Two boatloads of migrants arrive

Raymond Sammut

Jul 3rd 2008, 20:04

Dictate? What put this word into your head?

Corinne Vella

Jul 1st 2008, 21:49

Raymond Sammut: It seems the baby was on a boat with its mother, a woman whose presence you seem to have missed.

You do not know me from Adam so you cannot know what I do or do not acknowledge. I'm not sure how you developed the attitude that you may dictate what I should do or say, but please disabuse yourself of the notion that I am obliged to obey.

Raymond Sammut

Jun 28th 2008, 20:28

@ Corinne Vella

The baby in this picture was put on a boat by human traffickers whose activity you refuse to acknowledge.

Corinne Vella

Jun 25th 2008, 17:30

Raymond Sammut: I do, and I don't need your permission to do so. I made that comment as I find it strange that, given your stated concern about the thousands who drown trying to get to Europe, you still see fit to make crude and sarcastic jokes on the matter in an attempt to make a point.

Raymond Sammut

Jun 25th 2008, 01:33

@ Corinne Vella

Suppose as you please.

Corinne Vella

Jun 24th 2008, 12:51

Raymond Sammut: "I think it's about time to start taking things with a bit of humour"

I suppose you mean 'gallows humour' given that you are talking about desperate escape from torture and possible death.

Raymond Sammut

Jun 24th 2008, 09:07

J.M. Chapelle hits the nail on the head. The thought had crossed my mind a number of times.

The hard cold fact is that these people we see here, and like whom there are many thousands, certainly do need help, and hopefully they will receive help. But the way things are going is simply unacceptable. Where is Ms Bordanaro at the USA embassy at Ta' Qali? Has she lost her voice, or has she become too shy all of a sudden? Is it not time that she stopped cherry picking, get real, and report what is going on here to the USA government. It has now become clear that neither the Maltese government nor Brussels have got any idea as to what they are going to do with this pathetic situation. The only chance we've got is for the USA to step in, and fix this lamentable comedy.

Charles Debono

Jun 24th 2008, 05:31

Do not blame the goverment or the opposition for both are Brussel's puppits. Blame the maltese who voted for them. In the last election we had an opportunity to stop this, yet the majority voted through their sentiment not with the heads.

J.M. Chapelle

Jun 24th 2008, 00:31

Gaddafi will succeed where Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent failed c450 years ago.

Deborah Mifsud

Jun 24th 2008, 00:13

well frontex's job is not to keep immigrants away but only to resue them if they are indistress and if they need help. the fact that frontex job is to keep off immigrants is a misconseption that the media and the goverment let the general public think.

Raymond Sammut

Jun 23rd 2008, 23:35

In an article “Police bust people smuggling network” (23/6/08), The Times reported:

“Police across Europe have busted an Iraqi-run network that smuggled illegal immigrants into the continent for fees of up to 12,000 euros ($18,630) per person, European officials said on Monday.”

In another article 'I was tied in the helicopter position and tortured'” (22/6/08), The Times reported:

“His fellow Christians forked at another $1,400 for his trip from Libya to Italy [Malta] and on July 27, 2007, he squeezed into a tiny boat with 26 other illegal immigrants.”

I think it's about time to start taking things with a bit of humour, and congratulate Tonio Borg & Co. for providing the same service at a 90% discount.

james galea

Jun 23rd 2008, 22:37

I think we are being taken for a ride with frontex. Who do they think they are kidding

Silvan Agius

Jun 23rd 2008, 20:36

Is the title of this article telling of the Times' bias in its reporting on this issue or what? Since when a group of persons a boat have become a 'boatload'?

Louise Vella

Jun 23rd 2008, 20:27

Last week Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici said 8800 illegal immigrants had arrived in 2002-2007. A newspaper (L-Orizzont) said that since the beginning of this year 637 more had arrived. That makes it 8800+637 = 9437. On 22 June the arrival of 27 more was announced and on 23 June another 55. That makes a grand total of 9519. We are approaching the 10000 mark. At this rate we shall reach it with the arrival of 18 more boats, that is, in July. May I suggest that Dr Mifsud Bonnici should get ready to welcome the 10000th illegal immigrant at Hay Wharf with a garland of flowers and a bottle of champagne. Maybe the AFM's band should be deployed for the occasion too.

v.pulis

Jun 23rd 2008, 19:32

WHERE IN HEAVEN'S NAME IS FRONTEX or should we rename it BACKEX?! as it sure isn't on the ront line.

Adrian Allain

Jun 23rd 2008, 18:47

Ah! So they're migrants now, not illegal immigrants.

That means they had passports and, if necessary, visas. So thats OK.

I don't know why the Times keeps on reporting these arrivals. It's not news anymore because it will just go on and on, day after day, week after week.

You'll get used to it, and just accept it, as our labour government has in the UK.

Noel Cutajar

Jun 23rd 2008, 18:21

Has anyone seen Frontex around? I think that they are patrolling in the wrong areas...berthed inside harbours!!1 Wake up if you truly exist and stop wasting money!!!

Salvatore Aquilina

Jun 23rd 2008, 18:12

This cannot go on and on. Where is Frontex? Are they stopping illegal immigrants in an other country? What the Maltese government is doing and the MLP just let them in more and more