Tuesday, 23rd September 2008 - 12:23CET
Update 2: Malta putting immigration at top of EU agenda - government
The government said this afternoon that its continued efforts had managed to put illegal immigration at the top of the EU agenda.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said Malta would continue to work in all EU fora for solidarity and responsibility sharing among the member states of the EU, and decisions would continue to be taken by the government in the national interest.
The ministry was replying to a statement issued earlier by the MLP.
The ministry said its was its policy of persuasion, notably under the EU's French presidency, that had led to illegal immigration being given a high profile in the EU, where an Immigration Pact was being discussed. It was thanks to political commitment and pressure by the Maltese government that the EU was now considering responsibility sharing, something which the MLP had referred to in its statement.
The government would continue to work hard in this sector, taking decisions in Malta’s best interests and keeping the Opposition informed of developments.
This was a national problem which had to be solved through wide action and not words.
Earlier, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said that illegal immigration had become a “national crisis” and unless European leaders agreed to help Malta through resources and better regulations, Malta should reject the proposed Immigration Pact.
In a joint statement with Opposition Home Affairs spokesman Michael Falzon, Dr Muscat said that despite assurances before the summer that measures would be taken for Malta not to shoulder burdens it could not bear, facts showed the contrary. The number of immigrant arrivals this year was a record, up 30 percent over last year.
The solution, they said, was not to to mistreat the migrants or to let them drown. What was needed was a strong political will. Once what had been promised had not come about, the government needed to move from words to action by taking a firm stand in the EU structures, starting this week during the EU talks on new regulations on immigration.
Alternattiva Demokratika in a separate statement also is urging the Maltese government to take a strong stance at this week's negotiations on new regulations on migration. "If the other EU leaders do not agree to responsibility sharing, Prime Minister Gonzi should have absolutely no doubts and should go ahead in vetoing any proposed text", AD leader Arnold Cassola said.
The Nationalist Party in a reaction to the MLP statement said the government was working on the illegal immigration issue in all EU fora.
The PN pointed out that the Prime Minister had announced last Saturday that the government was working on a proposal for the EU to have a mechanism for the relocation of migrants as is the case in the United States.
Through this proposal, Malta expected to see the implementation of the principle of burden-sharing. The proposal is to be discussed this week by European Justice and Home Affairs Ministers.
“The Nationalist Party appeals for this issue to be tackled in a mature, progressive, moderate and serious manner and without artificial and childish politics which try to ride on the racist sentiments which some unfortunately harbour,” the PN said.
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Comments
You are obviously a well educated and intelligent lady.
With all due respect,could you give me some straight forward answers to a few questions.
Have you not seen the devastating effect illegal immigration is having on the rest of Europe?
If these illegals are the pillar of society,why are the E.U.contries not clamouring over one another to take them off Malta's hands?
Can you not see,in every locality where these illegals are housed,in time are turned into no go areas,places where even the police will not enter?
Whith the size of Malta smaller than most major cities in Europe,how long do you think it will be when you are made to feel like a foriegner in your own country?
Do you not realise the people of Malta are not making any racist comments,just trying to safegaurd not only their's but their childrens future?
Ms Vella,I am speaking first hand,seeing with my own eyes ,over the years how illegal immigration has destroyed the U.K.
Please Malta take heed of the devastating effect uncontroled immigration is having on your neighbours,dont go down the same road.
I am thinking of organising guided tours around the less salubious areas of the U.K.
(no go areas of Britain) no prizes for guessing who lives there.
Shall I take it as a formality you will be one of our first customers
0))
Thank you
May we all unite on this issue as well said by You.
Grazzi Habib.
Ahem, said she 'let me point out to you that neither did I say that less that salubrious does not mean insalubrious.” And so your point is ?
Said she "You spell it out yourself: the words you quote do not include 'Marsa' and 'Hal-Far'."
Oh gosh we’re back to active sender and passive receiver metaphors are we? Not intend Marsa or Hal-Far? And I am to assume that your communicative interaction occurred in a meaning and judgement free vacuum did it? Most communication transactions require a meeting of social worlds and an interactive social space where interlocutors build up meaning, (the conduit metaphor of meaning you seem to subscribe to is in Reddy’s words “erroneous and misleading). Do tell us please, which less than salubrious locations had you in mind? You really should stop playing playground twist.
