95 migrants intercepted off Delimara

dorianne bugeja

Jul 30th 2008, 14:59

@Frank mercieca

We do not have a problem with living a multi cultural enviroment. the issue is these people are illegal immigrants coming to Malta without any documentation and live on our taxes.

And I do not agree with you that London is a peaceful, vibrant and exciting city. We live in the same world and everyone knows that london is full of teenager yobs, teens stabbing, mugging, rapes and so forth. Just dont try to tbellallna ir ross bil labra.

England has the same problem with illegal immigrants and cant say that Gordon Brown is happy about it.

Denis Catania

Jul 29th 2008, 21:37

@Frank Mercieca: First the Great Senator Barrack Obama has a name, please don't refer to him as a black man. Not he may, but he will become our next president. Thats the diversity we have in the US. Should Mr Barrack Obama comes legally in Malta, yes they will let him in.
I'm going to list a few countries that your adopted country stole from.
Pakistan
India
Malta
USA
South Africa
Barbados
Bahamas
All of the British virgin Islands
Hong Kong. and there are so many other places, sorry I don't know them all. but I have pictures of your under ground, maybe I'l post them on u-tube for you to see. In case you are afraid to use your under ground.

John Portelli

Jul 29th 2008, 21:14

I say, where is Gonzi. He is the prime minister and he is doing nothing. Is this the maltese version of leadership. Running away from his responsiblities. Shame on him.

Malcolm Seychell

Jul 29th 2008, 21:06

Today the EU critisized Italy because Thomas Hammarbergv said that police are using violence on Rom people.

Obviosly this is a lie. One of the many lies that recently EU liberals, communists and people without any form of decency do on a daily basis.

In Italy Minister Maroni replied immediately to Mr Hammarbergv and told him that he is misinformed or that he is lying. If this happened in Malta I can imagine what DR Mifsud Bonnici will do!!!!!

We need a government Ala Berlusconi at the moment, and not like Zapatero.

M. Mercieca

Jul 29th 2008, 18:58

@ Joe Galea
Is there a race or a creed that is immune against, disease carriers, drug dealers, prostitution managers, etc, etc.?

Is there a mean of transport (Boat, Five starts curse liner, private jest or alane) that make one immune against the above?

Does the legal/illegal status of a person got to do with the above?
An answer will be highly appreciated.

By the way, have you read today’s news? If not yet please do.

--------------------------------------------------------

@ Omar Zammit
If in Libya they are badly in need for man power to cover Libyan 's pensions for their ageing population (within 20-23 years) they would welcome you

Marcel Dingli

Jul 29th 2008, 18:51

Well said Cris Azzoppardi !! Any of the Libs willing to take at least one illegal immigrant in their home?

Omar Zammit

Jul 29th 2008, 18:38

Does anyone know the meaning of racist??? If criticising these illegal immigrants is called racism, then I am the leader. Have u ever wondered what will happen to you if you go to LIbya illegally?? Do you think they give you food and shelter?? Do you think they give you rights and a school to live in where no Maltese can go in ( not that I want to ) except the poor soldier who works there???? Sometimes my job involves working with these people and believe me when I say that some of them tells us " I hate you Maltese".

Lets hope that in the near future, they will not take another city in Malta, like they did in ALbert town.

David Carabott

Jul 29th 2008, 15:47

If you dare say anything not in support of irregular immigrants you will very quickly be branded a racist. I certainly am not a racist, have nothing against their culture & respect it actually. At the same time, I do not wish to live in a multicultural society as it is often called. At the rate they are coming and given enough time they will soon constitute an ever-growing segment of the local populace & start demanding ever-increasing rights. Such as e.g. removing the crucifix from a classroom because of their non-Christian faith (most of them). Are we ready to see the nature, character and identity of our country be changed forever? This is what is slowly happening as each new boatloat arrives & their numbers increase cumulatively. Who has eyes, let him see! What can the Government do? Be more foreceful with the EU: if they want us, a small miniscule state to do our bit they have to do theirs too & IMPLEMENT burden sharing without dragging their feet. Not just help financially but relocate sufficient numbers of them. A brinkmanship approach a la Mintoff with EU bureaucracy could possibly make them move beyond fanciful rhetoric.

