Updated: Calm restored at Safi detention centre

Corinne Vella

Mar 16th 2008, 20:33

Chris Poulton: "They" are not free to leave. The people you're talking about were in a detention centre. I'm not too sure where you got your information about clothing or what you consider suitable clothing in cold weather. I normally wear socks and shoes and a warm sweater and jacket when outdoors (and sometimes inside, too). Not everyone in the detention centres has those things. As for prostitution, maybe you should try exercising a little compassion. Given the type of 'client' one might expect, who on earth would prostitute him or herself if there were another way of earning a living?

Chris Poulton

Mar 14th 2008, 16:09

Malta is heavily-populated enough already. Malta cannot afford illegal (and please stop calling them irregular) immigrants. We have rights. They have a right. The right to leave. Let us allow them to exercise that right, and let us live in peace. So far we have accomodated them, we have fed them, we have clothed them and we are educating their children ALL FOR FREE. When is it going to stop? They are already rioting. They are prostituting themselves. They are free to leave.

Corinne Vella

Mar 14th 2008, 14:47

Wayne Hewitt: Sudan and Somalia are not an appropriate benchmark. People from those countries who end up here are escaping from the sort of horror you hint at.

Maria Schembri

Mar 14th 2008, 11:22

Mr. Pisani: whoever ends his/her statement with that sentence does not mean that he/she is a racist.
Personally I'm far from being a racist, I have daily arguments with my friends about illegal immigrants and I'm always arguing in their favour. However I feel disappointed when such events happen. Amnesty International, among other organisations, is always ready to pounce on the Maltese government to say that these people are not being treated well. However it seems to fail to notice such events. I believe that respect has to come from both sides; we have to help the people in the detention centres, but in return they have to respect and appreciate what the Maltese are doing for them, instead of smashing up the centres and trying to hurt the persons who work there.
After defending them with all my might, I am highly disappointed when such events take place.

Gianfranco Spiteri

Mar 14th 2008, 11:20

unfortunately this is a problem that is bigger than Malta. By detaining people we will not stop illegal immigration. Do you know that Italy detains irregular migrants for 2 days (maximum)then moves them to open centres? Is that a deterrent? Doesnt our current detention strategy make people risk their lives even more while on open seas to get to Italian waters?
I am not defending the "wrongs" immigrants are doing - the simple fact is that if we did not detain people, there would be no detention centres and no place for riots!
If you think detention works - have you seen any evidence that numbers of immigrants are down since detention has been in place? How does detention help integration of immigrants within our society?
Try to forget innuendos and think objectively

Jeremy J Camilleri

Mar 14th 2008, 09:38

I wonder what the Ian Sammut's of this world would say, where they to wake up one morning, drinking a soda in his kitchen. When he asks me why i'm there, my reply would be that I have had trouble at home, and got kicked out. I would continue that I have no where else to go to, and that I would be staying there for the time being.
Where he to ask me for my id card, I would say it got lost along the way. I would also expect to sleep in his bedroom,wash and in his bath, use his kitchen and eat his food. Where he to disagree with the arrangement, I would assume that he was doing so because I was white, and call him racist!

Alex Spiteri

Mar 14th 2008, 09:15

Mela the problem of illegal immigration is still with us?! Following the election campaign, I thought the problem was over, since not a slightest mentioned was heard by the established parties!

I would like to publicly thank these Illegal Immigrants for this important wake up call!

H. Farrugia

Mar 14th 2008, 09:07

In reply to Ian Spiteri, GF Spiteri, Jos. Briffa, Alexandra Betts and Moses, I have this to say: How many illegals have you housed in your homes so that they are not put in detention? In the second place, the detention at least is serving its purpose. You know as I know, that these poor folks are living like pashas in our country despite their forced detantion. They are given 3 meals for high quality caterers, (not even I have this luxury) they are given immediate health care (I have to make an appointment for 2 years from now), and in the third place, when after some months they are out of detention, they call in their familes to join them here in Malta. Malta has had enough of this. To all those do gooders my advice is: prepare your bags to move out of Malta because very soon we sill be a minority in our own country. And this is too much..

Frank Camilleri

Mar 13th 2008, 21:36

Our country is too small to cater for illegal immigrants. Defending them in their wrongs encourages further influx together with less respect towards our laws and culture. At the rate things are going we are heading towards a situation of ending up as second class citizens in our own country. Being aware and accepting the fact of this bizarre reality is not being racist but rather being practical and rational. Illegal immigration must be stopped within the parameters of the legal framework.

Moses Mula

Mar 13th 2008, 20:25

Great point G Spiteri. Every other person in Malta seems to think that these persons have risked their lives and paid huge amounts of money just to come and live in Malta.The name detention centre reminds me of prison and these people should not in any way be punished for being born in countries ruled by dictators and warlords. I know that Malta cannot provide the same quality of life to these individuals like Sweden does, and i mentioned Sweden because that is where i reside now, but keep in mind that if you invest in these people, they will be an asset to Malta in the near future.

Alexandra Betts

Mar 13th 2008, 20:06

Mr Farrugia,I am not in any way condoning aggressive or violent behaviour but I wonder how you or I would behave if we were cooped up in detention for months on end with absolutely nothing to do.

Mark Pisani

Mar 13th 2008, 18:55

Isn't it ironic that most people who write/say racist comments end their statements with, I'm not racist but...

Joseph E briffa

Mar 13th 2008, 18:35

Mark Anthony...send them to Africa? Where, in Africa? Ships and planes go to specific ports or airports..not to a whole continent?

Wayne Hewitt

Mar 13th 2008, 18:32

Gianfranco, let's say that they should be here for starters. Try to enter Sudan or Somalia and see what happens to you if you are caught...

Andre Gialanze

Mar 13th 2008, 18:23

I don’t think that detention facilities are 5 star hotels...but I do think that given the massive influx it is the best that we could do. Kindly bear in mind what each and every one of them costs us in terms of rate per night….its not just about the building and facilities….Ultimately, these people are ILLEGAL migrants... they can’t expect to have a silver service.

I sincerely hope that this newly elected government does take some concrete action on this issue. (e.g.: push for a burden sharing agreement with other EU states...and as a last resort.. deport them back to their respective countries)

Gianfranco Spiteri

Mar 13th 2008, 17:24

Seriously, H Farrugia, do you believe spending a minimum of 6 months in detention and a maximum of 1 and a half years good treatment??? This is besides the "great" facilities we are providing them to live in.
People convicted of much worse offenses than arriving in Malta without a passport have received much lighter sentences!

Ian Sammut

Mar 13th 2008, 17:02

I wouldn't be quite so quick to say that these people are being well treated Mr. Farrugia.

Please check the facts first. I am not supporting the fire or any disruption caused there but to say that they are being well treated is a bit much.

Mark Anthony Vella

Mar 13th 2008, 16:59

Why is the government not taking action to send them back to Africa since Brussels is ignoring our sacrifice? Apparently they don't care if we end up paying more and more for these migrants! I'm not a racist but these people will end up imposing conditions on us if they grow in number!

Leo Borg

Mar 13th 2008, 16:52

This is another issue, the PM has to tackle. Hunting, Pyrotechnics, migrants, Dockyard, Tax Evasion, MEPA... Kuragg

H. Farrugia

Mar 13th 2008, 16:16

I think that we Maltese have had enough of this. The migrants are being well treated and in what manner are they paying us back? With rioting.