With all due respect Ms Vella, these are your written ' ipsissimi verbi'
'nor am I in the habit of hanging around in a less than salubrious area at ungodly hours' .The onus is on you to explain how 'less than salubrious' does not mean insalubrious.
Thank you for your compliment. Could be I am mistaken, but at this moment in time and considering the seriousness of the matter and knowing very well that no amount of goodwill on our part could solve this problem, I think that we should unite as onepeople.
Probably we are of the same view but do not have the same reasoning but that is not important - together we stand divided we fall. Thanks for listening, we can differ but I am sure we both love our country otherwise we would'nt care.
Agree, But No One tries to be seen as a Leader, when he " joe " was" always GALERIJA
and then Pretends a micro bit of Credit !!!
Your mistake here, as that of many others, is that perhaps unknowingly, you are giving political weight to a crisis which affects one and all, irrespective of his political colour. Your qoute :
Mr M Muscat, It also can be you who are mistaking ? politicize Tell us here isint to politcize
evrything that happens in Malta to some ppl is a Hobby !!! No not me maybe we dont have the same view too,
that is ok, You are a good blogger yes. But what I wrote Everybody knows, that it aint no lie !
Thank You.
Trying to hide you intentions, is it so my friend???
Or else you may have chosen to comment about something which is not related to the article. It's all right, you don't need to worry since we are by now accustomed to your habits.
What exactly do you mean by Marsa and Hal-Far being insalubrious? Why are these locations designated less than healthy for mind and spirit ?
No, I am not obliged to respect any opinion that consists of 'arguments' that are badly constructed and based on anything but fact. Your assertion about politicians being in cahoots with employees to lower wages is just one such argument. Employees usually want to raise wages, not lower them and that is when they need politicians' support.
If i understood you correctly, in that case you ought to know that the kind of `immigrants` you mentioned are those comming from EU Countries ONLY.... And yes they now have the right to vote for their coutry`s elections in the country they now reside, but of course, they cannot vote again in their Mother Country for the same elections...
YOU SEE.... YOU MIXED UP THIS CONCEPT COMPLETEY JOE...
Also, I guess you again have no idea whatsoever how impossible it is for Non EU Residents to acquire the right to vote in our elections, unless they satisfy our VERY STRICT Immigration , Residential and Naturalization Laws...
So you see Joe, there was absolutely NO `Hyprocresy`, (..as you said..), in Joseph`s suggestions to the government, but only HONESTY coming from the heart of a FINE YOUNG AND MODERN POLITICIAN, SHOWING A GREAT DEAL OF MATURITY.. Thank God.........
P.S. Joe you misspelled my surname too in your last sentence, you know... It`s OK though, you`re not the only one that does so......
And God only knows how many children they will have.
You conveniently misinterpret what I have written. In my previous post I clearly stated that as far as I could tell Joseph Muscat has been silent at the EU on the issue of illegal immigration.
I went on to say that Joseph Muscat together with Grech voted to support the European Socialist to extend voting rights to immigrants. In this phrase I did not mention the world ILLEGAL.
Here is exactly what I wrote: "The only thing I could find about Joseph Muscat and his friend Grech was voting with their Socialist friends to extend the right to vote for immigrants in national and EU elections. Yes that is right - to non citizens.
You are not obliged to read what I write. Try taking a trip or two yourself. Travel usually broadens the mind, though there are some grave exceptions to the rule as one of the most prolific comment posters here amply demonstrates.
The AN Spiteri guy should contemplate seriously about what he has written on this article. In the last years I can't see where the MLP was on the defensive side of the immigrants, more than those who encouraged more to come by continuing to build up detention centres!! Your statement shows AN's true texture, that of being a group of PN dissident movement.
If anyone might speak seriously, by now every citizen of Malta and the EU must have become conscious that burden sharing to other EU countries is not the solution. As I have recently said, by burden sharing we would always keep on postponing a then bigger problem. Burden sharing is like transferring these migrants from Marsa ta' Mellieha!!
