Labour leader calls for stronger political will
Illegal immigration cannot be solved through financial investment alone but the most important element in tackling this issue is a stronger political will particularly at the level of the EU Council of Ministers, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said.
Dr Muscat, who still holds a seat in the European Parliament, touched upon the subject of immigration that has virtually gone unmentioned by the two main political parties over these past months when Malta experienced a record influx of immigrants.
During a meeting with Libor Secka, the Director General of European Affairs within the Czech Republic's Foreign Affairs Ministry, Dr Muscat also raised the issue of increasing energy prices.
It was unacceptable that families were put in a situation where they had to choose between buying basic products or paying their water and electricity bills, he said. While it was understandable that energy could not be offered for free, Dr Muscat stressed that access to it was to be perceived as a right.
Mr Secka said that when the Czech Republic takes over the EU presidency next year energy will be one of the primary areas of focus. Other areas will be competitiveness and foreign relations.
Dr Muscat agreed that attention should be directed at competitiveness but this should not come at the expense of the social net.
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Albert Gauci Cunningham
Sep 11th 2008, 18:02
I don't know if some of you here really read this article in which all JMuscat says is that money on its own will not solve this problem!! (Mur obsor) ................
Malta has 75% more immigrants this year, noone knows who these people are, noone knows what these people want, noone wants to integrate with these people and vice-versa creating one of the biggest social problems Malta might face in the future, babies and mothers are dying on a daily basis in the Mediterranean Sea, our social fabric and cultures are under threat.......................and all JM could say is this?????!!!!!!
Both Parties are doing NOTHING on this issue, period!!! And we need more than this cheap posturing from our leaders to convince ourselves that something is being done!!! But sometimes I wonder if we really think this situation is bad or if clapping for our leaders is paramount!!!
If anyone here thinks that this situation is untenable and you vote PN or MLP or AD in the MEP elections than it's pretty useless to blog and complain isn't it??????
D Fenech
Sep 11th 2008, 17:45
"Malta’s first step is to withdraw our commitment to the UN Geneva Refugee Treaty of 1951. Increasing diligent sea patrols with FRONTEX, out side Malta’s waters; by intercepting the Mother ships of the traffickers and by turning back all the boats within Libya’s waters. "
Alexander Morana is right!!!!
J.Spiteri
Sep 11th 2008, 17:31
Quote from the "Daily Mail" to-day
"Unlimited immigration may lead to violence on Britain's streets", warns former Archbishop of Canterbury
Our Church, the Government and the Opposition Party must recognise future tension in our society as well, they need to act now.
Start seriously sending these people back now, no matter how much it costs, in any case we are already paying for their up keep as it is.
Alexander Morana
Sep 11th 2008, 15:18
At long last now we have the Rt. Hon. Dr. Joseph Muscat, the leader of the Opposition on side too. Come on Dr. Gonzi have a national debate in Parliament about this pressing issue. You also have His Holiness Pope Benedict on your side too. It was he who said that there should be a political solution to illegal immigration.
Saying nothing and doing nothing for fear of political fall out is a lack of leadership.
As I have posted before in this e-newspaper, Malta’s first step is to withdraw our commitment to the UN Geneva Refugee Treaty of 1951. Increasing diligent sea patrols with FRONTEX, out side Malta’s waters; by intercepting the Mother ships of the traffickers and by turning back all the boats within Libya’s waters.
Come on Dr. Gonzi it doesn’t take much to show spine. I am sure you will also have the backing of the majority of the Maltese people behind you.
L Galea
Sep 11th 2008, 15:14
A simple reference is not enough.
We want action.
And we want it now.
By all politicians, not only by one
Joanne Micallef
Sep 11th 2008, 14:59
So Dr Joseph Muscats view on the illegal immigration problem is basically the same as the Goverments, that is to keep pleading our case to the EU. The way I see it this is a clear message that we're on our own, like Dr Josie wrote a few days ago, this society must help itself, if we want action we have to pressure the Goverment into acting in favour of our National interest, the only way we can do this is to take to the streets.
