Kurt Sansone
Trade delegation visas withdrawn
India has withdrawn the travel visas of a number of Maltese businessmen to signal that it is taking a serious view of the case of five Indian students facing a deportation order, sources close to the Indian government said.
A Malta Enterprise delegation, expected to visit India in the coming days, has been informed that travel visas issued to some of the businessmen operating in the education sector have been withdrawn.
The move was intended to send the message that the Indian government was taking the case of the five students very seriously, the source said.
However, the Foreign Affairs Ministry denied any link between the students' case and the visa issue. "The case of the five Indian students is being examined by the Immigration Appeals Board. There seems to be no connection between the issue of visas to members of the trade delegation and the deportation of the students," a ministry spokesman said.
Top officials from the Indian High Commission in Tripoli, including the High Commissioner, have visited Malta over the past two weeks to follow the case closely.
The students, who were studying management and logistics at a Ħamrun school, have appealed a deportation order after being reported to the police for failing to attend classes. Visas are issued to students on condition they attend school regularly.
The students, who insist they want to continue their studies in Malta, were detained for two weeks at the Ta' Kandja detention centre before being released on bail by the Immigration Appeals Board.
Their legal representative, Leon Bencini, said the students were treated in a horrible way. "They are not criminals. They simply had issues with the school and are denying all charges. They lost their freedom for two weeks and that is no joke," he said.
The students are not attending school and their appeal is still pending.
"All they want is to continue studying in Malta and obtain the diploma they set out to achieve," Dr Bencini said, pointing out they had paid thousands of euros to follow their one-year course.
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17 Comments
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Marija Attard
Nov 27th 2009, 12:31
Dear Alex Borg,
You have alleged that they were working unofficially. This is confidential and unproven. Your mention of 'Zeppi tal-haxix' also qualifies as an allegation.
A. Borg
Nov 19th 2009, 10:32
@ Alex Borg.
So you are saying that you are happy with this case? 5 of your students have been passing through a martyr for the last 15 days whilst claiming that you didnt deliver what you promised to them and you say that you are happy and that this made you popular? What a sick way of making publicity to your school... very sick! Why don't you accept them back to school and show us your clemency?
What about "Zeppi tal-Haxix"..... what did you mean with that comment? I presume readers are interested to know....
Alex Borg
Nov 19th 2009, 04:39
To: Mr. Debono: I think you are impressed with Villas and high campus, then you must be dreaming. You can have a villa or a big college and then you wll not have the required standards and permissions to operate. If you have some time I would suggest you to go around the island to familiarise yourself with the local training situation.
If you or any one else (like Mr. Borg) would be interested to know more about us, then you are invited to come to our training centre for a coffee. This case is making us very popular and I thank people like you to write more about us.
Michael Debono
Nov 18th 2009, 18:15
@ Alex Borg
Are the 6+ employees you mentioned registered as full time employees of SSM Group with ETC? Maybe ETC can confirm or otherwise your level of service to them.
Is it true that you operate from an apartment in Hamrun? If it is true, how can a College which aspire to attract international students operate from an apartment? Don't you think that a College operating from an apartment can damage Malta's educational reputation if that College brings foreign students to Malta? That can spread the word on the international market that Malta operates Apartment-Colleges !
A. Borg
Nov 18th 2009, 14:48
@ Alex Borg.
Thanks for clarifying the situation for the readers. I was just commenting on what I heard with reference to the size of the school, and complaints about some ill delivered programmes at ETC. I never ever heard about SSM, and got to know after reading the story of these indian students... there is hearsay that you have not delivered to them what it was promised... Sorry but this is what I heard. Also can you please clarify what do you mean with "Zeppi tal-Haxix"? Very unclear... and "unprofessional guy"? Is it a worker at ETC?
Who accredits the school?
Thanks for your reply.
Alex Borg
Nov 18th 2009, 11:49
Att: Mr. A Borg:
I am not going into the details but its good to know that these students have passed their 01st exam and we were in the second module when they have vanish for 2 whole weeks.