For me and Malta the only elected as PM and absolute leader is Dr.Gonzi on whom rests the prime responsibility of solving this problem. The matter is so serious that probably historically he would be judged by his handling of this crisis which is a matter of do or die for these islands. This does not mean however, that other distinct and resposible people should refrain or be excluded from their accountability in a matter of such national interest -including the Opposition.
Your mistake here, as that of many others, is that perhaps unknowingly, you are giving political weight to a crisis which affects one and all, irrespective of his political colour.
My appeal was and still is, not to politicize such a grave and serious situation especially when we realize that it was you and me and the majority of the Maltese people, who with their insistence and determination made the powers that be initiate some pressure on the EU, after a long time in limbo. Now that we are there, we must ensure hat our leaders, especially DR.Gonzi gets the best deal possible and which would be satisfactory to all of us.
Do you really think that the EU will take about 1000 immigrats? I do not think so. The EU members have the same problem in their countries as other illegal immigrants are entering their countries.
Although USA is not a EU member, it took us only 15 illegal members. What a laugh!
Political maturity, I call it political opportunism at its' worst by Joseph Muscat. Where has been Joseph Muscat in the last years in the EU to push his Socialist friends to do something about Illegal Immigration. The only thing I could find about Joseph Muscat and his frind Grech was voting with thier Socialiist friends to extend the right to vote for immigrants in national and EU ellections. Yes that is right - to non citezens.
Mr Magro if tht is not HYPOCROSY at its' best, then what it is?
Keep up the good work Dennis. What is needed in these circumstances is people like you who act and not just talk. At least you are doing your part in the interests of this small nation unlike some who only show treason to it.
Why is our diplomacy toothless? A country in crisis needs its best brains to come forward and engineer creative solutions. When will the penny drop that this crosses party lines. Statesmen should not be afraid to visit places others have shunned before them. Perhaps engaging in a little intra-cultural dialogue would be the first step. Solutions can only be found if the right questions are asked. Bear in mind that the resources or skills necessary for implementing solutions are hardly ever found in one political basket. Some problems require unique solutions. This particular one requires that Laurence +Joseph +Arnold + civil society = national interest. None of the traditional parties will be scoring points as things stand. Indeed, it is the previous childish denial and the present ineffectual handling of the situation by politicians that will be the greatest contributors to a rise in negative sentiments, racist or otherwise
THANKS A MILLION...(Mike magri)
I respect your Political tendecies to the full but can you please stop giving praise where praise is not due!! Tell us Mr.Magri what "national Policies" is there in this statement?? How is the above statement by Muscat any different from the government's intention to block the Immigration Pact if "burden sharing" is not specifically mentioned in the text?? What did J.Muscat do when he had the power to do something as an MEP??? Simon Busuttil came up with the idea of a resettlement programme, is pushing for Anti-illegal (immigrant) employment and has been pushing the b.sharing idea for more than two years now....what kind of positive and viable solutions has the MLP come up with??? Saying that we must find a balance is not a solution but more posturing and PR of which this MLP leader seems to be very good at, much like his mentor!!!
Thanks a million?????!! For what??? For doing nothing on this front while he had a big, fat paycheque from my taxes in Brussels???? uuu hallina tridx!!!
............being pro-EU comes at a price dear Mr.Magri!!!!!!!!!
I believe that the burden sharing proposal is the best solution on a temporary basis........say Malta sends 1,000 immigrants to the EU a year (thats 37 per country a year), this number fluctuates or decreases depending on how many immigrants land in Malta. So if in a given year we have to send double the original figure of a thousand every country would have to take 74 immigrants. Obviuosly this in itself would lighten the burden for Malta big time and it would send alarm bells in all EU countries who would then start calling for action by all the EU itself to start solving the main problem here i.e--Africa!!!!
I think that by being rash and by simplifying this tragedy to a simple "Lilo journey to Nirvana" we are not helping ourselves one little bit!!!!!
What`s wrong with that Guys.... I think that Dr. Muscat, here, is showing GREAT Political Maturity and Love for our beloved Malta and Gozo alike...
Sincerely.... For the LOVE of our MOTHER LAND.... I absolutely DON`T see anything wrong or so called,`Childish` at all on this statement..... I think, acting `childish` are all those who think that `THEY only KNOW best` as they are `God`s` Gift to Malta....!!!!!! ... U EJJA GUYS...!!!
