More immigrant landings
Another 55 illegal immigrants landed in Malta in two different groups yesterday, capping a difficult week for Mediterranean patrollers.
The first group, which included seven women, landed at Wied iż-Żurrieq, before immigration police took them in for questioning.
In the afternoon a local fishing vessel came across 27 male African immigrants some 16 miles south-west of Malta. An Armed Forces rescue vessel later picked up the immigrants who were all in good health.
The calm sea has prompted hundreds to flee Africa during the past week in search of a better life in Europe, but some of the attempts have ended in tragedy.
A pregnant African woman died on Thursday morning shortly after being rescued fby a cargo ship some 79 miles off Malta. The corpses of two other female illegal immigrants were also picked up from the sea.
The ship had reported that the woman was in poor health, and although the Maltese army scrambled a rescue helicopter to the scene it was too late.
Between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, the Armed Forces rescued over 100 illegal immigrants in three separate search and rescue operations. One of the boats was nearly submerged when it was found.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and President Eddie Fenech Adami discussed the illegal immigration problem in Tripoli last Wednesday.
Meanwhile, almost 800 illegal immigrants arrived on the Italian coast in the space of 24 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, including 400 who were escorted to the shore on a single boat. Italy has declared an immigration emergency amid warnings that crowded holding centres are nearing collapse.
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M. Mercieca
Aug 4th 2008, 23:35
@L Galea
@Guze Micallef
If you realy care for a fair and accurate calculations you must also inform the public about THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE GOVERNMENT RECEIVE FROM EU TO COPE WITH THE IRREGUALR IMMIGRANTS
Thank you
L Galea
Aug 3rd 2008, 22:01
@Guze Micallef
OK Guze.
I misunderstood you.
However, bringing the financial aspect together with all other aspects of each boatload will make people aware how much the ILLEGAL immigrants are costing us from our taxes.
27 or 28 people may not sound much in isolation, but when considered together with all the others and the financial burden that together they cause on us the problem may be better appreciated.
Regards
M.Mercieca
Aug 3rd 2008, 18:12
The European Commission should provide adequate finance to European Union countries (Mainly southern Countries) not only to feed or shelter the immigrant but also to create a training center ETC-style. This center is to provide training to semi and or un-skilled immigrants. This may also provide opportunities for some unemployed Maltese. I guess this is where the politicians heading anyway. This is a very good business.
Both governments and oppositions (Even hopeful Anti-Immigrants parties) understand that:
• The fertility rates decline across all EU countries, this includes Malta.
• The average birth rate within the EU is down to about 1.5 children per woman. This is raising fears among EU governments they will not be able to finance pensions systems for ageing European population. Therefore, man power must be imported to collect taxes for future pensioners.
Debates which are not based on the above facts are waste of time.
On the other hand, EU populations do not want Africans among them:To solve this issue EU has two options: Either EU issue own-racist certificate, and forget about human rights and democracy, then join Zimbabwe. Or to tame the ‘racist’ populations and erode racism.
Please read
http://euobserver.com/9/26333/?rk=1
Guze Micallef
Aug 3rd 2008, 17:54
@ L Galea
Maybe, I was not well understood. I am totaly agianst these immigrants.!! what made you think i defend them,...?? I could not be more against them...but what I said is that we should see other problems which these people are creating in our country rather than just limiting ourselves to the financial aspect of it. If we continue to speak about the financial cost, we can give the wrong impression that the financial problem generated by these immigrants is the bigest problem of having them here. That is just the tip of the iceberg...!! In the future, me who I am still 18years and those who will come after us will suffer....not just by seeing their taxes being used on giving financial assistance to the 'new' Maltese,..but by having to change what we have earned from our fathers in order to fit well for these unwelcomed forever tourists...
L Galea
Aug 3rd 2008, 17:21
@Guze Micallef
The only hope that we have is for the Government to wake up and show the Pair of Strong Hands that our Honourable Prime Minister is supposed to hvee and repatriate ALL ILLEGAL immigrants.
If you keep one they keep on coming.
If no one is kept the word will spread around like wildfire among the ILLEGAL immigrants and they will not continue to come here as they will know that come what may they will be repatriated.
We cannot keep spending our money on these thousands of ILLEGAL immigrants who are INAVDING OUR country.
Money or no money, they are unwanted and unwelcome and this should be made abanduntly clear to them in the clearest manner that they will understand. Repatriation of ALL ILLEGAL immigrants. That's the only way that they will understand.
p.s.
I consider all those who defend the illegal immigrants to stay here and our authorities who are keeping them here as being collaborators with their traffickers.
