Amended: 110 migrants being brought to Malta

Martin portelli

Jul 23rd 2008, 17:36

The issue needs to be addressed pragmatically. Dr. Henry Frendo, was one of the few contributors to the debate who in my opinion had given an interesting and sensible take on this phenomenon. How we are consistently confounding illegal economic immigrants and refugees and how we tend to equate unreservedly the xenophobia as expressed in countries that have hosted large immigrant communities in pseudo ghettos for nearly half a century, to the uncertainties expressed in a small island like Malta experiencing a rise in numbers in a very short spate of years. Even the prime minister has progressed to the use of stronger words recently. The human tragedy needs to be addressed but I'm sure that national interest should at some point feature on the government’s and the opposition’s agenda.

Martin portelli

Jul 23rd 2008, 17:34

Why should there be a one word against AFM personnel? That's one job they do brilliantly and meticulously. Like the Italians, humanitarian assistance is something the Maltese do well and we should be proud of our culture and ethic. However,did any one watch the feature on RAI Education on illegal immigration and attitudes and detention centres, comparing the Maltese situation to that of Lampedusa? Needless to say, the Maltese were portrayed as veritable xenophobes. The shot alternating between the Justice Minister Mifsud Bonnici’s sumptuous surroundings and the detention centres drove home a very interesting story. What I really appreciated was an interview with one of the Jesuit fathers with the politically incorrect action of someone slapping a young immigrant child when he got too close to a gas cylinder as a backdrop. Didn’t anyone at the Justice ministry or indeed the jesuit communiuty have a look at the footage at all?

Raymond Sammut

Jul 13th 2008, 13:50

@ Joseph Galea
@ A Sciberras

"Give the immigrants a Maltese passport and off they go - legally to the rest of the EU, just like Spain is doing ... if this encourages more of them to come over, it should'nt be a problem - how much does a passport cost?"

In economic terms, the cost per passport is trivial. But have you considered the possibility that you might run out of ink and paper?

And how many files shall you need to keep sharpening the tips of your printing machine? There are two million waiting their turn in Libya, not counting the many babies that shall be born during waiting time. Procurement and mobilisation of boats by human traffickers are the only constraints, but these shall mitigate with every passing winter.

As more and more are lured and trafficked northerly, and keeping in mind that people are drowning while others are risking their lives in trying to save lives, would you be able to propose an alternative plan?

Corinne Vella

Jul 13th 2008, 13:49

S. Camilleri: "Who are the patriots of Malta?" What utter rubbish. If Gonzi sees this issue as a humanitarian one, then maybe that's because it is. What are you planning to have the secret police do - in secret? Massacre everyone in sight?

All this hysteria is a little unseemly and misdirected in a country where people kill their own spouses after years of violent bullying and abuse their own children and those of others too.

n camilleri

Jul 12th 2008, 06:25

@ everyone....... i think this is a call for a hand to hand protest, let's protect what we have left please. blue or red we all need to work hand in hand here and do something.

gaffarena joseph

Jul 12th 2008, 05:47

With the rate that they are invading us, in 3 months we will have 3,000 illegals here.This means that we have to pump more millions of euros out of our pockets,for the cause of giving these illegals, some of them with criminal records, more power to keep on weakening our economy and culture.
What are we gaining from these illegals.Why they are invading europe?.This is a very well plan strategy that they come by millions to invade europe, and bring this chaos in our shores.
Wherever they settled t hey brought only hardship to us,and in no one will ever try to stop them.This is what happened in major cities all over europe.
Yes, we have to act now,because to morrow it might be too late.We have to bring our children in our minds, our culture, our health,and statr securitytelling our govt, that this is a matter of national dialoge, and not a EU, one.Frontex is not keeping threse illegals away from our shores, but bringing them by larger number to us.The EU, is doing nothing to safeguard our interest on this grave matter

Marcelle Cini

Jul 11th 2008, 14:57

The sound of silence from our members of parliament is so deafening that we cannot hear them anymore.When are they going to address this problem seriously.

dorianne bugeja

Jul 11th 2008, 13:34

We dont want burden sharing or money from the EU that is not the solution because the more help you give the more they come.

