Wednesday, 22nd October 2008
Ask your MEP
Do we let them drown?
To say that I am concerned on immigration is to state the obvious. Were I not, I would have just turned a blind eye and concentrated on other, less controversial, more vote-catching, issues.
But there is one challenge that I find even more grave than that of immigration. And this is the impact that this phenomenon is leaving on the very social fabric of our society as a result of the rising tide of xenophobia and racism.
These feelings, which are now commonplace among the men and women in the street, are being whipped up by various quarters. From the commentaries on the web-based version of this prestigious paper to the rhetoric of some prominent people, in politics and outside, who should know better.
Just consider this fact.
A vast majority of immigrants arriving in Malta do not actually come here, still less want to. They are saved at sea by our Armed Forces, by fishing boats or by ships when they find themselves in distress. And since the country from which they embarked, Libya, refuses to take them back, we have to bring them to shore here in Malta. (Much the same applies in Lampedusa, where arrivals have topped the 15,000 mark this year.)
This means that we have no choice whatsoever as to the number who come here every year for the simple reason that most of them are saved at sea. So, if anything, our Armed Forces should be lauded for engaging, every day, on our behalf, in perilous and heroic missions that save lives, hundreds of lives every year.
But I hear very little of that.
Now if, for the sake of argument, Malta had to ignore its moral and legal obligation to save them, we would be looking at far more manageable numbers reaching our shores every year. Perhaps around just one quarter of the 2,400 who arrived this year.
But, of course, letting people - be they Maltese or African - drown at sea is not an option, at least, not for a civilised European country that we claim to be.
So populist statements to the effect that we must refuse entry to illegal immigrants or that we should push back their boats to the point of departure, knowing full well that Libya is not accepting them, are very dangerous by far. And, when put in the context that not doing so would betray our national interest, these statements become truly inflammatory.
For perhaps innocently or perhaps less so, perhaps unwittingly or perhaps knowingly, such statements suggest, imply or insinuate that immigrants should be left to their own fate; to drown at sea.
Let me be clear. I, for one, find these suggestions nauseating.
And at this rate we risk going down a slippery slope into the abyss of racism and xenophobia.
It may well have started as some sort of joke, innocently watching funny snippets of seditious speeches made by some eccentric individual. Then it turned into gatherings, YouTube and even songs and messages making the rounds on the net. Before you know it, it's out of control.
Many people write to me to express their apprehension about immigration. Fair enough. They claim that they are not racist. Probably they mean it. But then they go on to state that we should not let them in. And even in the words and the feelings expressed, they suggest that immigrants are lesser beings.
Claims are also made to the effect that there are too many of them, that they have mobile phones, are well dressed, are not even tired when they land in Malta, that we pay through our noses for their food and accommodation (in detention), that they reduce the price of property in the neighbourhood...
Worst of all, claims are made that immigrants pose a threat to our religion and to our identity without the slightest realisation that these very words are completely out of synch with both of them.
We have to be very careful in the choice of words. These words dehumanise immigrants and induce fear and hatred of foreigners. Hence, racism and xenophobia, which are now a real and present danger for our society. And the sooner we shake them off the better.
But pray, where have our values gone? Where is the Church in all this? Where are the intellectuals? Where is our government's educational campaign? And where are the Socialist principles of many a Labour columnist whose writings befit the ravings of the far right in Europe?
All those who are truly moderate and progressive should stand up against xenophobia and racism.
The question is: Are we ready to stand up to be counted?
Readers who would like to ask questions to be answered in this column can send an e-mail, identifying themselves, to contact@simonbusuttil.eu or through www.simonbusuttil.eu.
Dr Busuttil is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.
RSS
Comments
"If I'm a fighter at all, I am a fighter on the side of justice and the preservation of life."
Don't you agree with me that the Dublin II convention law is unfair both to us and the irregular immigrants? If they want to go to Europe, and we assist by giving them fuel, why they can't continue their journey and ask for refugee status there? Don't you think -like I do- that this law needs to be updated?
I'm not fighting anyone. I'm only defending those who require protection because I value life more than the commodities we enjoy daily. If saving lives means that I have to renounce some of the luxuries most of us enjoy, then I would gladly renounce the luxuries.
As for controlling numbers of immigrants and preventing the immigration of those who do not require assistance, I would only approve of a solution that is humane and guarantees no avoidable loss of life.
If I'm a fighter at all, I am a fighter on the side of justice and the preservation of life.
Let us face the issue.