It is time to stand up and be counted, hope you guys have taken a step in the right direction by contacting AN to see in which way you can help this party in tackling this issue. Remember that supporting the party on such an important issue does not mean that you support AN's all the way, it simply means that you understand what democracy is all about.
F. Camilleri
Sep 11th 2008, 14:28
@Louise Vella
Your comment ran: 'I would change that to: "the most important element in tackling this issue is a stronger political will particularly at the level of the Maltese government." '
You should add: 'opposition and ALL MEP's.'
The opposition has a very important role to play in the governance of our country.
We are paying for its very existence too!
I am afraid that your comment alienates people causing local political division amongst the Maltese population re this issue - the last thing we need at this crucial time.
This issue:
i. is a National issue and so far above LOCAL party politics,
ii. is a POLITICAL and not a RELIGIOUS issue,
iii. involves our children’s secure future which comes FAR ABOVE local party politics,
iv. should be tackled and discussed RATIONALLY rather than EMOTIONALLY and
FANATICALLY,
v. is a NATIONAL issue demanding a common UNITED NATIONAL FRONT.
Let us ALL be GENUINE in our comments.
louise vella
Sep 11th 2008, 13:42
Agreed. On top of it all Professor Frendo is a former high official of UNHCR having served in Geneva, Cairo and Papua New Guinea. There cannot be anyone better than him to see both sides of the picture.
Denis Catania
Sep 11th 2008, 13:27
Thank You Joseph Muscat, now keep pushing for a solution that will help the Maltese. We need help. The Prime Minister is afraid of the big boys in the EU. You too can come, to our demonstration, in front of the Ambassador to the United Nation. Keep pushing and the sign JOSEPH IS SILENT TOO. will be torn and discarded.
Mary Mills
Sep 11th 2008, 13:24
The leaders of both main parties look like numbed bystanders - too precious to "say something" re the 4509 illegal immigrants and counting and, incidentally, the many more who may be here illegally.
Many voices are pleading with you, Messrs Gonzi & Muscat, almost daily, to be seen to take notice. Could you not even, at least, take Prof. H. Frendo's objective views with a little seriousness?
Paul Smith
Sep 11th 2008, 13:16
By 2025, droughts, food shortages and scarcity of fresh water will plague large swaths of the globe, from northern China to the Horn of Africa. For poorer countries, climate change "could be the straw that breaks the camel's back,"
This unfortunatley is bad news for Malta, It's geographical location makes it vunerable to climate and energy starved refugee's.
T Mifsud
Sep 11th 2008, 12:53
This article and the one on Dr Gonzi increasing penalties on illegal employment follow on the heels of the wave of criticism by the public against Dr Gonzi for commenting on Dr Muscat non-leadership leadership of the MLP. Actually the readers lashed against Dr Gonzi for not taking any concrete action on slowing the illegal immigration. Well, Dr muscat also is riding on this wave with alot of empy words and zero words on what stand he would take.
What concrete action that would result in a slow downof illegal immigration would Dr Muscat take if he were in Dr Gonzi's seat?
martin portelli
Sep 11th 2008, 11:22
How interesting that we at last get some empty lip service from the leader of the opposition whilst the Prime minister seems to have taken a vow of silence on the issue of illegal immigration. I suggest both politicians take Professor Henry Frendo's unbiased and empirical observations on the subject on board ( see letters section ; TMI 10-09-08). As I have stated before his seems to be the only voice of reason. It seems we are a nation bereft of statesmen . I suggest a national commission on the issue with Professor Frendo as its Head, maybe we will for once acknowledge a necessity for action rather than the usual non-action.
d. borg
Sep 11th 2008, 11:20
I think we have already tried all the EU possibilities and none worked. JM should know better. Frontex is working against us. We must start taking action on a national level and not wait for EU help!
Stephen Farrugia
Sep 11th 2008, 09:48
"A leader must protect his country against illegal immigration at all cost. Those leaders that fail in this one field, have no choice but to resign."
Stephen Farrugia
louise vella
Sep 11th 2008, 09:41
I would change that to: "the most important element in tackling this issue is a stronger political will particularly at the level of the Maltese government".