit publicly affirmed that his Ministry of Foreign Affairs neither approved of, nor authorized the diplomatic Agreement Bannis-Roberts executed with the Syrians, and that, for that reason, he had accepted her resignation. Dominica's government then acted as if it was an unfortunate error on their former ambassador's part.  We reported this in our recent article, entitled United Nations Ambassador from Dominica recalled in Aftermath of Global Furor about Relationship with Syria (March 18, 2022).

However, many observers of the Dominica political scene, questioned the accuracy of PM Skerrit's narrative, as wealthy Syrians and government officials had been purchasing Dominica CBI passports for some time, and an international CBI consultancy had published a glowing report on the new diplomatic recognition of Syria by Dominica, leaving many Dominicans to conclude that it was only reversed due to the global outcry that resulted when the Dominica-Syria accord was made public. They were certain that they did not hear the truth about what really happened.

Subsequently, reliable sources inside Dominica's opaque political structure have disclosed what was suspected all along: That Skerrit had forced Bannis-Roberts to lie about her role in the diplomatic recognition, and that she was duly authorized and ordered to sign the diplomatic documents. She received what amounted to a bribe, in the amount of two Million US Dollars, according to our inside sources, to literally commit diplomatic suicide, and admit to executing the Syrian documents, stating that she had committed a serious personal error, that it was without governmental authorization, and that she accepted full blame for the incident. What the political fallout will be from this scandal is unknown, but we will be closely following all developments, and reporting them here as they occur.

 There has not been any public announcement as to who her replacement will be, but rumours are circulating that he will be a Labour politician who was educated in Cuba, speaks Spanish fluently, and will be a better fit for Dominica's China-focused foreign affairs platform. Dominica has, in recent years, come under strong influence from the Peoples' Republic of China, which has made major financial contributions to Dominica's economy, including supporting and advising the country's paramilitary police. Its embassy is believe to be an electronic listening post for China to spy upon American military movements in the Caribbean Sea, and within the Continental United States.

 

  

WILL THE UNITED KINGDOM BLOCK DOMINICA CBI PASSPORTS SOLD TO THE TALIBAN FROM ENTERING THE COUNTRY ?

 

Although global outrage against the diplomatic recognition of Syria, by the Commonwealth of Dominica, due to its CBI passport sales to that State Sponsor of Terrorism, and the imminent posting of Syrian troops to fight alongside Russia in the Ukraine, has forced Dominica to claim the diplomatic action was made in error by its UN Ambassador,* the East Caribbean state has taken a step even more outrageous in the Global War on Terrorism. It is actively negotiating to recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan, and to sell its leaders Dominica CBI passports.

Inasmuch as Dominica CBI passports allow the holder visa-free entry into the United Kingdom, we are wondering if the UK government will ban individuals from Afghanistan who arrive at Heathrow Airport, armed with a Dominica travel document, from entry, and deport then forthwith. There is an information blackout on any details of the Dominica-Afghan agreement, but it is rumoured to have been completed ib secret, with the assistance of a transnational CBI consultancy operating out of the UK.

Our worst nightmare: Taliban freely enter the UK, with their new passports, find a way to enter one of the countries of the European Union, and commit terrorist acts at will. Perhaps the United Kingdom should now restrict ALL Dominica CBI passports, since names, please of birth, and other personal identity information is know to have been changed on other Dominica CBI passports. the Taliban could show up as Pakistani-born, or even a low-risk jurisdiction, and fool the UK Border Agency staff.

No wonder the EU position papers recently released demands the end of CBI passports within the European Union. Now, will the UK step up and block Dominica CBI passports ?

____________________________________________________________________

*United Nations Ambassador from Dominica recalled in Aftermath of Global Furor about Relationship with Syria.(March 18.2022). 

MALTA'S PRIME MINISTER MISREPRESENTED THAT THE OPPOSITION WAS SURPRISED THAT THE FATF GREYLISTED MALTA

 

Still pulling the Strings  by COSIMO

                                              

In a recent interview with Maltese media, in connection with an expected upcoming visit from representatives of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that both his party, Labour, and the Opposition, the Nationalist Party (PN), were "surprised" when the country was Greylisted  by the international regulatory organization. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Nationalist Party, through its leaders, head, for months warned the public that Greylisting was imminent, due to the fact that Malta's government had not charged any of the individuals widely known to be engaged in money laundering, including the former PM, Joseph Muscat, his wife, Michelle Muscat, and several of the former, and sitting, ministers in the Cabinet. The fantasy weaved by Labour leaders, that The favourable MONEYVAL assessment would give the FATF sufficient grounds to decline Greylisting, was just that, a political ploy to deceive the voters.