N.Vella

Jul 29th 2008, 15:17

@Frank Mercieca

The problem here is not living in a multi cultural enviornment or with african people. The problem is illegal immigration. the immigrants could be black, white, or purple for all i care they are still illegal. for some it might be just a vent to air their racist views but to many this problem is not just africans coming from libya (these happen to be on the headlines more because of the methods they use to enter the country) but also about the eastern europeans coming here illegally by air/land or whatever other means.

and again its not because the maltese do not want to help people, but we do not even have space for ourselves, how can we accomodate so many???

and are you sure london is peaceful? and tolerant? with all the stabbings happening and chavs going around. im sure you know which roads not to wonder around at night time!

FRANK MERCIECA

Jul 29th 2008, 13:13

@Denis Catania. For your information I live in a relatively peaceful multi-cultural, exciting, vibrant, tolerant,.....London. people of your ilk are twenty odd years behind the western world.
Malta...... open your eyes and join the civilised world . we may have a black US President soon. Would he be allowed into Malta I wonder. Education education is whats needed.

Charles Caruana Carabez

Jul 29th 2008, 12:18

There are more illegal entrants in Malta than there babies being born -in or out of wedlock! These people are just using us and will not contribute a cent towards future pensions, but our children will. It's a shame that the Libyans spent so much time denying that they are flooding the most over-populated country in the world. This is the same country that admitted it was spending money on weapons of mass destruction. Our President has just left for a visit to the Libyan leader. Wish him God speed. We all know what's on the agenda.

Joe Galea

Jul 29th 2008, 08:21

What disturbs me big time is the fact that the govt. spent over Lm15million last year (as stated on the news) for these INVADERS. Then the govt. doesn't have enough finances to employ careworkers to help MALTESE disabled persons to have a life.

But it seems that we are happy to receive disease carriers, drug dealers, prostitution managers, etc, etc.

The Maltese should stand up united against this continously increasing threat. Otherwise in a very forseeable future Malta will be BLACK. Media should give the right to us to speak freely as we are hard workers and tax payers. I don't like to pay for suckers from another country. I prefer to see the Maltese welfare state to be a real one.

Denis Catania

Jul 29th 2008, 07:14

@Frank Mercieca: This issue has nothing to do with you, being ashamed to be a Maltese. You probably never been proud to be a Maltese.Australia keeps their Natives in the bush with no rights. USA where I live, keeps our Natives on reservations. It's the Anglos that stole all their resources. If that didn't happen Africa would be in a different situation. I don't know where you live, but If you're from Australia, US or UK and been there for 45 years, you might be enjoying wealth, stolen from Africa. You are the 1st Maltese I heard say, that you're not proud to be Maltese.For that, I'm ashamed of you. Unlike the US, Australia and the UK we don't have room. The US is the only one excepting some of these refugees, Although I wish we would take more. I gave you enough facts. Now open your eyes, and think what you said about your country.

John Azzopardi

Jul 29th 2008, 00:47

What a shame. A bunch of illegal immigrants who break the law keep creating havoc on the Maltese islands. These are illegals. they broke the law. Period.

On top of that, they come to Malta, get benefits, and what do the Maltese get in return. Higher taxes.

Raymond Sammut

Jul 28th 2008, 23:50

@ Victor Zammit

You are obviously not aware that among illegal immigrants we have babies who, according to a question in the Maltese parliament in early June, we do not even know whether they were kidnapped, let alone who their father is. Do you care to try to work out what are you going to do with them, before you lecture us what constitutes a number one issue, Mr Zammit?

victor vella

Jul 28th 2008, 22:32

Next time I am away from the island I am going to lose my passport, then I will see how long it takes me to get into malta.

Chris Azzopardi

Jul 28th 2008, 20:01

There are people in Malta who welcome Illegal immigrants with open arms.All that it will take to convince the rest of us that all will be ok is for these people to invite the homeless and penniless migrants to live with them until somewhere decent can be found.This will really show the proponents embracing diversity and save taxpayers a lot of hard earned cash.Then and only then will i be convinced of the good intentions of the likes of Daphne Caruana Galizia and friends. Do not reply saying it is not practical as lots of these Liberal types live in huge Villas.