We want them to stop coming !!! It is the Nationalist Party government that is responsible and he is doing very little. They are costing us more taxes and we have as a whole have already such a burden with cost of living and fuel prices let alone thousand of people we have to support and the many children the bear.

Dr Gonzi we elected you to protect us. Although Norman Lowell sometimes absurd things but he speaks true and forsee the black future we are having with them

Joseph W. Galea

Jul 11th 2008, 03:07

A Sciberras>>>> Give the immigrants a Maltese passport and off they go - legally to the rest of the EU, just like Spain is doing. One can always come up with a silly excuse for this - to help them integrate (with the rest of the EU!).

S.Camilleri

Jul 10th 2008, 22:35

Its a battle of ideas, who are the patriots of malta, someone among the two big political forces have to come out, but it seems know one wants to wave a battle of this kind. It may be dangerous and unkind for the person. I don´t think that the new Labour leader is going to take such a risk so early in his politcal career. And Gonzi see it as a humanitarian issue. Other wise the follower of Mr Lowel are just fanatics, amused by their own words used. Maybe its time to use our secret service police, let them do the dirty work for our blessed nation, in secret.

v.pulis

Jul 10th 2008, 21:43

@ray pace Have you read one single word against the AFM personell in all of these comments? I am sure that the armed forces who are at the forefront of this crisis have everybody's admiration and support.We don't even hold it against the migrants. What we want is to stop these voyages starting in the first place precisely to stop people dying and because Malta simply cannot cope alone. the fact that other countries are facing the same problem is beside the point. Every country is trying to get to grips with this phenomenon each in its own way. the problem with malta is that we have not found the solution that suits us. Getting too emotional about it doesn't help.

ray pace

Jul 10th 2008, 19:52

What if you were in their place? Wouldn't you want to be rescued? What about the dead people - doesn't anyone care about them? This is a worldwide phenomenen and not a malta problem only. See nearby Lampedusa, Calabria, Sicily, Spain.........Accusing the PM and goernment as weak will not solve the problem. Our Armed Forces should be commended for the tough and sterling work being carried out.

agrech

Jul 10th 2008, 19:46

Our beloved Prime Minister said: "IVA FLIMKIEN KOLLOX POSSIBBLI" and to make it even better, the "flimkien" will increase in number with the illegal immigrants.

Viva Gonzi and his empty promises.

We have been fooled big time.

John Spiteri

Jul 10th 2008, 19:03

Josie told you what's going to happen and what should be done. but where was everyone on election day? There's only one party who had the consistency to point out that unless this issue is addressed with conviction, then one day (and at the rate they're coming in) not that distant we will realise that we've lost control of our native land. do your bit, join the only party that has kept its side of the bargain. moaning will get us nowhere, unless each citizen does not give his share, then we're all done!

Joanne Micallef

Jul 10th 2008, 18:20

No body will feel pressured enough to seriously take a harsh stand in the best interest of our country if we don’t take our protest to the streets. If you all remember the Goverment started addressing this issue only after the first National Protest organized by ANR.
If we have another successful National protest nobody can deny that the Maltese want action against this silent invasion. By complaining behind closed doors whenever they do a program on illegal immigration they try to make it look like there are only a few hundred that have a problem with all these arrivals.

James Hamilton

Jul 10th 2008, 17:49

What I would like to see is Frontex being disbanded, it doesn't seem to be functioning properly anyway. It's obvious that the Italian ship would prefer the migrants to be brought to Malta rather than letting them continue their journey to Italy.

By all means let our overworked lads in the AFM continue to help the migrants by escorting and assisting them to their preferred destination, that being the European mainland.
I would also like to say that the AFM are doing a magnificent job with very little recognition.
Well done lads.

Alfred Farrugia

Jul 10th 2008, 17:39

When Australia started to take a hard line against illegal immigrants – with agreement between government and opposition – it started paying nearby Pacific islands for taking unwanted illegal immigrants there. In October 2001 Australian frigate HMAS Adelaide fired shots across the bow of an Indonesian ship carrying asylum-seekers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1584024.stm

I am not suggesting that the Italian naval vessel should have fired on the migrants’ boat, but it should have taken them back to their point of departure or to Italy, and not to Malta. I do not believe that these migrants are criminals or sick, and I completely agree that they should be treated in a humane way.