ANZI .... I SEE IT AS GREAT POLITICAL MATURITY FROM SUCH A YOUNG POLITICIAN......
KEEP IT UP JOSEPH.... YOURS IS THE KIND OF NATIONAL POLITICS THESE BELOVED ISLANDS DESERVE.........
THANKS A MILLION...
In this instance we should leave out any reference to politics altogether and encourage our leaders, Dr.Gonzi and Dr.Muscat, ( qoute from your comment )
Since when MALTA, have two leaders ? if I'me not Mistaking, Malta have a leader yes The one and only Dr. Lawrence Gonzi the Prime Minister ... to who are you referring as the other leaders ? unions, Political Patry's ?
I really Wonder !
As I said before, take a walk through Marsa past hal far around midnight.
Put your money where your mouth is.
The Maltese have made it amply clear, in their vast majority, that they are worried and concerned with the prevailing situation, and that this matter is to be given prioriy on all other factors. It has taken a long time for us to make our leaders express their minds, but now that they have done it, let us show that we are all behind them and that we expect of them much more than words. We are experiencing hard times and everybody must realize this. It is only our sheer determination , insistence and expectations from our leaders that could overcome the problem. Be united.
TRANSLATION:
We're gonna keep calm, cool and relaxed while Malta slowly sinks under the immigrants wave.
We are the majority supporters of the PN and MLP, that don't agree with illegal immigration and we thank the man that had the courage to start the fight for the salvation of our country.
STEPHEN FARRUGIA- HERE I STAND ( what an honour)
You don't need to write your opinion anymore because we all have understood your anti- Malta stand and your total disregard to Maltese interests.
Next time you depart from Malta,kindly leave your passport at the desk, thank you and good bye.
If you multiply this year's number of arrivals by the next five years as everything seems to indicate...the situation will become a very serious crisis for all of us...
seem to have woke up after 100 day's !!! is that so there is a Migrant Crisis in Malta WOW !
What is your stand ? can you be crystal clear and tell us, what in Realty are you doing in this Migrants Crisis ?
Not just If's & But's, or being viewed on one t.v as if you are the mexxej of Malta cisss ! no joe you won't tell us, because first you will want to Copy the Prime Minister Gonzi. cheers.
"One can easily guess that the vast majority of illegal immigrants never knew of Malta before they set foot on this island of ours."
Robert, I'm afraid that you are mistaken there.
We have now arrived at the ridiculous situation where the AFM approach a klandestini boat and ask who wants to be taken to Malta. Those who express a desire to do so are taken on board the ferry, sorry I meant patrol boat and brought over to Haywharf Passenger Terminal and on to the ever sprawling accomodation which CMB boasts about. The rest continue on to Italy.
Remember that these illegal immigrants spend most of their day on the phone and internet (at our expense) encouraging their friends and relatives to join them. A friend of mine who used to employ 2 of these people was asked by one of them to be given leave for a day. Reason, his wife was coming on the next boat and he wanted to go welcome her.
Decent words fail me.
Not repatriating illegal immigrants, and instead allowing them to accumulate over the years, releasing them into the community, and trying to relocate them to a third country, would only ensure that more and more will keep coming in. It is the nature of the beast, and Malta will continue to be victimized by this ongoing criminal activity on the one hand, and government complacency on the other.
The Maltese government should have long started unilateral talks with countries of interest in the Horn of Africa and elsewhere. Instead, Laurence Gonzi is on record suggesting that Malta should buy more patrol boats while the PN has to govern in accordance with “Christian values”. It is crystal clear that the Gonzi government has greatly contributed to the problem of illegal immigration and is not a government that can deal with reality. Whether we like it or not, the Gonzi government is not fit to govern under the given circumstances.
Dr. Gonzi is our democratically elected PM. (Ballot boxes bear witness)
All pressure groups, or actually, hungers of power such as, AN, or Any other comedian like Mr. Magic wand, must understand that the government is dealing with the immigrants within EU laws. As a matter of fact, the government is handling this matter perfectly.
The hardest thing to do in politics is to create interest in your party.
