Maltese people 'getting scared of going to Marsa'

Andre' Spiteri

Jan 2nd 2009, 07:45

People are shortsighted if they blame the politicians. They are merely puppets on a string. This goes far beyond that and the more low profile, cunning forces that manipulate the killing of our society, culture and people should be noted. This issue is a very delicate one indeed.

Maria Whitehead

Jan 2nd 2009, 06:46

The area in question is certainly a problem however even if we did get a hold of the "illegal immigrants problem", there still subsides the other causes of why the area remains a dangerous one. I once got lost in the area trying to find the shortcut through to a chinese restaurant and I can sincerely say that I have never seen so many rogue men and so many prostitutes as I saw there. Yes we have a problem with the illegals, yes something needs to be done ... but shouldn't we see the ENTIRE picture of the problem in that area?

Raymond Sammut

Dec 31st 2008, 20:01

@ Robert Callus

Whether what the supt said was completely out of place is for Magistrate Michael Mallia to decide, not for you or anybody else.

Robert Callus

Dec 31st 2008, 17:16

@Dennis Catania
If you are joking, forgive me for not understanding it.
If it's true, may I ask what Sup. Valletta's heroic acts are? I disagree with what the supt because I go to Marsa regularly where I play music. It is not more dangerous that it was a decade ago. The pimps, prostitutes, dealers and gamblers were already there, before the opening of the centre. Yes some migrants joined the criminals, but does that make it any more dangerous? I would like to know how many decent people took their family out for a picnic in that area 10 years ago. Come on.

However, even worse than that, what the supt said was completely out of place. His job was to testify against a person, not a whole country.

Once again if you're joking, I'm sorry

Denis Catania

Dec 30th 2008, 04:02

To all readers: We the Facebook group SAVE MALTA FROM ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS just announced that we are awarding Supt: Valletta with the Man of the Year award. A plaque will be sent to Supt:Valletta.
Please note that Save Malta Against Illegal Immigrants does NOT tolerate racism either way. If you show hatred against any race or nationality, your comment will be erased and you get one warning. After the one warning, abusers will get thrown out of the group. Anti Maltese are also not welcomed.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Dec 30th 2008, 01:03

@ Joseph W. Galea

I’m afraid that the way things are going, in a couple of years it will not just be “half of Malta” BUT THE WHOLE OF THE MALTESE ISLANDS”.

My best wishes to you Sir and all true people of good will, which in the case of the local population translates into: Those decent enough to put the interests of Responsible, Hardworking, Real Maltese People before the interest of Illegal Immigrant Opportunists and Human Traffickers.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Dec 29th 2008, 23:54

@ Kenneth Cassar

The present situation in Malta has absolutely no resemblance to the holocaust. Most desperate Jews back then had the decency and common sense to escape to relatively large countries that willingly accepted them, usually Switzerland, Sweden, USA - and then only in limited numbers and under certain conditions that ensured that the interests of the host countries would not be compromised.

Most Africans coming over nowadays are either economic immigrants or criminals who fear reprisal from their fellow compatriots, otherwise why would they not only not carry any form of identification but also refuse to disclose relevant and truthful details about themselves?

The Maltese people’s first duty should be towards fellow Maltese nationals - particularly those still suffering grave and long term discrimination and injustices. But many Maltese people chose to champion the “cause” of the illegal immigrants precisely in order to purposely divert attention away from the Maltese that are still suffering needlessly because of evil deeds by fellow Maltese.

Helping illegal immigrants when one should be remedying ALL evil deeds that one has committed against a compatriot will NOT buy one a place in Heaven NOR forgiveness by sensible people of good moral integrity

Michelle Dali

Dec 29th 2008, 12:08

The vast majority of the illegal immigrants arriving in Malta are not escaping death or persecution - they come from Libya which is an oil rich country where there is no war! They are well dressed, wearing life jackets and in posession of sophisticated satellite phones. This is organised human trafficking we're talking about. Comparing this invasion to the situation of the Jews in the second World War is ridiculous.