4 things can be done. Seek the human trafficking cartels and put them in detention centres for 18 months at a time. Regularize the position of the illegal immigrants, as Spain did, and let them continue their journey to wherever they want, if necessary 27 at a time. Introduce a Migrants Directive at the EU similar to the Birds Directive. Let the EU address the conflicts in Africa and try to resolve them, and help them recover economically – the root cause of this entire problem.

john fenech

Jul 10th 2008, 17:29

Facts: Illegal immigrants do not wish to come to Malta. The boats they use are not equipped to travel the distance to their desired destination. Frontex has a Budget of 8 M euro.
Conclusion: If hypothetically the immigrants have 700 boats at their disposal bought @ €11500 each, with a capacity of 25 passengers. This will equate to 11500 happy immigrants and a load off our shoulders for the next 11 years.
Since this is wishful thinking at least in future we might have an option how to utilise the Frontex budget

Louise Vella

Jul 10th 2008, 16:51

Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici said he has a contingency plan in case the number of illegal immigrants exceeds 2000. Does his contingency plan include using the empty premises of some religious orders very active in promoting the interests and privileges of refugees and illegal immigrants?

J.camenzuli

Jul 10th 2008, 16:40

Apartheid imported into Malta: ADT take note - My wfe and I were about to board the number 13 bus at the Valletta Terminal, up came a group of coloured people jumped the queue saying "Our bus, Our bus".

On another occassion while waiting for the number 13 Bus (Valletta termnal) to leave up came acoloured woman holding a baby in one hand and a sheet of paper in the other with words written in english begging for money. What next!!!

Future doesn't look good for us Maltese especially our children. The way they are coming the maltese society is about to see its demise.

C Damato

Jul 10th 2008, 16:28

I hope at least one government official (or maybe Dr. Gonzi himself) has some time to read such comments down here and similar comments following the daily daily daily arrivals of .....

Maybe they or HE realises how FED UP to the brim we, yes WE Maltese citizens are!

Its like shouting & struggling while you are sinking in a "quick-sand"... i.e. to no avail...

SHAME ON YOU...!

v.pulis

Jul 10th 2008, 16:26

@Mario Aquilina. We cannot help but talk of numbers instead of individuals because that is precisely the problem/crisis we are facing. when we used to get an insignificant number of migrants a year we could afford to speak of individuals but now that we are being inundated individualism is being obliterated by sheer numbers. we are just over 400,000 Maltese on this bit of rock we call home. it doesn't take much to dilute our population. at this rate, in twenty years' time we will look back and curse ourselves for being so complacent and this is not xenophobia. this is fact. If there is a way to dissuade these people from making these perilous voyages we would be doing them a favour.

R.Gauci

Jul 10th 2008, 16:10

@ Mario Aquilina

I agree with you every one has a story of individual importanceand I tell you mine!!!
I had to fly from this island and leave my 2young children and family to go work in an EU country legaly as freedom of movment says cause life became miserable here! For everything you buy you must do loans that you have to pay until you are dead and buried cause cost of living exploded and nothing is sustainable anymore!!! Try to find help and you see how much you get! Try not to pay any kind of bill and no one will show mercy to you we!! We get nothing for free !!!
I am sorry for this people but charity begins at home and we can't support any more illegal immigrants!! Why joining shengen treaty and other beurucracy and red tape when now Frontex boats are bringing them in like being their pilot ships??
When some immigrants a couple of years ago tried to enter Australia by a boat they find the navy waiting for them and were warned that if they enter the aussy water they will be sunk!!

John Williams

Jul 10th 2008, 16:08

Where is Baroso now, perhaps he ought to make another visit so he can make more promisies

Louise Vella

Jul 10th 2008, 16:00

Malta is in a crisis as the daily influx of illegal immigrants gets bigger. This is when we need to hear from UNHCR and its head of office Dr Neil Falzon. Can Dr Falzon please offer a solution? Or is UNHCR only available to criticise Malta and make our lives more miserable? What can the UN's refugee agency do to help refugees?