So we do not let them drown. Granted and agreed. Once on our shores we (a) Either make them apply for refugee status, (b) send them to detention centres or (c)repatriate them.
Re (a) most do so, some are granted whilst the others have to wait for their application to be processed. Re (b) several go , after they are not granted refugee status but cannot be sent back because their country is a dictatorate. Re (c) unless they are Egyptians or another handful of african states, they cannot be repatriated. Malta has no bilateral agreement with these countries.
So you have it.
The only possiblility to keep them temporary here is either through option (a) because they move freely (schengen), or through having Malta sign repartiraiton agreements with counries like somalia, sudan, eritrea or God willing with Libya (easy???), or through EU sharing mechanism in place.
That is how difficult it is to keep them tempararily in Malta for a short time.
That is why Simon Busutil is not appealing to any sentiments. He gave us a visual of the situation.
I understood it, and so did many others.
Yes, "Kenneth Cassar. Suldat ta' l-azzar!" 'fighting' on the wrong side. I invite him to join our side because we 'fight' in the name of justice.
Kenneth Cassar. Suldat ta' l-azzar!
We're wasting each other's time. Read my other reply (below yours).
"Again, all Europeans are eligible to come to Malta...but that won't happen."
I agree. That is why our problem is not the EU immigrants but the irregular immigrants.
"Neither will all immigrants from Africa end up in Malta."
I agree that not ALL immigrants from Africa will end up in Malta. But even if a mere 1% of the Africans that are eligible -under the Dublin II convention- to come to Malta decides to do so, it would be unbearable for us; because 1% is equall to 5 million.
"That couldn't happen. The country we direct them to would have the law on their side."
NOT if we AMEND the Dublin II convention. As you said yourself if: "As things stand, if we assist them in our waters (even by giving them fuel), we have to take them."
Don't you agree with me that this law is unfair to both us and the irregular immigrants? If they want to go to Europe, and we assist by giving them fuel, why they can't continue their journey and ask for refugee status there? Don't you think too that these law needs to be updated?
"And we will then transport them back to the "authorities of the country where they will land". If they don't want them, neither we want them. Kenneth, we are NOT the dustbin of the Mediterranean, where everyone -Europe and libya- can dump the unwanted immigrants!"
That couldn't happen. The country we direct them to would have the law on their side.
"So you finally admit that we can't take them in all! You admit that a limit must be set!!"
I also "admit" that the whole population of Europe has the right to legally immigrate in Malta. But this won't happen. Neither will all immigrants from Africa end up in Malta.
"I already told you that that is the number of the CURRENT africans that are eligible to come to Malta. And don't forget that the african population is increasing very rapidly".
Again, all Europeans are eligible to come to Malta...but that won't happen.
"Diplomacy and burden sharing agreements would prevent this hapenning."
That is not what Dr Busuttil said. He said: "This means that we have no choice whatsoever as to the number who come here every year for the simple reason that most of them are saved at sea."
He admitted that we are at the mercy of the human traffickers. This means that whether the human traffickers decide to bring 2600 or half a billion we are OBLIGED to them in all! Because the crazy international laws we signed does NOT SET a limit. Rise and shine Kenneth!
"So why use that number?"
I already told you that that is the number of the CURRENT africans that are eligible to come to Malta. And don't forget that the african population is increasing very rapidly.
"Why is burden sharing out of the question? How can you dismiss something before its even tried?"
Cause I am not day-dreaming. The EU was crystal-clear with our government when stated: "Burden sharing is UNACCEPTABLE because public opinion in different member states WOULD NOT accept it; ask us ANYTHING but NOT THIS"
"As things stand, if we assist them in our waters (even by giving them fuel), we have to take them."
That is correct Kenneth. That is why I said:"First of all you need to amend the Dublin convention..." In other words we must first update those unfair laws! It is very simple Kenneth! These laws that say: "we have to take them" have one aim, i.e. to use the Maltese islands as a breakwater against the waves of irregular immigrants heading towards mainland Europe.
"Regarding closing our doors and taking no more, that cannot work. They will simply be transported back to Malta by the authorities of the country where they will land."
And we will then transport them back to the "authorities of the country where they will land". If they don't want them, neither we want them. Kenneth, we are NOT the dustbin of the Mediterranean, where everyone -Europe and libya- can dump the unwanted immigrants!
"And whoever said that we should (or even could) pack half a billion Africans into tiny Malta?"
So you finally admit that we can't take them in all! You admit that a limit must be set!!