Furthermore, this blog repeatedly agreed with the PN assessment, and stated that Greylisting was coming, and that Malta must start enforcing its anti-money laundering laws, or become Europe's first EU member to the Greylisted. We cannot emphasize enough that there was sufficient warning from PN, and to state otherwise is to lie to the Maltese public. 

Do not believe for one minute that the FATF, in the absence of actual money laundering indictments, that actually will go to trial, conviction and sentencing to substantial prison time, will let Malta off the hook. Malta, your voters have been fed a steady stream of lies and disinformation about the FATF from the beginning, and the situation will get worse before it gets better. Wake up, before your country turns into another Beirut, drowning in corruption, debt and strife, and bankrupt, without any industry to keep it afloat.

OPEN LETTER TO DOMINICA PRIME MINISTER ROOSEVELT SKERRIT ABOUT SYRIA SCANDAL

OPEN LETTER TO PM ROOSEVELT SKERRIT, WHO IS CAUGHT LYING AGAIN! AMB BANNIS SHOULD FACE THE NATION.

Dear Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit,

Once again, your government has embarrassed the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica in the international arena at a time when the whole world is witnessing the genocidal extermination of the Ukrainian people by a criminal dictator in the name of Vladimir Putin, who is strongly supported by another butcher of the Syrian people, who is preparing to send thousands of mercenaries to assist the Russian criminals in Ukraine.

If ambassador Loreen Bannis Roberts could unilaterally prepare all the diplomatic instruments to establish diplomatic relations with Syria and proceeded to participate in an official signing ceremony without the knowledge and consent of yourself as Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, this demonstrates a high level of incompetence in your government and places at risk the national security of the nation.

How many such instruments did Ambassador Loreen Bannis Roberts sign?

Is it true that your government has established diplomatic relations with the Taliban government of Afghanistan?
A government that has and continues to violate the rights of women and treats them as second class citizens, reversing their gains of over twenty years as human beings with talents equal to that of their male counterparts.

Are you aware of the fact that your director of the CBI Unit and your main international passport vendor, C.S. Global, hailed Dominica’s establishment of diplomatic relations with Syria as a major diplomatic victory for the Commonwealth of Dominica in expanding its Citizenship By Investment programme?

We are aware of the fact that you and your government have very little regard for international diplomacy given your callous disrespect of the issuance of diplomatic passports to international crooks and criminals and the action of your ambassador has elevated the process one notch higher by establishing diplomatic relationship with a rogue regime whose leader has massacred hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians over the last ten years.

To announce to the World that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Dominica became aware of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Syria through social media is even more embarrassing than the alleged action of the ambassador. It mirrors the behaviour of Vladimir Putin and his operatives who blatantly lie to the Russian people and the international community of Russia’s atrocities against the valiant people of Ukraine, when the evidence is visible to all and sundry.

Sadly, you look and act like an exact replica of the butcher in Moscow.

You seem to take your privilege of being the longest serving Prime Minister in the Commonwealth of Dominica to insult the intelligence of the nation and by extension the international community, by giving a lecture of alternative facts on diplomacy.

Your statement of March 18th, 2022 should be withdrawn and you must issue an apology for such callous disrespect to the nation.

The President of the Commonwealth of Dominica must intervene in this matter by convening an inquiry into the matter which will determine the extent to which the national security of the Commonwealth of Dominica has been compromised and the blatant lies of those who swore under oath.

Meanwhile we call on Loreen Bannis Roberts to face the nation in a public forum to inform the citizenry of the details of the debacle that the nation has once against found itself embroiled in.

May God rescue the Commonwealth of Dominica from the atrocities of Roosevelt Skerrit.