M Formosa

Jul 10th 2008, 15:50

It is now 9.44am here in Toronto, and so far this morning I have counted nearly 60 comments towards this article and more numerous comments to past articles alike.
I wonder if your prime minister is witnessing all this outrage? After all he lives on the island also, and has the power to do something about it.

Philip Paris

Jul 10th 2008, 15:49

It is time the Maltese Government stop bending over for the European Union and take charge of a situation that is starting to spiral out of control.
Malta is to small and its residence to under paid compaired to the rest of Europe to hotel new comers.
Maybe it was time for a change in government.

Mario Aquilina

Jul 10th 2008, 15:48

Mr Sammut, I was referring to the fact that while reading all the posts on this thread, I did not see at least one reference to the dead. Is that a coincidence? Why do we not speak about them?

Mark Cassar

Jul 10th 2008, 15:48

The real problem is that we have a weak government and even weaker Prime Minister who are not ready to stand up to the EU.

Although I fought him all my life, I cannot imagine this situation happening when Mintoff was Prime Minister.

By the time we have a real leader who is ready to make a stand on this issue, the Malta we know will long have disappeared.

Mario Aquilina

Jul 10th 2008, 15:45

Mr Vella, have you actually read my post "man"? I wrote that the arrival of migrants IS a problem but I was contesting the way we are speaking about this problem by talking simply of numbers and forgetting the individual. If this is an incomprehensible argument, then there's no hope. I cannot understand how what I wrote is in any way related to free accomodation etc. I am not denying the problem but criticising the tone of voice and the attitude of some people.

Marcel Dingli

Jul 10th 2008, 15:42

@ S, Camilleri

The Maltese patriots have been silenced, called names like racist and xeno whatever. There were only a few of them, so it was easy. Where were you and others when you were called to do your duty ? Now Maltese gemgem Gahan, enjoy the situation !!!!

Christopher Briffa

Jul 10th 2008, 15:35

Just how many more illegal immigrants have to turn up for our politicians to wake up from their siesta? And by illegal immigrants I also mean the thousands of Russians, Serbs, Croats, Arabs and Chines etc that come by plane on a toursit visa and remain here, what are they waiting to summon the Libyan ambassador and tell him to go to the dogs, clearly the time for negotiating and pleas for help is over. In the past two years the Government and the EU have been telling us that Frontex was going to be a credible solution, we all know now that Frontex has failed, so please stop wasting taxpayers money and scrap Frontex and if the EU really wants to help it should put pressure on Libya and it`s dictator to stop this exodus from it`s shoreline. Please also stop advertising the fact that the USA government is taking immigrants from Malta as this is being counter productive.

Raymond Sammut

Jul 10th 2008, 15:34

@ Mario Aquilina

What makes you think that anyone here in this blog is referring to the 3 people and the unborn child in the way you are implying? Upon reflection, would you seriously and conscientiously insist that anyone here is unfeeling in this way? Some may agree or disagree, but everyone are upset simply by the fact that human traffickers continue to operate in the way they have now been operating for so long, and not much is being done, neither by the Tripoli government nor by the EU in order to stop this criminal and heinous activity. When people drown, it is not on the conscience of those who express their views, but on the conscience of those who make decisions in Tripoli and in Brussels. They are the ones who are empowered to stop it, but for no apparent reason they are not stopping it.

Louise Vella

Jul 10th 2008, 15:32

This is an emergency! Why has the Jesuit Refugee Service kept mum? What practical solution does it propose? Calling Fr Paul Pace! Calling Dr Katrin Camilleri! (Louise Vella, Mosta)

Ivan Balzan

Jul 10th 2008, 15:23

And the silent invasion continues.....

E. Azzopardi

Jul 10th 2008, 15:22

Wake up Malta before it is too late, or is it??????????????