So now you say that the immigrants willingly sink their boats to fool us. Strange, since earlier, to give the lie to Simon Busuttil, you implied that they are forced by the traffickers to sink their boats. You should be consistent to be credible.
Regarding closing our doors and taking no more, that cannot work. They will simply be transported back to Malta by the authorities of the country where they will land. As things stand, if we assist them in our waters (even by giving them fuel), we have to take them. That is why burden sharing is the only workable solution.
Why is burden sharing out of the question? How can you dismiss something before its even tried?
And whoever said that we should (or even could) pack half a billion Africans into tiny Malta? Diplomacy and burden sharing agreements would prevent this hapenning. I hope you realise that landing half a billion Africans into Malta is not physically possible. So why use that number? Is it to impress or to inflame?
"Which one is it? Are they forced to sink their boat, or do they do so to fool us?"
The latter. They want to fool us into giving them a free trip to Malta.
"what you're saying is that once your limit is reached, we let them drown."
Now you are being unfair Kenneth, cause I never said "we let them drown." I said: "Once we reach the limit, we close our doors and take no more. We ASSIST THOSE IN DISTRESS by giving them what they need and let them decide if to continue northwards or southwards."
Since fixing Africa is farfetched and burden-sharing is out of the question THIS IS THE ONLY WORKABLE SOLUTION. There is currently 50% of Africa that would be eligible for humanitarian protection, that is the equivalent population of all the EU. Who is so silly to think that you can pack half a billion africans into tiny Malta? I just hope that we realize this before it's too late.
"we should use our Veto in the EU, on every law they try to pass unless they take their fair part of the problem".
Some people would call that blackmail.
I stated more then once, and even years ago even when the problem was still on a smaller scale that we should use our Veto in the EU, on every law they try to pass unless they take their fair part of the problem.
Earlier you quoted that: "traffickers are forcing immigrants to sink the boats they are sailing on close to the coasts of Malta and Lampedusa so that they will be saved by Frontex vessels and taken ashore."
Now you say that "they sink their own boat to fool us".
Which one is it? Are they forced to sink their boat, or do they do so to fool us?
As for your solution: "First of all you need to amend the Dublin convention to set a limit on the intakes that Malta is obliged to take. Then once the limit is reached, Malta declares that since the limit is reached no more will be taken in. Hence both the human traffickers and the irregular immigrants would know BEFORE that it is useless to go to Malta".
Since most immigrants do not plan to come to Malta (they end up here either because the boat does not make it, or they are tricked), and since the traffickers do not care whether the immigrants survive the journey, what you're saying is that once your limit is reached, we let them drown.
If I am in a boat, and an armed person orders me to sink it, I would find myself in distress. I certainly would not be "putting myself in distress" in the general sense, even though in one sense I would be. Since I would have no alternative but to sink the boat (except perhaps being shot, which would be worse), it would be the armed person who would be putting me in distress.
For the record, Mgr Philip Calleja, director of the Emigrants' Commission, declared that he would never allow Azzjoni Nazzjonali to stop him from doing charitable works, amongst those in need.
Likewise, Mgr Zammit McKeon who runs a children's charity, responded by stating that he would no longer accept financial support from the leader of the party or from his wife -- help which hitherto had been forthcoming.
I hope the persons concerned can now see the irony.
"this would still mean that the Armed Forces would be saving their lives when they pick them up after finding them in distress."
Yes Kenneth, but David Seychell's point was that they don't "FIND themselves in distress" as stated by Dr Busuttil but maliciously PUT "themselves in distress".
I admire Dr. Simon Busuttil effort to pacify the minds of those Maltese who are worried of the illegal immigrants’ situation. But to call those Maltese citizens who are genuinely concerned, racists and xenophobes, is a bit too much!
Dr. Busuttil should be more diplomatic in his approach, after all, he is an elected member of the European Parliament, and represents those Maltese that elected him, - even some of those who are called "racists and xenophobes" by him -.
I always thought that Malta's interests come first, but alas, it is not the case ! ! !
I expected something better from Dr. Busuttil.!!!
Quo Vadis Malta?
../..
When someone has no more valid arguments, he usually resorts to senseless insults.
Frontex caught 0 human traffickers, no boat was turned back by Frontex in the Central Med and without an agreement with Gaddafi Frontex is a pulling factor and infact INCREASED the influx by 50% in Malta. If all this wasn't enough, 70 more millions from our (EU citizens) taxes will be wasted on this failed project. If it wasn't for the fact that these politicians are incapabale of feeling shame, their faces would be red by now.