Creating fear of the illegal immigrants, spreading hatred sentiments among population, and then selling yourself as the best person to handle them, this is the only item left to Azzjoni Nazzjonali, ANR and Norman Lowell’s like.
After their failures in the election, now we have them on line, again, when we soon have the MEP election, they will not make it, and again, ballot boxes would bear witness.
You don't have to take my word for it. I pasted the link in my other post. Go and look for yourself.
It's not asylum they want but to slowly outnumber us.
They are using our system and our mercy against US.
They want to IMPOSE their lifestyle on us (given the chance).
We are giving them rope with which they can hang us.
History repeats itself: Three small ships led to the end of the Inca Empire. The American continent will never be the same again since the Inca let those and other ships trickle in. The Incas were wiped out. It can happen to us too. (or rather, it IS happening to us today).
But then again WE have to be politically correct. (And jeopardize our beleifs, lifestyle, and culture).
I will hate to have to say "I told you so!"
Huhhhhhhh...
Welcome to the STAGUN POLITIKU GDID dr.gonzi......
Now, just to make things look a little good, the powerless silent opposame, Joseph Muscat decides to say something on the issue to tranquilize the public a bit.
I really doubt that Dr. Gonzi and or Joseph Muscat will do anything in time to save our nation from certain doom.
How quite you are about the subject, please don't forget all your name calling and what both leaders are now saying.
Have you ever heard of the word " Apology"?
If the government is not racist, who are the exact people you are calling racist?
Help us understand.
Of course filling Malta with open centers is really a hard work for the national interest
Those (me included) who tried to raise awareness about it were invariabley branded racists, fascists, bigots, nazis and so on. They were accused of trying to make political mileage out of "irregular" immigration.
Anybody with an iota of sense could foresee that the numbers this year would swell. Even those illegal immigrants in detention were bragging about it. Ask the AFM. They were constantly taunting the soldiers to take good care of the boats because the Maltese will need them to get away when their numbers were right.
Now, suddenly, everyone admits that we have a huge problem. Incidents, often violent, resulting from friction between immigrants and locals are increasing alarmingly. Most of them go unreported and this is a grave disservice to the Maltese. Let us not allow the situation deteriorate further because it will simply be disastrous.
Malta as a lifeboat ia already dangerously overloaded. We cannot save a whole ship-load, even if we wanted to.
Just quoting the PN's statement:
The Nationalist Party appeals for this issue to be tackled in a mature, progressive, etc.. etc...
Progressive PN - Wow!
erm... who's copying who?
One can easily guess that the vast majority of illegal immigrants never knew of Malta before they set foot on this island of ours. A very practical, yet legal (I presume) solution would be as follows.
a) Illegal immigration = breaking the law, thus punishable by possibly a period of imprisonment. (like what is currently happening in Italy)
b) Upon termination of prison term, one may consider giving them Maltese citizenship, thus opening the doorway to Europe (freedom of movement) or in other words "burden sharing"
Who knows maybe, as was said many a time, these people never wanted to come here in the first place.
Not that i believe this should be taken seriously, but yet again.... who knows???
Or is this just another entertainment for the people.
I would have preferred it though if he had been honest enough and simply stated that he was supporting the government rather than try to pretend that he is saying something new. As it is, he's playing into the hands of the racists though, on second thoughts, he might not mind at all.
On second thoughts probably JM would have continued his work at Super One.
A big thank to the man that started this battle for our country and every single person, who over the years, fought against the traitors of our great country.
The patriots and the traitors, shall not be forgotten.
God bless you all
Stephen Farrugia
".....unless European leaders agreed to help Malta through resources and better regulations, Malta should reject the proposed Immigration Pact."-------J.Muscat
......erm sorry but isn't that what the government has decided on doing and which was reported on last week's edition of The Times??
Didn't the government already say that the state will be tough on it's stand and not allow the vote to go through if needed??
.........so what exactly is ground breaking in Joseph Muscat's words?? Nothing, Zilch!!
No wonder this country remains where it is on such issues: we have a government which took ages to start taking a stand, than it takes a "tough" stand (in words only up to now) and then out comes our new MLP leader "full of fresh ideas" and repeats the Government's policy making it his own..............woww 100 points for platitudes and 0 for solutions!!