Victor Zammit

Jul 28th 2008, 19:53

F. Camilleri
Illegal immigrants is not number one issue among our government’s top issues.
Our social issues are more serious and known to everyone:
• Fathers unknown born babies
• Single parents
• Broken families
• Drugs and alcoholic among teenagers.

If you think of any of the above, it cost us much more than the whole illegal immigrants we have

dorianne bugeja

Jul 28th 2008, 18:19

here we go again!

How many of these illegal immigrants that arrived this year have been sent back?

a.cassar

Jul 28th 2008, 16:16

Can a boat in distress be made to turn back to the Libyan search and Rescue zone?
No. so says janice cassar. Agreed, but there is a zone called international waters and that's where we should take them. just outside gaddafi's front door. Janice is one of those persons who has accepted the situation and invites us all to just lump as there is nothing to do but watch our bit of rock we call home being invaded by illegals. I bet there are ome out there who are rubbing their hands at this sort of thinking knowing that they can keep on becoming rich from human trafficing.

Sandro Pace

Jul 28th 2008, 15:36

All people here have a clue that Malta has its international obligations. But that must be reciprocal to work. Does the international community have obligations towards Malta? It does not seem interested. Many other people were let down by the 'international community'.

Besides, proximity indicates that these are being dumped within our S&R, making actions and arrests on such ships as legitimate. In such cases.

On the other front, Malta should unilaterally suspend the Dublin II, facilitate immigrants' move towards the mainland, close two eyes to however it is done, and not accept back those send here from Europe. Malta cannot be the reluctant buffer of Europe. It's a bit small for that.

The government cannot tell its people that there are no solutions.

Joseph Spiteri

Jul 28th 2008, 14:54

So the Italian government is to provide Libya with patrol boats to deter illegal immigration. Good joke! If the Libyan authorities really wanted to help tackle this problem, they would accept repatriation of these uninvited individuals. My guess is that these patrol boats will join those of Frontex in assisting migrants to our shores!

Janice Cassar

Jul 28th 2008, 14:37

@ Martin Vella, R Zammit

Could it be that this last dinghy was dumped just outside our search and rescue zone? What difference would it make?

Malta still has no jurisdiction over what happens outside its territorial waters or search and rescue area.

Janice Cassar

Jul 28th 2008, 14:32

Few of those commenting here seem to have a clue that Malta has international obligations that it has to abide by whether the government (or the opposition for that matter ) likes it or not.

Can our patrol boats not bring in a boatload of immigrants Malta's Search and Rescue Zone if it is in distress?
No... International Maritime Law says that any vessel (be it a supertanker or a tiny fibreglass boat) has to be rescued immediately if it asks for assistance.

Can a boat in distress be made to turn back to the Libyan search and Rescue zone?
No. See above...

Can the migrants be flown back to Libya as soon as they land?
No. To do that you need an agreement with Libya... and Libya is uninterested in such an agreement.

Can the migrants be flown back to their country shortly after landing?
No. Most of those who come here have no means of identification and virtually all of them state that they come from a country which would make them eligible for refugee status.

So please, let's stop oversimplifying the problem and talking like there's an easy way out of this.

M Zerafa

Jul 28th 2008, 12:47

Whilst these poor people's plight may be understandable, fleeing en masse from africa to European shores can never be a viable solution. I agree that we should give them all they require, including food, clothing and medical care, but they should be escorted back to Libya without delay. Anything short of that is bound to motivate more illegal immigrants to make the trek to Europe. Let's get serious about this. Frontex is a joke!

david seychell

Jul 28th 2008, 11:51

Bla Bla Bla. You voted for this. No one will help us. Only our vote may.

FRANK MERCIECA

Jul 28th 2008, 11:41

I left Malta 45 years ago. Thank God i did, as I would not like to be associated with my so called countrymen. In fact I am ashamed to be Maltese and so called Christian, after the way you are treating these poor souls, risking their lives to escape persecution. I find the majority of you Maltese to be cruel and totally un-Christian, and by the way totally irrelevant in the politics of Europe.