@Dear Kenneth
I never said that we should not save them. I always said that we should save them even when they sink their own boat to fool us. My slogan is save them YES. Adopt them NO. Anyway for the details about my proposed solution read here:http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081016/opinion/immigration-a-common-front-is-everyones-responsibility/
@Michelle Dali
Don't lose hope. The solution is to vote for politicians who are ready to put the national interest before the human traffickers interest.
At this particular time we need people who come out with solutions not with misgivings. People who are able to turn the tide not with people who criticize those who do not agree with them. I had high hopes in you but I am afraid that your defensive stance is hard to digest. I am not racist and not xenophobic but I am patriotic and my country comes first. I am convinced that we have exceeded our limits and procrastination will only cause further damage. The writing is on the wall. Now you either see it or you don't. Good luck.
Dr Busuttil's resorting to pontificating on Christian morality by tugging at our heartstrings simply won't do the trick, indeed it will aggravate matters further by adding to the frustration and resentment felt by those genuinely concerned at this ever-mounting threat to our identity if not our very existence as a proud nation.
Apparently you have a lot to say about the "argument", except that you failed to give any workable humane solutions of your own.
This illogical arguments does not seem to be shared by the governments of countries up North. They can close boarders at will, or send people back on the plane which they came with when numbers bring social order under threat.
Even if for the sake of argument one says that all is inevitable, it will remain a forced and imposed demographic multicultural imposition (and with a politcal agenda, going by Gaddafi's words). The same people who argue for the inevitability, will have to accept the inevitability of the negative attitudes this brings with it.
Terming it 'racism and xenophobia' will make no difference at all. It is a natural defensive mechanism by society, and no laws or education masked brainwashing will make it go away. That's for sure.
A misprint has made your comment in my regard unclear.
According to the EU officer responsible for EU borders, illegal immigrants are creating emergencies in our area (such as by losing an outboard engine!), then they phone for assistance to the correct authority using sophisticated telephones. Criminal trafficers DO NOT force illegal immigrants to do this, as claimed by others. The role of the traffickers is to give advice and supply equipment at a price. We should not become accomplices to such crimes by ignoring their existence.
However, there will always be genuine cases of distress.
It bothers me when I read comments that imply that we just have to grin and bear it. As has been claimed by others, this means that Malta is helpless or unwilling to resist a ring of international criminals. This is compounded by local attempts to suppress information which informs the public of the real nature and magnitude of the problem, lest this encourages racism and xenophobia. Even Mr Laitinen has been criticised.
Problems can only be solved by facing them honestly and with determination.
"I have one question though, why is there no mention of how the traffickers should be tackled whenever the matter of illegal immigration is discussed both at National and International events? Aren’t they the real illegals!"
I have already answered your question elsewhere. We're dealing with highly organized crime here. Human traffickers, when caught, face imprisonment. Currently there are at least two Maltese human traffickers in Italian prisons.
"Ironically by going out to save these illegal immigrants we are only encouraging others to act recklessly and put their lives at risk in the false belief that if they run into trouble they will eventually be plucked from their unseaworthy craft".
The same logic would suggest that we should not try to save victims of drug overdose.
If "traffickers are forcing immigrants to sink the boats", this would still mean that the Armed Forces would be saving their lives when they pick them up after finding them in distress.
A misguided article by Dr Busittil.
Is he already telling us politely that the immigration pact will not work?
As far as I know no party ever said, that we should leave immigrants die at sea.
Usually communists, liberals and socialists use these terms, when they have nothing to say about the argument.
However now its no news anymore, that the PN, shifted competely to the left,
And of course remember when you vote in June, that Dr Busittil told us, that these illegal immigrants are not a treat to our identity and culture!! Ask people from UK, France, Italy, Spain, if illegal immigrants did not change in the negative their way of living.
I am sorry Simon. You are probably the most person who knows what goes on in the EU, but like your party you are betraying Malta on this issue.
Dear Simon with your decision ,it is our people, including your own children who will have to suffer in the future.
From January illegal immigrants will probably be brought in all year round instead of just in the summer months because Frontex will be operating 12 months a year. Also, there is simply no point in voicing an opinion on the issue because doing so will undoubtedly result in being labelled a racist and a xenophobe. Very effective tactics for shutting people up! Whatever happened to freedom of speech?
They are shipped to mainland Italy within a week, something we cannot do in Malta.
This will end when we have a revolt as happened in Brixton, London and Italy and then things will hopefully start moving.