Guze Micallef
Aug 3rd 2008, 17:04
PART 2 _ - We cannot even think of balancing between helping a person IN NEED and our money. If we continue talking mainly about the financial aspect of it, people will think we are racist because a lot of money is wasted for other things and people do not complain,...sometimes I even think that they got accustomed to it. The problems are more than than financial ones. If we are real christians, all we can do is put our hopes in God that all these souls do not find any reason to leave their country and stay in Africa, while having a good health system, a quality education system and the willingness to stay and love their beautiful country free from any stupid conflicts and wars.
Guze Micallef
Aug 3rd 2008, 16:58
We are facing a terrible situation. One which is making us Maltese feel hopeless and afraid of the foreigner. It is natural for every living creature to feel threatened by someone who comes in its land. It's just a right feeling, or else we would have not achieved what we have achieved throughout the centuries and decades. We have every right to feel like this,...but please, DO NOT mention the financial aspect of this problem. We have to put this issue aside or else, we can give the wrong impression that we are more concerned about our money than by the actual problems of these people. Please,...imagine someone who reads these comments, not knowing exactly the small size of this island and the problems which have been created and those which will SURELY arise! S/He would probably think that we are inhumane, without a heart, selfish people who are more interested in our tax destination than in people's lifes.
L Galea
Aug 3rd 2008, 14:10
If my information is correct, last week an Air Malta chartered aircraft was to fly to Somalia or somewhere around there with 14 ILLEGAL immigrants.
First problem: 10 out of the 14 ILLEGAL immigrants could not be identified. If my information is correct, the trip was made just for 4 ILLEGAL immigrants.
Question: If ALL ILLEGAL immigrants are being photographed and their fingerprints taken, how come they could not be identified?
Was the trip made and how much did the it cost the Maltese taxpayers?
Mr Spiteri, you are correct in both instances.
Many illegal immigrants are a walking gold showcase with GSM mobiles and most bank customers at HSBC are these supposed poor ILLEGAL immigrants. Last year I mysef heard one asking how he can invest Lm8000.
Are they organizing their friends crossings with payment to their overseas accounts prior to departure from Libya?
There is a rust bucket in Malta. How about filling it up with the thousands of illegal immigrants, escort it to just outside Somali territorial waters and leave it there WITHOUT FUEL?
Mr Pair of Strong Hands Honorable Prime Minister Gonzi, show your pair of strong hands with the ILLEGAL immigrants. We expect nothing less.
J.M. Chapelle
Aug 3rd 2008, 14:06
HELLO? GOVERNMENT! are you actually READING this!?
Joseph Galea
Aug 3rd 2008, 12:46
With the rate that they are invading us, in 1 year we will have 10,000 illegal immigrants here, whilst the birth rate of maltese born citezens stood at 3860 (as 2005 census).Not in the very distant future than we realise that we've lost control of our own native land and we (maltese citezens) will become illegal ourselves.
Maybe this will be a good tought for those maltese who are in favour and always protect such illegal immigration.
John Spiteri
Aug 3rd 2008, 12:25
What really surprise me with this country, we have had no comments from our Government to address the people regarding this issue and worst of all, the Opposition party is keeping very quite, (that New Labour for you !!!), they are supposed to make life for the ruling government difficult and work harder on certain issues. The answer is simple, it must be cheaper to hire a ship load them on and them back by to the safe area of Somalia, then keep them here paying to their life style.
If you go to Valletta HSBC half of the customers are these so called refugees, take note what they wear (brand names which I can't afford) and some of them they have more jewellery than Mr. T. Something is very wrong with this situation!!!
Iain Sims
Aug 3rd 2008, 10:43
The Italians have declared an immigration warning? Proportional to the population of each country, Malta received 9.8 times as many illegal immigrants yesterday alone when counted against those numbers for the Italians on Wednesday and Thursday. consider that on June 15th and June 16th Malta received 217 illegal immigrants, which works out at 39.4 times as many as the Italians.
Will the government please also declare an "immigration emergency" and do something other than just talk?
L Galea
Aug 3rd 2008, 10:10
The expenses for keeping the 55 ILLEGAL immigrants that have to be paid by Maltese taxpayers for keeping them in Malta has been increased by at least:
55 x 30 euros x 365 days (or 12 months) = 602, 250 for 1 year
55 x 30 euros x 548 days (or 18 months) = 903,375 for 18 months in detention
This is apart from other expenses connected with operations to save them, medical expenses, hospital visits etc.
This is how much illegal immigrants cost the Maltese taxpayers.
Work out how many ILLEGAL immigrants we have and you will be surprised at the millions that are being spend from our taxes to keep these ILLEGAL immigrants in Malta.
Can we affor to keep them here?
Can we afford the negative impact on the Maltese population and the cultural problems that shall surface in a few years time?
The answer is simply NO.