WE RESPOND TO READERS' QUERIES REGARDING DETAILS OF HOW THE U.S LET $100m BE LAUNDERED THROUGH NORWAY WITH IMPUNITY

 

A number of our regular readers have asked for more information on the circumstances surrounding how a Special Agent for an American law enforcement agency allowed one hundred million dollars in new US currency, stolen from Iraqi reconstruction funds, to be laundered through a Norwegian bank, and thereafter disappeared. I believe the individual involved, who was then with the DEA, is no longer on active duty, so the story won't damage anyone's career, but it should serve as a reminder that any actionable intelligence about money laundering on a grand scale must be investigated, no matter how unconventional it may seem. When compliance officers uncover such information, they should ensure that it is acted upon, even if they have to make waves to do so.

First, some background. We turn back the clock to the largest  Federal seizure and forfeiture civil action ever brought in the United States to that time, the two hundred and forty million dollar Rosemont Financial case. Rosemont was a licensed money service business operating in Miami that advised its Caracas broker-dealer clients who needed access to the American financial system that its Federal and Florida money service business (MSB) licenses extended to their accounts within Rosemont, known as sub-accounts at the local Miami Bank of America. 

Based upon that totally wrong advice, a number of companies utilized the Miami sub-accounts to move many millions of client dollars at a time through those accounts. Subsequently, Rosemont's senior officer, RAMAKRISHNA VYASULU, agreed to launder what was represented to him to be the proceeds of crime; unfortunately for him, the individuals were DEA Agents, from the Boston Field Division, and he was arrested. He would later enter a plea of guilty to money laundering,  beian cooperating with the authorities, and ultimately receive a short sentence.

In the course of the criminal investigation, it was determined that a large number of Venezuelan brokers were using the Rosemont accounts to transact business in the US, without MSB licenses. The United States Attorney in Massachusetts secured orders to seize approximately $151m of the brokers' clients' money, in 60 accounts, alleging that there were narcotics profits or other criminal proceeds in those accounts.

 A messy civil case ensued, and the brokers settled for large fines and penalties after proving that the funds held for their clients represented legitimate transactions. I know all this because I was tasked by two of the companies to perform enhanced due diligence, to prove that the transactions were from legitimate international business.

While the Boston DEA was investigating the case, I learned, from a reliable Middle East source, of the plan to move over $100m, in cash, stolen from Iraq, into Europe, and into a major Norwegian bank, from where, represented as legitimate capital, it was going onward to certain destinations, for the benefit of the senders. I immediately conveyed this intelligence to the DEA Special Agent handling the Rosemont case, but for some reason not known to me, he chose to ignore the information, and I was later advised that the transfer had been successfully completed. The agent obviously chose to apply all of his attention to the Rosemont case.

While anti-money laundering compliance has come a long way in Norway since then, I still believe that innovative Russian money launderers today, applying tradecraft to the complex web of international corporate relationships I discussed in my recent article, Where will Russian Sanctions Evaders/Money Launderers go now ? Scandinavia, Perhaps (March 17,2022), can successfully launder Russian funds through Scandinavia, without being interdicted. We hope this article will motivate compliance officers in that region accordingly.

READ FINCEN'S RED FLAGS OF RUSSIAN SANCTIONS EVASION

The Financial Crime Enforcement Network, more commonly known as  FinCEN, recently published a heavily annotated article entitled FinCEN Provides Financial Institutions with Red Flags on Potential Russian Sanctions Evasion Attempts. We have extracted the heart of that article, what the agency regards as the Red Flags of Russian sanctions evasion activity, and we list them all here below, for the benefit of our compliance readers, whom we trust have taken our recent article, Where Will Russian Sanctions Evaders/Money Launderers go now ? Scandinavia, Perhaps, to heart, and must brief their staff:

                     
                              RED FLAGS OF RUSSIAN SANCTIONS EVASION

1. Use of corporate vehicles (i.e. legal entities, such as shell companies, and legal arrangements) to obscure (i) ownership, (ii) source of funds, or (iii) countries involved, particularly sanctioned jurisdictions.

2. Use of shell companies to conduct international wire transfers, often involving financial institutions in jurisdictions distinct from company registration.

3. Use of third parties to shield the identity of sanctioned persons and/or PEPs seeking to hide the origin or ownership of funds, for example, to hide the purchase or sale of real estate.17

4. Accounts in jurisdictions or with financial institutions that are experiencing a sudden rise in value being transferred to their respective areas or institutions, without a clear economic or business rationale.

