Fifty-four immigrants arrive in one day
First group lands at Peter's Pool
The influx of illegal immigrants continued yesterday pushing up the number that arrived this year and exacerbating the dire situation of lack of space at the detention centres.
Fifty-four illegal migrants reached Malta in two groups at Peter's Pool and Marsaxlokk, the police and the Armed Forces of Malta said.
The first group to arrive consisted of 26 who landed at Peter's Pool near Delimara early yesterday morning, the police said.
The group, which was rounded up by the police, consisted of 21 males and five females.
Their nationality is not yet known. A spokesman for the Armed Forces of Malta said the boat with the migrants was spotted by AFM personnel at about 5.45 a.m. from the observation and radar post at Delimara Point.
They reported having sighted illegal migrants beaching their craft near Peter's Pool.
The spokesman said that the illegal immigrants claimed that one of their group was missing. The AFM said a patrol boat intercepted the other group, consisting of 28 male migrants, three miles off Marsaxlokk harbour in the afternoon.
The migrants were on a boat taking in water.
They were taken to Wied il-Buni, Birżebbuġa, where they were handed to the police for routine investigations.
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A. Muscat
Jul 19th 2008, 19:54
In terms of immigrants and immigration, the EU is still many decades backward. This is really sad,
Soon, we may see Sent. Barak Obama the president of the USA, then a racism-death certificate will be issued, while in Europe, still we haven’t reached a common immigrants policy.
Things evolve worldwide but Malta. The funniest thing is someone down here taking record of how many immigrants landed! This is a living example why Europe still backward.
Do we really choose to be ignorant?
Last week we had the transport strike? Any success out of the strike? Who won?
Again, what the EU rules and decide it must work, at any cost, and same thing would go for irregular immigrants...
Just to remind you all. The way they do politics in Brussels is not the same way we do politics in Mosta.
Ian McGeachy
Jul 19th 2008, 17:48
Hi, British tourist here! I used to use Malta Direct for my holidays(15 in 13 years). but now I'm going to save a fortune and just buy a cheap little boat and sail into Xlendi Bay and stay for as long as I like! Thank you for the forthcoming food and lodgings (free of charge). St Patricks hotel would be nice! See you soon!
Joe Scerri
Jul 19th 2008, 16:57
The government managed to bring thugs and bullies to their senses (transport federation) but it is unable to stop ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Close our borders and repatriate the rest is the only solution. Sometimes I wonder why the immigrant lovers and do gooders find no objection to this invasion. Perhaps they have soemthing to gain?
M. Mercieca
Jul 19th 2008, 16:39
Attention racist and gentelmenThe main reason why I voted for Malta's EU membership is just to protect Malta from the Maltese. Particularly those few (that don’t fill one ballot box) peoples promote all forms of racism- xenophobia.
• All these type of peoples will be TAMED under EU racism- xenophobia laws, if needed, they may also go behind bars. (we have just had a small case in Malta)
• Europe suffered because of racism.
• Europe had many wars were tens of millions of peoples were killed in Europe because of racism.
• Abolishing racism is a must for Europe to survive and never go back to backwardness and barbaric wars.
• Irregular immigrants will keep coming to us in much bigger numbers. The government knows that Europe needs millions of immigrants and the Government also getting funds to cope with this situation. No single penny from tax payers money goes for irregular immigrants (Debatable)
• Complaining 24/7/365 will not change facts on ground. It will only fire-back at us.
D Fenech
Jul 19th 2008, 16:23
Unfortunately Paul Bonnici is right!
If we keep on giving them packets of milk and loaves of bread and boiled eggs etc they will simply keep on coming.
I am not being racist or inhuman at all!
Since all other solutions have failed drastic measures have to be taken = remove the incentive to come here .
Paul Bonnici
Jul 19th 2008, 14:46
Human trafficking is more lucrative, more profitable and less risky than drug dealing. We MUST deport ALL these people immediately. Those who do not cooperate with authorities must be imprisoned until they voluntarily leave Malta.
D Fenech
Jul 19th 2008, 14:40
Surely their is an element of audacity!
"beaching their craft at St. Peter's Pool"
sailing into Xlendi more than once now etc.
It is THIS which is making the average Maltese so angry and frustrated!
The ease with which these 10,000 "guests" have joined us!
Since each one is reputed to pay $1,000 somebody'd pocket is getting fatter!
L Galea
Jul 19th 2008, 12:54
Welcome to more non-paying but paid from our pockets tourists
louise vella
Jul 19th 2008, 11:49
"This is an invasion" said Gonzi. And he was right. Last weekend we surpassed a total of 10 000 illegal immigrant arrivals in Malta. That does not include their children born in Malta. For the vast majority of the Maltese people that is more than enough. But Gonzi is determined to do absolutely nothing about the invasion. Has Gonzi decided to defy Maltese public opinion?
M. Schembri
Jul 19th 2008, 11:20
"Toursim" at its highest !