Joseph Vella

Jul 10th 2008, 15:07

Excuse me mr Mario Aquilina who are you calling blind? IF for one thing it is our politicians who put us in this situation and they must be blind and deaf to what is going on

It would be nice if every Maltese had free accomodation,free electricity and water, meals plus getting paid very well for any jobs they do as per their standard. Do you realease that these people are also taking a lot of bed space in our hospital due to their health problems. Is it nice for us to have paid from our teeth to geta decent hospital and now it is always full with about 7% of the patients being these people.

Wake up man.

S. Camilleri

Jul 10th 2008, 14:55

Where are the maltese patriots? Just in our history books!

D Fenech

Jul 10th 2008, 14:25

Mission statement
"Frontex strengthens the freedom and the security of the citizens of the EU by complementing the national border management systems of the Member States.

Frontex is a trustworthy operational European coordinator and contributor which is fully respected and supported by the Member States and external partners."

2 points taken from Frontex Mission statement. No further comment is necessary!!!!!!!!!

Alexander Morana

Jul 10th 2008, 14:24

CHE VERGONIA!!!!!!!!!

The Prime Minister and this govrnment and all the Maltese people should be ashamed of themselves. The whole world is laughing at us.

M Formosa

Jul 10th 2008, 14:19

If Malta implements the new 18 month jail term, no exceptions. Give the immigrants a choice of incarceration or a one way ticket from where they came from. Given that choice a good percentage would choose the latter.

A Sciberras

Jul 10th 2008, 14:18

If the EU is taking us for ride then we should do the same.

Give the immigrants a Maltese passport and off they go - legally to the rest of the EU, just like Spain is doing. One can always come up with a silly excuse for this - to help them integrate (with the rest of the EU!).

If this encourages more of them to come over, it should'nt be a problem - how much does a passport cost?

D Fenech

Jul 10th 2008, 14:16

Frontex is a joke! How much money are we forking towards its upkeep?
Enough is enough!

J.Smith

Jul 10th 2008, 14:14

@Joseph Cauci. - 100% Agree. Malta will not remain as we know it or as we possibly expect it to become in 20 years time. Guaranteed. And to be honest there is nothing we can do, because
- we cannot let them die. -we cannot help them to sail further into Europe (they need to be deported in Malta once traced), - None ever have identities and most will never admit their real name for fear of being sent back. - and their authorities back home have the least bit of interest to get criminals back to their shore. i.e. I doubt on the level of co-operation to identify relevant identities of illegal migrants.~

Oscar Cassar

Jul 10th 2008, 14:00

What sort of argument is that of the group of 86 that was found during a Frontex patrol in the Libyan S&R region but it was decided that they should be brought to Malta ‘for reasons of security’ ??? Shurly such decision was not for our (Maltese) Security. Another question is who is going to pay now for this group? The Libyan Government?

godfrey ellul

Jul 10th 2008, 13:59

I am under the impression that EU is saying "expel and repel" lately. To me it looks as though it's more like "collect and take in".
Malta is infact becoming a bring-in site for illegal immigrants. Pass by the Public Conveniences behind the buses at Putirjal in the morning, or through parts of Marsa in the evening, and see what I mean.....
Poor taxpayer!

v.pulis

Jul 10th 2008, 13:56

@ Thomas McCarthy.Have you ever seen a picture of Malta from the air? have you ever noticed how small we are compared to the countries surrounding us and the countries where these migrants originate from? If a drowning man were to cling to me I would probably manage to keep him afloat but if two, three or four men were to grab hold of me the chances for all of us would be nil and we would all end up at the bottom. The solution is to give them assistance at sea and then tow them back to their original place of departure but then again we would be annoying gaddafi wouldn't we?

vincent pace

Jul 10th 2008, 13:55

@ Joe Gatt
You are so right. Of-course there is a humanitarian aspect which cannot be ignored, but at the end of the day a government is there to protect the nation from potential problems of such a magnitude, it is irresponsible to ignore. We even have the benefit of hindsight when we see other nations' huge problems caused by the influx of illegal immigrants. Let us be practical. A nation of 400,000 people just cannot afford a situation where its very own cultural roots, and way of life are being allowed to be radically changed over the next 5 years. we cannot just stand there and let it happen. Lobby Europe.

mark tonna

Jul 10th 2008, 13:52

during a Frontex patrol in the Libyan search and rescue region but it was eventually decided that they should be brought to Malta for reasons of security and hygiene on board the vessel.