Seeing that you are constantly in Brussels, why don't you tell your eu friends to take our illegal immigrants since they say they need immigration because of their dwindling population?
They won't take them Simon, because they do not want to have any more trouble with the illegal immigrants than they already have.
It is so simple now that Dr. Busuttil will make his failure and this administration’s, with regards to the issue of burden sharing, come June 09 for his re-election, his convenient scapegoat will be the rise of the Far Right and racism.
Kind Attn: Dr Paul Sant Cassia
I am glad to read a comment by a professional. May I ask a question please?
Just for the sake of the debate concerning immigrants, if we replace the number of illegal immigrants we currently have with LEGAL immigrants. Instead the latter come in boats they will come in private Jets. Instead of coming here ‘taking our jobs’ they will have own investment, would that be fine in terms of the social impact? Would the legal status of immigrants effect the cultural or religious spheres of Malta?
If the answer is yes, I would love to know how please. Thank you
Good day
Of course we are anxious and many are afraid however we live in a very imperfect world and these things happen all the time. For the first time in its history Malta is taking a very minor part in a global phenomena. We must cope with it as best we can.
'Climbers and hikers who get into difficulties in the Italian Alps are to be made to pay the cost of their own rescue operations under a new law penalising reckless and inexperienced mountaineers'. From the Guardian July 11 06.
At least five states, including Oregon and California, have 'charge-for-rescue' laws on the books. As a result people are thinking twice before venturing into a potentially perilous situation. Lessons?
Simon Busuttil has not written a vote-catching article.
Do you believe that these illegal immigrants cross the sea from Libya on a ten foot boat and came ashore so well off.? There is a good organisation behind all this and these illegal immigrants will not reveal it to our Govt because now having been given the mobile phones they can contact friends and relatives to show them the way. Why all these illegal persons carry no identification cards. Why? I think Simon that you under estimate these people too much. If we continue with the present rate, we will have a lot of problems. These range from housing, schooling, social services , lack of communication because of language problem, religion etc. In a couple of yrs they will start demanding their rights which in many countries, shamelessly demanded the removal of Catholics signs from schools and hospitals. We would not be here but future generation will have to pay the price for our complacency. Oone final question to Simon. What is holding us from providing them provisions and escorting them back to Libya territorial waters?
Frans Sammut: Which aspect of "the locals"' behaviour is understandable? I trust you do not mean the behaviour criticised in this piece.
Evarist Saliba: If an emergency situation is not 'created', then it is will arise anyway unless immigrants make it to the European coast.
Good article, I admire your work within the EU and urge you to keep it up.
I have one question though, why is there no mention of how the traffickers should be tackled whenever the matter of illegal immigration is discussed both at National and International events? Aren’t they the real illegals!
@ Mr. De Pasquale
I’m sorry Sir but this is a National issue and not a Political issue, so please leave it at that.
Dogooders riding their high horse are just as much to blame for the hundreds who drowned as they take credit for the ones they saved.
We are also, in a way, in the process supporting a criminal industry in Libya who make a packet out of human trafficiking.
Mr laitinen gives a different version, according to him: "traffickers are forcing immigrants to sink the boats they are sailing on close to the coasts of Malta and Lampedusa so that they will be saved by Frontex vessels and taken ashore."
"...heroic missions that save lives..." eh?
"But, of course, letting people - be they Maltese or African - drown at sea is not an option"
Now you ARE stating the obvious. The solution is to amend the Dublin II convention.
"And since the country from which they embarked, Libya, refuses to take them back, we have to bring them to shore here in Malta."
Are you saying that many maltese are racists but Libya who "refuses to take them back" is not?
"Were I not, I would have just turned a blind eye and concentrated on other, less controversial, more vote-catching, issues."
Yes, I appreciate your effort, but the results speak for themselves.
I too am concerned.
"This means that we have no choice whatsoever as to the number who come here every year"
This is what worries me the most. Are you saying that we are at the mercy of the human traffickers?
Perhaps he can instil in them some of Luther's great values. We might then join in bearing our fair share of this european burden
'Turn them away' does not mean let them drown. Make the boat seaworthy again.
Bring Frontex, to make an unmanageable situation more manageable. If at all, bring it when or if Libya co-operates. On the other hand I do not know how much one can rely on burden sharing.
The problem is, that no one is facing consequences for wrongdoing, including the traffickers.
The right questions are: How did we get here? How do we get out of here?