5. Jurisdictions previously associated with Russian financial flows that are identified as having a notable recent increase in new company formations.

6. Newly established accounts that attempt to send or receive funds from a sanctioned institution or an institution removed from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT).

7. Non-routine foreign exchange transactions that may indirectly involve sanctioned Russian financial institutions, including transactions that are inconsistent with activity over the prior 12 months. For example, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation may seek to use import or export companies to engage in foreign exchange transactions on its behalf and to obfuscate its involvement.

UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR FROM DOMINICA RECALLED IN AFTERMATH OF GLOBAL FUROR ABOUT RELATIONSHIP WITH SYRIA

 

Ambassador Bannis-Roberts presents her credentials at the United Nations 

Reports from the Commonwealth of Dominica have indicated that LOREEN BANNIS-ROBERTS, the Permanent Representative (Ambassador) from Dominica to the United Nations (UN) has been summarily recalled home. Bannis-Roberts signed the diplomatic accord with the Arab Republic of Syria, which established official relations, notwithstanding Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, and despite news that approximately 40,000 Syrian troops were being prepared for combat, on behalf of the Russian Federation, in the invasion of Ukraine. The Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries has not been made public, leading to fears that Dominica has agreed to assist Syria in sanctions evasion and money laundering.

Additionally, details of the sale of multiple Dominica Citizenship by Investment (CBI) passports to Syrian government officials (PEPs), and businessmen & celebrities linked to the regime, have leaked out to Arab media, causing serious global political fallout amongst the Western democracies, as well as Dominica voters. The possibility that the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization, Hezbollah, has already or will acquire, Dominica CBI passports, and use them to commit terrorist acts in Europe, has also been a topic of discussion amongst compliance officers, who are already leery of Dominica passports. 

One source has opined that the recall of Bannis-Roberts could be an indication that the Honorable Ambassador is being used as the fall guy, and will be blamed for establishing diplomatic ties, as she signed the documents at the UN. Loreen Ruth Bannis-Roberts is a career Labour Party politician, and a former minister and Acting Prime Minister. Whether she will be dismissed, and possibly face further disciplinary action, is not known at this time.

UPDATE; The Ambassador has abruptly resigned, alleging that she alone, without authorization from Roosevelt Skerrit or the Foreign Minister, opened diplomatic relations with Syria. Nothing could be further from the truth; her resignation was ordered to protect Skerrit and Labour from their decision to get into bed with Syria. Ms. Bannis-Roberts has been sacrificed to  save Skerrit.

WHERE WILL RUSSIAN SANCTIONS EVADERS/MONEY LAUNDERERS GO NOW ? SCANDINAVIA, PERHAPS.

 

Please allow me to don my old money launderer's blazer, put my thinking cap on, and figure out where the smart Russian money managers are most likely apt to test the waters, for the successful evasion of the newly-enacted global sanctions against their country, which will require clever money movement, in an unlikely place, far from the usual routes and jurisdictions, but potentially effective for their goals.

You see, money launderers are only limited by their imaginations. They brainstorm, scheme, research, and plot, often staying up night and weekends, just to match wits with the international banking community, to come up with a cash pipeline never tried before, and apply it to an industry or profession not known to be targeted by financial crime, and that most bankers would not consider to be high-risk.

For those readers who scoff at the use of Norway's financial system by foreign money launderers, let me take you back to a specific scheme created by a an artful team of Iraqi bankers, seeking to move and clean over $100m in US Dollars, diverted from the billions the American military shipped to Iraq for post-war reconstruction. I understand they successfully employed a major Norwegian bank for that task, because an American law enforcement agent who received details about the operation didn't believe it could be done through that financial institution, in that country. 

I think I will follow the breadcrumbs laid down quite convincingly by my friend, Andreas Hobbelin, and choose Scandinavia, in general, and Norway in particular. The country's complex web of interlocking transnational corporations, extremely complex by design, include a number of Russian beneficial owners, and constitute a maze that only compliance officers with attention to detail can unravel. The corporate structures are ripe for exploitation by career money launderers working for Russian interests abroad. That is, if they were not already doing it, before the invasion of the Ukraine.

Let me humbly suggest that compliance officers at Scandinavian financial institutions, especially those whose clients engage in international trade, advise their frontline staff to be especially sensitive to, and promptly report, any transactions that might possibly be Russian sanctions evasion through money laundering; things are seldom what they seem.