WHATT???? for hygiene???? ...

Louise Vella

Jul 10th 2008, 13:45

We are already seeing the harmful effects of uncontrolled illegal immigration into our country. Maltese governments, starting with the Labour Government of 1947 -1950, worked hard to eliminate slums. Now slums are reappearing where illegal immigrants are placed. Begging had disappeared. We can now see it again on buses. Illegal employment had been reduced to a bearable minimum: judging by media reports, it has now become a way of life in some sectors. Has illegal immigration brought progress to Malta or has it thrown us back several decades? And we have not yet suffered the social backlash experienced by the UK, France, Spain and other countries. We have been warned: better safe than sorry.

Joseph R Aquilina

Jul 10th 2008, 13:45

The only solution is a bi-lateral agreeement between the government of Malta and the government of Libya for instant return to country of last departure.

It is one thing to take on those who need to be saved from the ravages of the sea - it is another thing to have third party navies patrolling to the south of Malta and bringing illegal migrants to Malta instead of taking them to their countryy.

In view of the relativity of the size of Malta and the numbers involved this is clearly an unsustainable situation. In one way or another soon these individuals will acquire some right to bring their familes over, a score at a time.

We really need a joint cross-party joint Government-Opposition national agreement to solve this very delicate and sensitive problem.

A Camilleri

Jul 10th 2008, 13:40

You’re asking what Government is doing about it? Simple! It’s waiting for the EU to take over the illegal immigrants. How naïve can we be. As if anyone is going to bother to alleviate our problem. Why does Government always have to rely on others to solve our problems. Does it take much to realize that no country wants to carry our burden.

The very few illegals that are taken over by some country are just a small excuse to show that these countries are helping out in some way. No big deal! The Government does not have to pat these countries on the back every time for such a trifling. The only way forward is to take immediate and effective action on our own it we do not want to be overcome by the dozens of illegal immigrants landing on our shores. Why doesn’t Government ever listen to the critics that appear in the media? Does it prefer to appease the EU rather than its own community?

L Galea

Jul 10th 2008, 13:32

Thomas Mccarthy,
maybe your home country as an ex-colonial power of many African countries would like to take them?

It is its duty towards its ex-colonies and their people.

Edward Grech

Jul 10th 2008, 13:21

“the group of 86 was found during a Frontex patrol in the Libyan search and rescue region but it was eventually decided that they should be brought to Malta for reasons of security and hygiene on board the vessel”

What does that mean?

Who decided that a group found in the Libyan SAR should be brought to Malta, and why?

Mario Aquilina

Jul 10th 2008, 13:20

While it is understandable that people are concerned due to the number of immigrants arriving to Malta on a daily basis, one should not fall to the callous extreme of calling the dead of 3 people, including a pregnant woman, as 'no news' . Maltes people are becoming so used to the daily arrival of immigrants that they are becoming blind to individual suffering. Every one of these people has a story and an individual importance. To speak of numbers while forgetting the individual is, I believe, an act of blind irresponsibility.

Alex Spiteri

Jul 10th 2008, 13:14

moan moan u bunch of hypocrits!

u voted for lorry and fredy in the election and now ur here, concerned about the future ahead in regard to this grave situation!

many of u laughed and attacked norman lowell, for being the only person who ever talked real on this issue, which after all isn't a single issue. its any issue that affects everything, health, security, taxes, social benefits, culture, race!

i only wish that more and more africans make it to malta, how the italians would say..tanto pegio, tanto meglio!

Joanne Micallef

Jul 10th 2008, 13:04

For those who believe that all illegal immigrants are escaping persecution wake up and face reality http://www.pq.gov.mt/PQWeb.nsf/10491c99ee75af51c12568730034d5ee/c1256e7b003e1c2dc12572e3003349c3?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,refu%C4%A1jati

Also please note that Humaniterium status is ONLY GIVEN IN MALTA.....anybody knows why??

