Charity vs national interests

The latest protest against detention held by illegal immigrants at Hal Far is very significant. The fear has already been expressed that if the local authorities are not well prepared to control the problem of illegal immigration the nation is facing, Malta will become a "little Brixton". Unfortunately this problem has reached its limits. The authorities are in troubled waters, afraid of losing control of the whole situation.

Question: What were the EU's intentions when giving Malta responsibility over an additional 300 square miles of patrolling zone?

Question: Was the EU informed that our armed forces are limited when it comes to performing such a task?

In the meantime more illegal immigrants are arriving. Most of them come from north and central Africa. Some arrived three years ago and are still here! There is nothing wrong in helping these people. On the contrary, it is the duty of every Christian Roman Catholic to do so. But, we cannot ignore our national interest for the sake of charity. Malta, like any other country, has its own problems. To make matters worse, the world is heading towards an energy crisis.

Charity pleases God. It is our duty to be charitable. On the other hand, one must be prudent. Even with regard to charity! Illegal immigrants are costing the country thousands of liri.

One of the protesting immigrants (a male) lamented about the quality of food they are given. I am sure this was not justified. What do these people expect? A five-star hotel service? Maltese people feed even a stray dog; they give to an animal the same food they have on their own table! Just imagine how they would treat a human being.

Having said that, it has to be borne in mind that these people come from a different culture.

Do the authorities realise that a continuous influx of illegal immigrants could constitute a threat to the country's independence and security? Brigadier Carmel Vassallo, head of the Armed Forces of Malta, stated that the number of illegal immigrants is about to exceed the number of members in the army.

The police have concluded and made it known publicly that the illegal transportation of illegal migrants is developing into an industry.

Many of these illegal immigrants are of Arab origin en route to France and Bulgaria. They come from Morocco, Libya, and Algiers carrying Egyptian passports.

An apartment in Sliema, supposedly rented as a residence, was being used as a mosque where people did not only pray but also listened to people preach God knows what.

Unfortunately, if one tries to bring to the attention of the public the fact that illegal immigration is a serious problem economically and socially, such person will be labelled a racist. It is not a matter of being a racist or not when defending the values and the traditions of our fathers. That is a moral duty.

We are living in a multicultural world. Europe is facing the problem of Muslim fundamentalism.

These fundamentalists are trying to Islamise (if the word exists) Europe. They practise their religious beliefs in the countries they settle in and build mosques in Christian and Catholic European countries but they don't allow Christians to build churches in their countries.

Our Roman Catholic faith teaches us that the peoples of the world are the same, and everyone must live with one another. We must help those in need and the Maltese like to help others. Most of the illegal immigrants who disembark on our shores are people searching for a better life. It is true. Many come to escape poverty, torture, and death.

The Maltese people encourage the authorities to help such immigrants. They also urge the authorities to examine the immigrants' situation in order to proceed to send them to a country where they can practise their beliefs and traditions and not remain here for years.

I am sure that Malta is neither a racist nor a fascist country and will never be one. It has to be made clear that both fascism and racism are not part of the Maltese people's nature.