Martin Vella

Jul 28th 2008, 10:57

Do the authorities really believe that these illegal immigrants really came all the way from Libya on a dingy ? Can the authorities investigate which ships whether cargo or large fishing vessels could have brought these illegal immigrants into the maltese territorial waters and then transfered them onto this dingy for the last part of their voyage? Can there be serious investigations? Or are the authorities sitting pretty just to complain to the EU countries that we have a problem and we need their help?

S. Anastasi

Jul 28th 2008, 10:43

Answer to Carmelo Aquilina: Seeing the arrival in Malta of so many illegal immigrants, every week, if not every day, shows enough human compassion and civilisation from our part.

I believe that we can still be compassionate and civilised if we furnish them with food, water, fuel, medicine and if needed clothing, when near to our shores - and send them back from where they came - definately, if we start doing so, this organised crime will start its decline.

All is needed is skillful thinking!

I agree perfectly with Ronnie Gauci. What are we waiting for? Back in history we fought and won all those who tried to invade our country. Why aren't we doing that, now? Aren't we proud of our country and our culture?

For the love of our country, our culture and our families and for God's Sake, let's do something before it's too late!

R Zammit

Jul 28th 2008, 10:02

Simple question, Can anyone asks these illegal immigrants how they managed to arrive here, so that the authorities can start accusing and catching who is bringing them here? I mean if they arrived by ship, I assume that these illegal immigrants will be interrogated before "nitfawhom fil-gallinari". I think they only have to mentions a name of a ship I do not see it as difficult. We all know that they leave from Libya, and we all know that they are found on boats that are not even good enough to cross from Malta to Gozo, but it seems that no one has any clue how they arrive near our coasts.

G. Mangion

Jul 28th 2008, 08:58

Everyday we have been hearing news of numbers of illegal immigrants landing on our shores. It is evident that it is all organised. Our island is too small to cater for all these people. When are we going to wake up and do something about it? Of course our island is so popular. A free holiday resort for an indefinite period of time! Wow. When will us Maltese find the same opportninty?

mario farrugia

Jul 28th 2008, 08:38

why aren't they interrogated? If they can use the phone they can talk. And if found not agreeeing on who and how they were brought here, they should be threatened with jail. I guess that if a person tries to enter the country illegally through the airport they arekept for questioning, why not these people as well???

Stephen Vella

Jul 28th 2008, 08:31

Forget EU policies, make the detention period indefinite. The only way out of detention is to leave the country, that should stop it!

c damato

Jul 28th 2008, 08:02

Suggest patrol boats should always take packed lunches with them when they're on their way to intercept such "boats" (usually its between 26 to 30).

Or maybe they would like to have a look at the menu first?!

POOR MALTA!!! What about if Dr. Austin Gatt is given this task also now? He already proved to be a man who can deliver results!

Charles Caruana Carabez

Jul 28th 2008, 07:44

Stop commenting and start sending letters to the press. That's the only way to attract the attention of those who matter. Am I right in thinking that arrival numbers have outstripped our national birth-rate figure?

carmelo aquilina

Jul 28th 2008, 07:43

I see a few people are getting their ideas for solving this crisis straight from the extreme right wing wewb-site frequented by Norman Lowell . Presumably after shooting at these poor people 14 miles out from Maltese shores we then start hanging our 'traitors' 6 at a time in front of Parliament., Let's get real and not forget human compassion and civilisation. Turn your anger to the people trafficers of whom quite a few originate in malta.

Paul Bonnici

Jul 28th 2008, 02:02

This is nothing but unchecked free-for-all organized crime. A genuine refugee would not have $US 2,000 to reach our shores.

F. Camilleri

Jul 28th 2008, 01:38

‘The parliamentary select committee set up between the government and the opposition to discuss a number of national issues met for the first time yesterday…

Among the issues to be discussed … are the strengthening of Parliament's role, the Permanent Commission against Corruption and the Office of the Ombudsman, possible legislation on the financing of political parties, improvements in the electoral system, legislation limiting possible conflicts of interest of MPs, ministers and parliamentary secretaries and broadcasting.’ (cf. The Times 26/07/08)

It seems that for the select committee ILLEGAL immigration is not a NATIONAL ISSUE!

Both Government and opposition are only interested in our vote – no more and no less.

DR. L. GONZI , DR. J. MUSCAT AND ALL OUR MEP’S ARE DOING NOTHING POSITIVE RE THIS SERIOUS ISSUE.