L Galea

Jul 10th 2008, 13:00

p.s.
Notice that they were picked up in the Libyan search and rescue area, yet the Italians decided to bring them here instead of taking them to Libya or Italy.

This is exactly what Frattini frattarija said he wanted to do.

Make Malta and Cyprus an outpost for ILLEGAL immigrants.

Why don't they simply organize a daily ferry crossing to Malta for the ILLEGAL immigrants courtesy of AFFRONTEX which is an AFFRONT to the Maltese people.

Ben grech

Jul 10th 2008, 12:57

86 migrants found in a Frontex patrol in Libyan waters, being sent to Malta. Malta is cleaerly being used, and the government is not doing a thing about it.

John Hughes

Jul 10th 2008, 12:52

How about putting the whole lot of them on a plane and send them back where they came from, or else turn their boats around to face south, this will make others think twice before they pay the money (wich they earned in Libya) for the boat trip.
In Libya they have to work for a living, in Malta they get it all free.
Enough is enough, leaders of OUR country, EU, UN stop being soft with these people.

Chris Borg

Jul 10th 2008, 12:50

@ Charles Grech:

The Frontex is out there .... and something is being done.

Read the article again. This is the Frontex operation that resulted in all these immigrants coming to Malta.

Was Frontex your last hope?

effie carbonaro

Jul 10th 2008, 12:50

once dom mintoff said that europe dosnt have a heart.he said it was a europe of abel and cain.i leave to all you readers to judge if these phrases still applies for today when you see all these tragedies in front of our eyes.

Chris Borg

Jul 10th 2008, 12:45

@ Mr. Mccarthy and all those who think these people are escaping life threatening situations:

These illegal immigrants are not coming directly from their countries of origin. They are living and working in Libya for a few years before making the cross-over.

Just to show you their respect for life and how capable they are of loving .... they are prepared to risk the life of their unborn child to use it for better possibilities of not being repatriated.

Always 27 mostly men and when there happens to be a woman, it turns out she is several months pregnant.

acassar

Jul 10th 2008, 12:42

Years back someone asked "Fejn huma l-Laburisti ? " years to come he will probably say "Fejn huma l-Maltin ? "

Louise Vella

Jul 10th 2008, 12:34

9751 + 111 that arrived today = 9862. 138 more to go and we will reach the 10 000 illegal immigrant figure. Dr Gonzi and Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici get the garland of flowers and the bottle of champagne ready to welcome the 10 000th illegal immigrant. JRS can join the party too. AFM band intensify your rehearsal of the anthem of the African Union. It's any time now! Shame, shame and shame again.

K. Camilleri

Jul 10th 2008, 12:26

Why bring them in Malta and not send them back to Libya if they were found in Libyan territory? Doesn't Lybia have Hygiene? Or they were brought to Malta because we are small and the government is sitting there doing nothing while hundreds of them are invading our country.

Mr McCarthy - I have nothing against helping people, but I want to live in a Free safe country. What is EU doing or they just pull our ears when it comes to hunting only? Why doesn't the EU absorb immigrants with a ratio of the countries size?

Sandro Pace

Jul 10th 2008, 12:24

Frontex should better be stopped. We are worse off with it. We are now even collecting them from Libyan S&R.

Christopher Camilleri

Jul 10th 2008, 12:21

Our Prime Minister should take a tough stance against the European Union on this issue. They promised us help to ease this burden....but we got none. If i was the Hon.Dr Lawrence Gonzi, I would the plead with the EU until they seriously start to help us. I would pester them again, again, and again if it needs be!

Joe Gatt

Jul 10th 2008, 12:19

@ Thomas McCarthy

If it were only these 83, or even a few hundreds, we could afford to consider the humanitarian aspect only. However, we have had about ten thousand illegal immigrants in the last six years, which in proportion to our population is equivalent to 1.5 million for the UK.

Moreover, there is no end in sight; indeed the flow is increasing. We are concerned about OUR way of life and the future of our small nation. We have seen the 'benefits' of multiculturalism and diversity in the UK and other European countries. Being sensible people, we don't want to make the same suicidal mistakes.

Of course, when I say sensible, I'm not thinking of our political class and the small but vociferous band of liberal do-gooders.

