22-year-old admits marriage of convenience

@At Mirka Pereira.

Why should I or anyone else have “fed and clothed” you if you had chosen to marry a foreigner and continue to live locally at a time when the law prevented foreigners from working locally? Do you sincerely believe that anyone owes you a living under such foolhardy circumstances?

Even children are expected to think before they leap and in any case to bear the full consequences of their actions and decisions – let alone people who are old enough to be allowed to marry.

Ms Galea Xuereb, what would have happened to me and my adorable Brazilian husband if he weren't allowed to work after we got married? Would you have fed and clothed us yourself?

What can one expect in a country that nowadays grants far too many unjustified benefits - such as the practically automatic right to obtain employment and residency - to foreign spouses of Maltese citizens? The concept of marriage of convenience by foreigners to Maltese nationals started being practiced locally only after the relevant laws were changed – muddled as far as I am concerned - in the early nineties. It is not just certain “ex-soviet block” citizens who are resorting to such tactics. Certain African and Asian individuals - particularly ones who got into trouble or crime in their original countries - are not above such tricks either and if we really want to put a stop to such things we should review and revise present laws and if necessary copy the relevant legislation that existed and was practiced in the seventies and eighties. Modern laws and regulations are not necessarily more beneficial than older laws, traditions and practices.

1. Why isn't the name of the Russian woman mentioned - only of the Maltese ?? What happened to this Russian woman ?? Was she deported ??

2. Unfortunately, because of the few Russians (actually not always necessarily Russian - as all the ex Soviet block is considered to be Russian), the image of the whole country is spoilt. I am personally married to a Russian woman - and believe me - it is not a marriage of convenience. Apart from us, I know many Russians happily married to Maltese.

These "ladies" , pretty as they may be, are causing untold damage to our social fabric... One would seriously hope that whenever caught out they are deported without delay. It might be desirable to deport the accomplice as well if you ask me!!!

@ Joseph Schembri

We like to think people get married becasue they're in love. Don't rain on the parade lol.

Does partner registration exist in Malta? Co-habitation? Do people who live with non-EU foreign partners have options if they don't want to marry? We are an EU country but for certain issues the Maltese law applies and the international regulations are ignored.

Some illegal immigrants are granted residency and even citzenship in their first few years in Malta if not months, whereas foreigners who live in Malta for over 5 years, who should be eligible for citizenship by naturalization will be ONLY considered after 18 years.

Let's be consistent and ahere to EU regulations if we are part of it. At the end, I believe that's why we live in a democratic country, to vote for our rights! Is knowing the big people the only solution in Malta???

Aren't most marriages ones of convenience?