Government urged to re-evaluate immigration policy

jane mifsud

Dec 18th 2008, 12:04

@Marvin Mizzi...you're quoting the Bible in a way so as to accommodate your reasoning.
The old Testament is so called 'old' because when Christ was born a new chapter was written... in fact, when it comes to commandments, if you read Matthew 19:16-19 you find it clearly written... moreover if you then move on to read Matthew 25:34-36 Jesus clearly tells us what the Father will look at (among other things) at Judgement Day... the final one is "for I was in prison and you came to see me". So not only Jesus said that we should show compassion (not ignoring justice) towards criminals, but as He always did, He compared Himself to one. In fact, He paid for our sins by taking upon Himself the mighty cross, which, at the time, was given to the worst criminals. He died among two!

Marvin Mizzi

Dec 17th 2008, 19:16

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has urged the government to re-evaluate its immigration policy "and to put in place an alternative reception policy that is more in line with Malta's human rights obligations." "JRS Malta calls upon the relevant authorities to make urgent necessary improvements in detention conditions, including the provision of basic necessities such as warm clothing and blankets" Very well said we can now tell the tourists to to come to Malta and the 5star hotels would be used to help these unfortunate people. But let us remind the JRS representative that these people come to Malta ILLEGALLY and the Roman Catholic Church teaches us not to want other peoples property -- Commandment Given by God to us and the basic truth and teaching cannot be changed to accommodation new i tendencies. So please JRS be serious and if someone does an illegal things deserves punishment -- detention but not for 18 but as long and we know if they as necessarily till we know who these illegals really are and what they really want from our country. Yes we urge our government to be harsher and defend our rights us Maltese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

René Micallef

Dec 17th 2008, 18:52

In a country which prides itself to be so pro-life on other issues, so imbued with Christian charity and so accustomed to Pauline hospitality, the current detention system for migrants would baffle many an external observer, and many a Maltese citizen, were they to know the dire situation these people are living in. But we often close our eyes and our hearts to this reality.

Ironically, were we to let the goodness of our hearts speak on the issue (and not our fear) we would probably have a decent and humane reception policy and we would be all better off. Because of our irrational reaction to illegal migration, we end up paying taxes to lock these people up in very harsh conditions for 18 months, to have them released afterwords full of anger and frustration, and put them in ghettos. Then we have police inspectors telling us that people are afraid to go to Marsa (and implying that we should pay more taxes to have a bigger police force?). How very intelligent and cost effective!

Silvan Said

Dec 17th 2008, 18:37

What worries me on reading this article is that "... Most migrants were released to live in the community after a maximum of 18 months in detention"

Just imagine the state of mind of these people who, after a journey through hell and having probably paid criminals for it by selling all they have and more, are placed in detention in a place which is inevitably creaking under pressure of the number of detainees.

In this state of mind, these people are "released to live" in a foreign community which is inevitably hostile to their presence. This is a tragedy waiting to happen as more detainees are released into the community without the basic needs and skills to form part of a community that regards them with fear and anger.

The solution dies not lie in an "alternative reception policy" but in a burden sharing and serious and permanent border controls which our EU partners continue to avoid. The Maltese government needs to make a real stand by putting the brakes on other EU projects until the immigration problem is properly addressed.

louise vella

Dec 17th 2008, 18:32

The Jesuit Refugee Service is so out of tune with the thoughts and feelings of the Maltese people that they come out with statements like this at exactly the wrong time.

Is it not time the Jesuit Refugee Service called for the respect of the rights and interests of the Maltese people?

Is it not time the Government of GonziPN held a public consultation process to see what the true and real people of Malta think about this subject?

Is it not time the Jesuit Refugee Service gave us a break?

Edric Micallef Figallo

Dec 17th 2008, 18:29

The JRS is urged to re-evaluate immigration policy.

Joe Gatt

Dec 17th 2008, 18:27

Not a word about the fact that these people come here illegally -- against the will of the vast majority of the Maltese!

Not a word about the effects on the Maltese people!

Not a word about the huge social problems that will inevitably result from the thousands of illegals arriving every year!

c.zarb

Dec 17th 2008, 18:22

What both the Maltese and the Immigrants deserve is a better future, and this cannot be achieved in a small island with no natural resources and a serious overpopulation problem like Malta. The Maltese government is keeping the immigrants in detention for 18 months, but at the end of the day, its the EU whose keeping these immigrants locked in a permanent 316kms closed center forever ie our country.

louise vella

Dec 17th 2008, 18:21

FIRST, I invite the Jesuit Refugee Service to read another item in this online newspaper's breaking news (Maltese people are getting too scared to go to Marsa) where it is stated:

"In submissions on punishment, Inspector Valletta said people were getting scared of going to Marsa. 'We have reached a point where Maltese people cannot even go to Marsa because they are getting scared. The victim could not even go out and simply buy a Coke. With all due respect, we are not in Somalia. If they do not have laws there, we have laws here, and they have to understand this'."

SECOND, the Jesuit Refugee Service may wish to pass on to action by opening some of the Jesuits' premises in Malta and Gozo (such as Mount St Joseph and Manresa House) to the illegal immigrants. Criticism and nice words are not enough!

Anthony Baldacchino

Dec 17th 2008, 18:07

Well said, all humans have a right to dignity and respect