Nothing is obvious. Our minister stated that Frontex was a success.
More then 3 years ago I stated more then once on TV, that we should use our VETO immediately on this issue because nobody will help us.
For saying the obvious I was labelled as a racist and many other insults.
Today I can say that I am more then satisfied, becuase MLP and AD are saying the same things I said years ago.
I am also more then sure that also the PN agrees, with the exception of a few communists who happen to be with the nationalist party for some reason.
If Gonzi is ready to betray the country for the so called chrisian values, then he should call an early election since this is the most important challenge the country is facing. Far more worse then the cost of living, deficit, etc etc.
About the chrisian values when a country is filled up with illegal immigrants, its values are lost. The UK is a perfect example of this. To say that a country is christian will be illegal, because you might insult a minority, which eventually will become a majority.
By so doing he has reflected Maltese interests and Maltese public opinion.
We now expect the Prime Minister to declare that he recognises that illegal immigration has become a national crisis.
If he does not, he will show that he does not care about Maltese interests and Maltese public opinion.
I have come out strongly against the government in another forum about hunting. I do NOT wear a partisan hat like most people here defending their 'leader'. Apologies, but this story is about Dr. Muscat not Lawrence Gonzi. I will be sure to point it out when i criticise the government next time to avoid hurting your party's feelings.
@Maria Pace
I never stated that illegal immigration is not a problem, it is and how.
@ I.M. Dingli
This forum is about the leader of the opposition stating the obvious. Did he need to point it out to you Mr. Dingli? I could have called you and told you so. I am trying to point out that both the Prime Minister and Dr. Muscat have not said a word about illegal hunting yet...funnily enough.
Furthermore, if any of you read the comments below, all we read is partisan jibberish. Stop thinking about the political party you are fanatical about and start to put the interests of your country before petty political arguments.
At the end of the day there are no losers and winners on this issue.
Only losers!!!!!!
You and Me!!!!
".......immigrants who have lived in a member state for a long time."
Those are the exact words quoted from the article in The Times, 18 Jan 08.
Over 50% of the illegal immigrants who arrive in Malta are given some sort of status and stay here. The rest are just let loose after 18 months and remain here. After 5 years they would all satisfy the report's conditions for voting and in favour of which Dr Muscat voted.
And I am not a "blue boy" although I have no doubt that you are a "red boy". Get your blinkers off.
Joseph Muscat voted to give a vote to immigrants who stay in Malta for more then 5 years in EUrope.
I hope he admits it was a mistake.
Now we should unite against Europe on this issue. If Gonzi and his worse minister Dr Mifsud Bonnici want to remain absolute puppets to Europe, then Joseph should call the people in the streets for national protests.
The crisis of illegal immigration in Malta is threatening our county's stability, and must be tackled firmly by the government, backed by all the political parties, because it is in everyone's interest that this serious threat to Malta is dealt with immediately. Burden sharing is not a solution because the other EU countries have no interest in worsening their own problems for Malta's sake. Their governments are acting in their country's interests, now it is time for our government and all the political parties to act in Malta's interest.
There is no point in trying to help an unlimited number of so-called refugees and in so doing destabilising your own country. The government and all the political parties must show a united front to effectively tackle and overcome this national crisis.
"Our politicians seem to be smelling the coffee at long last"
I don't think it's the coffee they are smelling, but the next MEP election. Just wait a few more months, and you will see them all acting as if they were the new 'Solution beholders'.
This is a NATIONAL issue.
Let us ALL push forward to tackle this pressing problem ABOVE Local Political Party Level.
Let us all show a SOLID UNITED NATIONAL FRONT on this issue both on local political party level and on individual level.
Let us show the EU that we are serious - that we are ONE re this issue.
What counts is that we are REALLY doing our best for our COUNTRY and our NATION.
At the end of the day, what is important is not WHO solved this problem, but that WE TOGETHER SOLVED this problem.
We do not want ILLEGAL immigrants on our island.
Illegal Immigration is a crime and should be treated as such.
Moreover, accepting ILLEGAL immigrants is logistically impossible.
ALL ILLEGAL immigrants should be deported or repatriated.