Now ENOUGH is ENOUGH.

The vast majority of Maltese people DEMAND ACTION against ILLEGAL immigration from BOTH political parties. Both are responsible for the well-being of MALTA.

THE MALTESE PEOPLE WILL NOT GIVE UP.

We will carry on FEARLESSLY commenting, and demanding action and openly stating our stance against ILLEGAL immigration until our leaders, WHOM WE ELECTED, act to free our island from the doom threatening our internal peace and stability.

Ronnie Gauci

Jul 27th 2008, 23:49

The best thing the Governmentt can do is to order the army to escort any incoming immigrants boats to just a few metres off Libyan waters, give them water, food, medical assistance and fuel and then order them to go back to Libya and while there give our regards to Ghaddafi, then I'll bet anything that not a boat will leave Libyan shores for years.

This is all part of Ghaddafi's plan to destabilize Europe, and he's succeeding, with the EU's blessing I have to say.

Joseph Grima

Jul 27th 2008, 23:46

@apgrech

Good thinking. A trip from Libya to Malta on a dinghy... It's hardly possible to go from Comino to Gozo on a dingy, let alone a trip that long.

Well I'm convinced that the authorities did think of something like that. It is only that everyone is too scared to admit it publicly, and actually do something about it. It's beyond repair anyway, so why bother now?

Jurgen Meli

Jul 27th 2008, 23:23

It's a shame that we continue to accept all the migrants that are coming all day long. It's a shame that all political parties are happy with the situation. We are paying the price of the shameful government that we have that does not have the balls to speak out at European level and world level if need be and state that the situation is now out of control. If they are happy with the situation then they must be ashamed!

S Pollacco

Jul 27th 2008, 23:20

Watching this from afar and monitoring the correspondence and unfolding events it is hard to hold back an element of alarm. On one hand we have a constant stream or clearly "unwelcome" immigrants. We have the suspicion that someone on the islands is actually helping these people. We also have an ineffective force in FRONTEX that doesn't seem able to cope. However I can't help picking up on the hysteria. Thousands of white, paying tourists arrive and we greet them as we should. If I was black and african (or of african origin) , legally entering the country and hoping to enjoy a holiday with my family, I would think twice if I read this correspondence. We are not far off from a racially motivated crime, and putting the poor victim aside for a minute, would inflict irreparable damage to our friendly, hospitable and dare I say Christian credentials as a nation. The government needs to act - to manage the "invasion" issue firmly and much more effectively and to ensure that it leads on the matter of bigotry and xenophobia.

Mario Ciappara

Jul 27th 2008, 23:08

In a couple of years time (maybe a decade or so) things will continue to degrade up to the point when not even tourists will visit our islands! That said, I wonder how will our economy do with most of the tax payer's money going to sustain these economic migrants and so little foreign income coming in!

A lot is being said but so little is being done! Let us all think and work towards a better future since as things stand only a dull one lies ahead!

victor vella

Jul 27th 2008, 22:52

I don't want to pass judgment on anyonebut I do hope that the authorities are really investigating, With the wind as it was they would have a hard time at arriving in Malta as they would have had to drive the boat into the wind all the time, if I am not mistaken the widn was North west veering North all week so assuming they left from Libya then it is head on all the time, I dont think they would have made it this far.Please do somthing fast before an epedemic hit us.another thing, why are they being allowed to own cars and given driving licences?

P Borg

Jul 27th 2008, 22:35

Alot has been said of maritime surveillance during the past few days because of the Marsaxlokk tragedy. Isn't it not possible that we check what ships have passed close to Maltese water during the past 24 hours? All we would then need is an excel spreadsheet and a small list of ships which pass near Maltese waters each time our southern friends are found at sea. A small search next time the ship passes near our waters. And that's it! Is this so difficult to do?

Jean Pierre Aquilina

Jul 27th 2008, 22:34

So the dinghy escaped Frontex and landed right into Maltese patrol boats. Maybe we should donate the patrol boats to Frontex.

J.Tonna

Jul 27th 2008, 22:27

I do not know what the 'monsignor' or the 'Jesuits' have to do with these arrivals. Or you hate them so much that you take every opportunity to critisise them?

