Travel arrangements

On August 8 The Times reported that three people were sentenced to a long term of imprisonment for having attempted to organise the escape of illegal immigrants to Sicily.

What a paradox. First of all, if Malta's problem with illegal immigration is that the Maltese do not have the facilities nor the money for their upkeep, why are we imposing stiff prison sentences on those helping these people get away from here?

Secondly, aiding illegal immigrants, people who have done absolutely nothing "criminal", escape from prolonged detention in our hastily set up prison camps, cannot be a morally wrong act and, as it stands, the law is not only draconian but it encourages an "its nothing to do with me" unchristian ethic.

Given the government's passiveness and inertia at solving the illegal immigrants' problem, I feel that people who choose to take action and aid illegal immigrants escape from Malta's horrendous detention centres for a more dignified life in Italy should in no way be treated on the same level we treat thieves, drug barons and murderers, even if they do demand money by way of compensation for their assistance.