We discovered that thet were working unofficial.
Small or large school has nothing to do as long you have standards and qaulity in place. We are audited every year by UK consultants and we don`t pay money (under the table) to keep our accredition. Also we didn`t pay any money to (Zeppi tal-haxix) to get the status of an accredited branch.
Its not a one man show but 6+ people show! At ETC we have been provided training for 15 years. For the last 5/6 years we have always won the trust of ETC to continue providing the training despite the trouble we have been facing from an unforfessional GUY. SSM reputation is on high level and rest assured it will REST.
Before you do any comments make your research and be seroius and don`t be a joker.
A. Borg
Nov 17th 2009, 11:26
Did the SSM School of Hamrun, actually deliver what it promised to students? ..... is it true that this school is very very small and operates from an apartment in Hamrun... how can it be so serious if it's a one man show? who knows if the director of the school reported the students to free some of his space, or maybe reported them after they lodged a complaint for a bad service? SSM School??? have you who ever heard of it? It's not renowned as the large IT and Management schools in Malta... I got to know about it through complainants at ETC.... .
Frank Vella
Nov 17th 2009, 08:56
Removing visas is one thing but treating our former guests in a horrible way is something very serious and I congratulate the Indian authorities for taking a strict stand. How can Malta think that India needs Malta? Isn't it the other way round?
Knowing many schools in Malta I would not be surprised if the issue with the Indian students was caused by the school itself and not by the students. Malta has to make sure that schools do deliver what they promise.
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Nov 17th 2009, 08:11
Without in any way commenting on these particular cases, student visas are often taken advantage of by people wanting to settle overseas. Some nationalities are renowned for this sort of thing. Congratulations to the Maltese government for deciding to deport people on a student visa who do not study. They stuff it up for everyone else. Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
david calleja
Nov 16th 2009, 19:27
I am informed that Cyprus has a large number of Indian Students studying there - (a figure of 20,000 was quoted) - i'm sure that they have the usual problems - just like with any other nationality... to miss out on this opportunity is crazy and very short-sighted, we need to attract this kind of business... and please no talk of tit-for-tat - look at the numbers and then think about who would come off worse in that scenario! Finally Mr. Hunt, i work and meet with a lot ''Asians'' in my line of work - by and large i find them to be no different from any other group of people - your statement is biased and, i think racist. Iam sick and tired of this patriotic nonsense on issues where this ''patriotism'' is simply not the issue.
Francis Bellizzi
Nov 16th 2009, 16:07
These so called indian students are doing that in the UK as well. Just watch the programme " UK Border force " It`s very illuminating!
lgalea
Nov 16th 2009, 14:35
Childish Indian diplomacy.
There is a difference between helping your citizens and helping those who have abused their visa conditions.
Does the Indian Foreign Ministry condone their citizens breaking their visa conditions?
They need to export their goods not vice-versa.
If we don't get them from India we can get them elsewhere.
Richard Marlowe
Nov 16th 2009, 12:44
I hope this mess gets sorted out for the students and the trade delegation.
George Hunt ... We find your sweeping generalisation "typical Asian way of doing things" quite extraordinary and racist. This is unacceptable to assume all Asia and Asian culture is the same. And where did you get the information that all Asia is the same!
You are ill informed and lacking in general basic cultural knowledge.
Many reading your comment on this, the world-wide web, will find your opinion rude in the extreme.
AJ Anastasi
Nov 16th 2009, 12:14
I do not believe that the Indian High Commission is so small minded!
AJA.
Eric Soames
Nov 16th 2009, 11:46
Maybe the authorities can check up on some other (untouchable?) illegal aliens just as assiduously.
George Hunt
Nov 16th 2009, 11:25
Its definitly a Tit for Tat case, how silly and childish from the Indian Authorities. typical Asian way of doing things.
DVella
Nov 16th 2009, 11:24
So now we have a diplomatic 'tit for tat' retaliation . . . . how petty!!!