Ivan Galea

Jul 10th 2008, 12:16

If you want to know how it will be like in five years time just hop over to nearby Italy and you will see with your own eyes.....Italians feel like strangers in their own country! Just ask them...

Albert Mercieca

Jul 10th 2008, 12:02

OK so we should be kind to these human beings after all they are God's creatures. But how about our construction industry magnates using them to make a mockery of our religion? How? By exempting them from working on their 'holy friday' and making them work on our Holy Sunday. But perhaps these 'magnates' try to make amends once a year by donating a token 'strina' to charities and so they appear OK with our materialistic society We common mortals pity these "illegal immigrants" but isn't time that both Government and Church does something really concrete about it?

John Pisani

Jul 10th 2008, 11:56

Here's a one word joke...... "FRONTEX".
And to think that there are people out there who still believe FRONTEX with its Nautilus III mission is “'FUNCTIONING WELL".
Sure, tell it to the Marines.

B Mamo

Jul 10th 2008, 11:39

Thank you for travelling with our cruise lines. We will be mooring very shortly, please sign the guestbook before disembarking.

Ramon Zammit

Jul 10th 2008, 11:38

@thomas mccarthy

I agree with you, these are people in need....otherwise why would they be risking their lifes! but the problem is that we cannot keep sustaining them...from tens they become thousands and this will go on and on....and how will the government finance their needs? i appeal to the authorities to do something about this ASAP before it gets any worse, although i think its already a very bad situation.

J. Micallef

Jul 10th 2008, 11:37

These people should be guided outside Malta's territorial waters not brought ashore.

Mario Vassallo

Jul 10th 2008, 11:37

@Thomas McCarthy
Do you live in Malta or in the clouds. Who will open their doors to us when we are "desperatly looking for a better way of life" (to use your words), when all our resources have gone?
Too much is too much. We are full to capacity and thats that!

alan cox

Jul 10th 2008, 11:36

When are the Maltese people going to wake up?You are being invaded and doing nothing about it. Your ancestors had more guts and pride. The last thing you should give up is your national pride and culture.

Joseph Cauchi

Jul 10th 2008, 11:33

Can't we all see that this strategy is similar to the exodus of Cubans to Miami in Florida some years ago. It was later verified that Fidel Castro had opened all the prisons and hospitals (mental etc...) to facilitate their crossings to Florida and thus "invade" Florida and burden the US. government with these types of criminals and sick! I am afraid that this strategy is being also applied in relation to Malta and Europe. Who knows? Perhaps the "Government/s" responsible for maintaining law and order in those countries of departure have an axe to grind and want to punish our country and also Europe! Malta: Open up your eyes and see the writing on the wall, before it is too late!

I Laferla

Jul 10th 2008, 11:27

Again and yet again. This has become no news to us. Xenophobia ? Well we're very close, if not there. Is anyone going to do something about it ? Of course no doubt , when its too late. I urge the goverment and opposition to try and bring up this very serious matter during the course of there latest romance and positive feelings towards each other. WAKE UP !! we're sick of hearing the same old story, do something, so far you seem useless.

Ramon Zammit

Jul 10th 2008, 11:22

This got completely out of hand...I wonder what will be the repercussions in 5 years time.

thomas mccarthy

Jul 10th 2008, 11:20

These poor people are desperately looking for a better way of life and need to be supported.

Emanuel Ebejer

Jul 10th 2008, 11:19

So, what else is new!

Ben Grech

Jul 10th 2008, 11:17

Just what our country needs, more cheap labour for the construction industry.

I. M. Dingli

Jul 10th 2008, 11:15

Hip Hip hurray!!! We are past the 1000th for this year!!!

Sinclair Calleja

Jul 10th 2008, 11:10

ermm... is there really news value in this?

This is what real news would look like:

No illegal immigrants are reported to have arrived today!

charles grech

Jul 10th 2008, 11:07

Is the Frontex out there. Is anything being done?

N Abela

Jul 10th 2008, 10:41

Cool, just like the arrivals at the MIA we have the arrivals list lol

acamilleri

Jul 10th 2008, 10:25

Here we go again!