We got here because Lawrence Gonzi, untypical for a lawyer and a politician, has spent the last 5 years emphasizing Malta’s so-called obligations. As a result Malta and the AFM have become the servants and laughing stock of everybody in the business - because it is a business, not a religious or humanitarian issue – namely, the Libyans, the Italians, the traffickers in human beings and their accomplices, i.e. the wilingly trafficked illegal immigrants themselves.
We get out of here if Dr Gonzi reverses steam and puts Malta’s rights and interests, and the will of the vast majority of the Maltese, above everything else. Why does he not hold a public consultation process on the subject (as the one on the junior lyceum entrance examination) to see what the Maltese think? Is he afraid of hearing the truth?
It’s time Dr Gonzi stopped preaching and stood up for the rights and interests of the Maltese citizens of this country who vote and pay taxes.
In view of the ever-increasing numbers the Government should seriously consider amending our laws to restrict this category to the barest minimum. Most people could live with an influx of 50-100 genuine refugees a year but 1000 a year in the context of our own declining population is going to irreversibly change the social and, ultimately, the political reality on our islands. Is it so surprising that a community that has enjoyed its independence only since 1964 would like to avoid any risk that the island might become a bi-national or at least a bi-cultural state within 50-100 years?
You do not seem to realize, or do not want to acknowledge, that you are being provocative by whipping up the now overused and tiresome words ‘racist’ and ‘xenophobic’, along with the unfounded cliché ‘let them drown’.
You have no right to tag people in this way. Those whom you accuse, are legitimately expressing justifiable concerns about unrelenting boat migration into our small homeland. These concerns are justifiable because this migration is perpetrated by crime syndicates operating from Africa and Europe.
Your assumption that if ‘migrants’ were turned back would cause them to 'drown' is unfounded. Your claim, that it is necessary to ‘save’ them, is false. On the contrary, your attitude has only encouraged more illegal activity by syndicates, resulting in corpses being a regular feature along the Libyan coastline -- corpses which only international media would care to report.
And why do you make the comparison with Lampedusa, an island with only 6,000 inhabitants. On tiny Malta we have 400,000+ people trying to make ends meet, and with no slack capacity. It is them who should be asking, not you, ‘Where have you been all this time’.
How you view life is your business but to direct serious accusations at people who put you were you are is a bit rich. People want to protect what is theirs by right. I think Jesus, if He was the Man He purported to be, would have had no problem with that at all. I would never approve anyone acting upon their xenophobia or racism, perceived or real - but let them speak.
Practically every time the irregular immigrants are mentioned you will read perfectly designed ‘fuel-adding ’and‘ scaremongering sentences’ such as; irregular immigrants will change our culture, invasion by the irregular immigrants, they are taking our limited resources,they are taking tax payers money, immigrants forms a threat to our children and families…etc. Why do we recklessly add adjectives to immigrants?
Can any body provide a solution better than what Dr. Simon Busuttil or the government doing? I mean a SOLUTION, not spaghetti like what Dr. Josie Muscat and ilk are suggesting?
Here we must draw a line. What we are reading in posted message is developing dangerously. Its no longer a matter of a civilized complain by a genuine Maltese citizen. The topic of irregular immigrants has bestowed xenophobic and racist peoples a good cloak to come into sight with patriots alike! All this in my opinion doesn’t reflect well Malta’s image internationally.
Dr. Busuttil hit the nail here and the Government is duly cautious in his approach.
Who is not so cautious is the opposition. At one point the leader declares 'do not sign!' at another point Parliamentary spokes persons say 'they are at one with the Government', later on EU affairs spokesman says 'We do not agree with the agreement because this this and that".
Come on! Decide!
We need people like Dr. Gonzi, Dr. Busuttil and Ministers Borg and Mifsud Bonnici at the helm, not scoring browny points or dishing headlines to attract sympathies!
I fully share the views expressed by Dr Busuttil, except that I cannot follow his argument when he claims that fears of the effect on our religion and identity by an ever increasing uncontrolled flow of illegal immigration are "completely out of synch with both of them" and betray a strain of xenophobia.
There is one aspect of the phenomenon that we are facing that Dr Busuttil does not address, and this is that there is a suspicion, supported by the EU officer responsible for border conrol himself, that some of the emergencies at sea, are being created by the illegal migrants themselves, in the full knowledge that Malta has no alternative but to save them.
Are we taking this claim with the seriousness that it deserves? Do we check who is the person responsible for sailing the boat, and interrogate him? Do we accept at face value the story of the migrants, like the claim that an outboard engine was lost in a calm sea? If there is suspicion of foul play what steps do we take?