RUSSIAN OIL ENROUTE TO MALTA:WILL IT BE REFUSED ?

WTF! One of the three*Russian oil tankers underway in the Mediterranean is, as you can see from the information below, bound for Malta.  Will PM Abela refuse it the ability to drop anchor in the harbour ? We trust, due to Russia's amoral invasion of the Ukraine, that Malta takes a real stand with the EU, not just giving lip service. Malta is being dragged, one way or the other, to opposing Russia, in all ways. Let us hope someone in authority tells the taker not to enter Maltese waters.

Note: this Comment below was published today:

Destination: Valletta Harbour not OPL ( Hurd's Bank) 
This is also an Italian-registered ship.

The current position of SAN FELIX is at Aegean Sea (coordinates 36.85176 N / 23.38625 E) reported 30 mins ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Valletta, Malta, sailing at a speed of 12.5 knots and expected to arrive there on Mar 18, 18:00.

The vessel SAN FELIX (IMO: 9314868, MMSI 247391400) is a Chemical/Oil Products Tanker built in 2007 (15 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Italy.

One other observation:

Malta is the only country in the EU which is on Putin's side. And there is a reason. Metsola take note.

_____________________________________________

* The other two oil tankers are REGISTERED IN MALTA.

MALTA'S LABOUR PARTY TO PAY THINLY-VEILED BRIBES TO VOTERS PRIOR TO NATIONAL ELECTIONS

                                        Labour Minister: " We're the Good Thieves,"  by COSIMO

Fearing that a large number of unhappy Maltese voters who formerly blindly voted for the ruling Labour Party will desert it, due to the massive corruption exposed by media since 2017, the country's Prime Minister, Robert Abela, has resorted to the payment of bribes into their pockets. Disguised as "Tax Rebates," and further burdening a government with an extraordinary amount of debt, the €100 and €200 payments, coming just ahead of National Elections, have been seen by the press for what they actually are.

Independent candidate Arnold Cassola has filed an objection to this obvious bribery attempt, with the Electoral Commission, and the OSCE, naming the PM and Finance Minister Clyde Caruana, and alleging corrupt practices. He is spot on with his charges, although Malta's government agencies, which are rotten to the core, will never act, as their members owe total allegiance to the Labour Party, which appointed them to the offices they hold, in an archaic patronage system that simply has to go.

The only solution to Malta's nine-year corruption nightmare is the dissolution of the Labour Party, whether through voluntary action, or legal means, as its leadership, in bed with both the Maltese Mafia, as well as the country's business sector, whose kickbacks illicit payments to politicians for projects that exploit and loot the Maltese treasury, have rendered the party an Enemy of the State. Malta sorely needs to see the birth of a new political party, philosophically left of centre, but free from the obsolete and negative baggage of Dom Mintoff, whose violent approach to politics still stains Labour, making it unsuitable for the twenty-first century.  

  Here is the complete text of Mr. Cassola's Report: 

Is- Sur Joseph Camilleri

Kummissarju Elettorali Ewlieni

Ghaziz Sur Camilleri,

Qieghed naghmel rapport ufficjali kontra l-kandidati ghall-Elezzjoni, Robert Abela u Clyde Caruana, li f'nofs kampanja elettorali qeghdin iqassmu miljuni ta' flus, suppost stimolu ghall-irupru mill-Covid, lill-votanti Maltin.

   Infakkar li bhalissa dawn it-tnejn huma parti minn "caretaker government" u ma ghandhom l-ebda dritt li jqassmu flus il-poplu f'nofs kampanja elettorali li huma stess qed jiehdu sehem fiha bhala kandidati.

    Dana jammonta ghal corrupt practice car.

    Nitlob lill-kummissjoni elettorali tiehu azzjoni immedjata.

     Jekk joghgbok, zommni infurmat.

     Kopja ta' dan ir-rapport ufficjali tieghi qed jintbaghat lill-membri tal-OSCE/OIHDR Election Expert Team, li qed jimmoniterjaw l-elezzjonijiet f'Malta.

Inselli ghalik.

Arnold Cassola

FOR THOSE READERS WHO DID NOT KNOW WHO CANDIDATE ARNOLD CASSOLA IS