What I see is that they are very well organised and locally led. They always come in the same numbers, 27, 29 or 30 (let alone the last arrival) and in different ports. Instead of critisising we better help the authorities and try to find out who the local culprit helping them is. In Birzebbugia I see them all using the Phone boxes to phone someone (who knows whom they phone) while others use a mobile.

S. Grech

Jul 27th 2008, 22:18

I don't agree with certain policies of AN but on this one I have to agree. The time is ripe for unilateral action. We have been taken for a ride by our EU friends and by Frontex. To make matters worse Berlusconi was not aware of our acute immigration problem. What was Frattini doing when he was the EU Justice Commissioner and now that he is Foreign Minister of the same Berlusconi government? He did not have even the decency to inform his Prime Minister what Malta was going through.

a stivala

Jul 27th 2008, 22:06

were is the eu, were is the help
we dont need this burden
we need tourists not mugs

we demand help or eu out we go
we had enough

D Fenech

Jul 27th 2008, 21:41

Maybe they came for the feast of St Peter! And that is why they wer not wearing life vests!

Enough is enough! Our basic intelligence is being insulted!

This situation is dynamite ready to explode!

Adrian Camilleri

Jul 27th 2008, 21:36

*ironic*Why should we worry if the authorities aren't concerned ?*ironic*

Anthony A. Mifsud

Jul 27th 2008, 21:33

As we speak, the football ground at Safi still holds a few more tents, and by the way now it's called Black Safi.

I really wonder at times with all this high tech, how come they reach the shore and we ( Our Titotla ) cant even spot a can of Coconut in the Med?

Welcome to Sunny Malta.

guze xerri

Jul 27th 2008, 21:15

@ David Farrugia,
Good observation!!

Yes they will throw a huge party.
remember , IHS is an anagram for NWO
or
anything to destroy family, nationality , race and religion.
"order out of chaos"

also remember that unless you are Jesuit trained and educated, you can never become a president or a PM of Malta, ditto for the EU. They are all Jesuit coadjutors.

there is a grand plan behind this madness, and the joke is on us.

a.cassar

Jul 27th 2008, 21:02

this week on Euronews the migrant problem was highlighted and guess what? Malta wasn't even mentioned ONCE! All they talked about was Spain, France and the canaries.so much for frontex,and EU assistance. People, we are well and truly alone in this and it's up to us to take action. the do gooders seem to have retreated into their shells. are they coing to their senses at last?

David Farrugia

Jul 27th 2008, 20:53

The Jesuits must be throwing a huge party tonight for celebration. The authorities are definately taking us, hard working tax paying citizens, for a ride.
I wonder if this will ever stop! As for me, I've had enough.

John Azzopardi

Jul 27th 2008, 20:47

@apgrech. You are absolutely right. These people are getting 'assisted passages'. No one in their right mind can believe that they are making the journey from Libya in rickety boats and arriving here in good health.

valerie scicluna

Jul 27th 2008, 20:46

That's 123 in 24 hours. I invite all those who are not alarmed by this crisis to find another word to describe the problem. Then they can tell us to all lie down and die

Ivan Attard

Jul 27th 2008, 20:39

Just why did patrol boat deem their dinghy not fit to continue its journey? After all they are supposed to have already made the most difficult and longer part of their mission out of Libya! They were so confident that they did not even bother with life vests. The person on that patrol boat must shoulder his responsibility to the nation and answer for his actions.
We now await Berlusconi's pledge of helping Gonzi out of this quagmire!

Guzeppi Grech

Jul 27th 2008, 20:39

Wonderful news! The Building Industry, Sanitation and Cleaning Services must be so happy. Well Done and thank you to all our distinguished visitors. Let us share with you our infinite hospitality.

jimmy vella

Jul 27th 2008, 20:28

The monsingor will be busy I suggest he don his shorts ,to prevent him from all the sweating ,but I suppose he sits under the aircon throwing his orders about,telling tax payers to re double their effort and writing his repot to be handed promtly to amensty international.

apgrech

Jul 27th 2008, 20:15

Does anyone believe that they made the whole journey on a dinghy or they were dropped off close to Malta?

Are ships being monitored and check their activity?