We MUST demand of the EU to allocate funds to develop the African Continent helping its people build a sustainable infrastructure making ILLEGAL immigration an unnecessary risk.
We DEMAND of the EU to accede to our JUSTIFIED CLAIMS.
What made Joseph Muscat change his beliefs?
Can anyone enlighten please?
When all else fails, pull out the "racist card".
But it does not work any longer. We are by now immune to it. What we are not immune to is this govenment's impotence to react effectvely.
We all know that this crisis needs a strong political will to be tackled, something which this present government and nor yourself has any of the right stuff.
Come on Dr. Muscat when are you really starting to be a real leader and come up with real solutions and propositions?
I have said it all along that we have embarked on a mission impossible project and that only time would expose our shortcomings. We can accomodate a 1000 but not a 100,000 and that is pure logic. So now everybody should roll up his sleeves and try to rectify past mistakes, That would not mean that we are racist or xenophobic but that we are sensible and realistic and admit that one cannot pour all the seawater into a bucket. We should ensure that this wonderful island would not be undermined - that is what we should all work for.
In the meantime, Dr Gonzi and Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici try to cover the national crisis by holy platitudes and words more worthy of NGOs than of national leaders.
The government has the means at his disposal does he have the political will to use them. This is, most probably, once in a life time opportunity do not miss out! By the way Dr. Muscat shouldn’t your MEPs be more visible about this crisis?
Only Gonzi believes that burden sharing can happen.
In reality nobody wants illegal immigrants in his country.
It is funny now that the MEP election is coming how AD changed there position on this issue.
We all remember Harry Vassallo, pointing fingers to everyone who dared saying that a crises will be coming if something is not done and that illegal immigrants costs us only 50 maltese cents each person each year.
I sincerely hope that the people don't forget who pushed for more and more rights to give to illegal immigrants when the MEP's will come.
Just to jog your memory, I am referring to the "own initiative" report moved by Giusto Catania (Partito Rifondazione Comunista) on the 17 January 2008 which had pushed to expand VOTING and PERMANENT RESIDENCE rights of immigrants in the EU.
You and your colleague Louis Grech had voted in favour. Luckily the report was rejected by a comfortable majority.
May I add that the voting rights mentioned were to apply both for national and European elections.
Some cheek!
The people have been urging politicians to comment about the problem of illegal immigration for months and now that someone spoke about it, you're not happy either.
You definitely can't say that illegal immigration is not a "national crisis" because it is and a very big one at that.
The issue of hunting is now in the hands of the European Union to make a decision .
is every foreign person wolf-whistling at Maltese girls rightfully in malta? if u r an average looking Maltese girl - wearing decent clothes! - reading a book on a bench or waiting for the bus, you do get a few marriage proposals, and alas if you try to move away you are followed! i have stopped my evening walks alone because I feel threatened - yes in my own homeland!
Is there also a slight hint that after serving as MEP, declared the MLP as pro-EU, his anti-EU sentiments are re-emerging?
Or was it a subtle attempt to bring out Dr. Falzon from the deep freeze on to the front stage?
I never knew Joseph as a fighter against illegal immigration while serving as MEP in Brussels. Then I could be wrong too.
Good morning Mr Muscat. Now what exactly are these new regulations you are suggesting?
Amending the Dublin convention perhaps? Or maybe it's voluntary burden sharing?
Our politicians seem to be smelling the coffee at long last, but I fear that it may be too late for our country.
Some ppl criticised Joseph last week for not mentioning illegal immigration in one of his speeches. Now that he mentioned it in a well versed statement, you criticise him for not mentioning hunting.
So you attack him for not tackling the "important" issues, and now that he is talking about them, you mention other issues. What's your game?!
even if the EU accepts burden sharing, i'm afraid the process to get them to another eu country would be very lengthy.. so the problem for us will not be solved.. we're only solving the problem from the immigrant's end.. the time it takes to ship out the immigrants would not cope with the influx we have...
After all it was Mr. Gonzi whom described himself and his Government as having "Par idejn Sodi"
Over the last 100 days Joseph Muscat is turning into a very positive surprise....and is starting to appeal to moderate Nationalists like myself. That being said its still early days.
This article is about illegal immigrants and not hunting and i guess the former is a bigger burden than hunting.