Dangerous immigration cliché (3)

Ms Geraldine Mallia uses rather strong language to condemn the presence of what she describes as "an ever growing number of Russian, Bulgarian and Ukrainian women" in Malta.

It seems that Ms Mallia has forgotten that Bulgaria has now joined the EU, and therefore its citizens now have every right to come to live and work in Malta just like we Maltese have the right to go to live and work in another EU country. And probably she had already written her letter when it was announced that 3,923 non-EU citizens hold a permit to work in Malta. I am sure that this figure includes a number of Russians and Ukrainians, both men and women.

Of course, one has every right to ask on what criteria have these permits been issued, especially if these foreigners are making it more difficult for Maltese to find work. And one has every right to insist with the authorities to take the necessary steps against all non-EU citizens working illegally in Malta, and those employing them.

But I think that no one has the right to make very serious allegations against a whole category of people, simply because of their gender and their nationality.