All that aside, the point is that a country can only open its doors to a limited number of so called 'asylum seekers'. Malta is too small and overpopulated to offer them a better life. There are hundreds of millions of displaced and destitute Africans waiting their chance. Would you have us vacate our country to make room for them and become the homeless, destitute people of the world ourselves?

And what do you think Malta would become if it were to be populated by the new comers? They can't live peacefully in their own country, what makes you think they could live peacefully on a tiny rock with no natural resources in the middle of the Mediterranean?

Kenneth Cassar

Dec 29th 2008, 09:50

@ Marianna Galea Xuereb:

So, would you call a Jew escaping the Nazis during World War II and entering another country illegally, a criminal?

It is so easy to pity World War II Jews because it is politically correct and doesn't effect us at all. Apparently it is not so easy to pity people in a similar situation (escaping certain death) if they live in our time.

Now here's a question. If you lived in Malta during World War II, and Jews started landing in Malta illegally, would you have called them criminals and sent them back to Hitler? Is it a different matter simply because one is a Jew and the other an African?

Joseph W. Galea

Dec 27th 2008, 09:28

Well folks, it had to happen. Today it is Marsa, in a couple of years half of Malta. Telling some people that we have laws does not mean diddly. What is needed is a rigid stand by the local disenfranchised. Talk is cheap.
Happy New Year ;-(

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Dec 26th 2008, 18:43

FRANK MERCIECA “If the Maltese people do not want no go areas, then all immigrants should be allowed to work pay taxes and conribute to our society, instead of being locked up like some criminal. Malta is the only country in the civilised world were immigrants are locked up.”
Sir these are NOT immigrants who have been invited into our country, these are illegal entrants and so, by pure definition CRIMINALS.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Dec 26th 2008, 18:22

Chris Finch.
Many of my Maltese relatives have blond hair, blue eyes and pale skin despite not having British ancestry. Personally I am more interested in a person’s character, moral integrity, culture and health than race per se. Thus I am against all illegal immigrants precisely because they have the cheek and audacity to come to a country to which they have not been invited. They have no right to be here and should all be repatriated as far as I am concerned. Their illegal presence would be undesirable even if the Maltese Islands were not so severely overpopulated

Denis Catania

Dec 23rd 2008, 16:52

My family has been in Malta since about 1654 when Mario Catania married Marietta in B'Kara. Mario Catania was a decendant of Mr. Natale Catania( birth and marriage unknown). Mr.Finch may I ask for you expertise and tell me what African country Natale Catania came from.

Raymond Sammut

Dec 23rd 2008, 09:27

@ Edric Micallef Figallo

I recall reading the statement by Prof. Felice.

The original study by the National Geographic scientists was a precursor using small samples. The DNA sequencing method used then was too slow. There is presently, and there has been over the past two years or so, a new technique (pyrosequencing) which allows much larger samples to be obtained. Also, the Phoenician gene, or "marker", is now better understood.

JOHN NOBLE WILFORD of the New York Times reported last October that the latest findings by these scientists on this subject (using sites in Cyprus, Malta, Morocco, the West Bank, Syria and Tunisia) were reported in the American Journal of Human Genetics, which I believe is peer-reviewed.

I am perfectly comfortable with Prof. Felice's statement that "...contemporary males of Malta most likely originated from Southern Italy..." considering that the Carthaginians had occupied Sicily, and inevitably Malta, for a very long time.

Edric Micallef Figallo

Dec 23rd 2008, 02:00

@Chris Finch

The British Empire is gloriously defunct. Knowing its history of racism, even against the Maltese, I could well imagine your comment is something reminiscent of some nostalgia.

Comments like yours remind me of the address of Governor Bonham Carter to his officers (which he urged to make known to their wives and troops) which included amongst others that "the Maltese are a European race". He also added that unlike Malta "in practically all the other colonies the inhabitants are coloured and non-Christian", leaving well intend that he viewed the Maltese as white and Christian I guess.

I don't subscribe to the Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-American superficial notion of race on the lines of "white" and "black", which unfortunately has trickled down to some Maltese (racist or not) because we're mostly stuck with reading exclusively in English. I don't want to be "white", to me that is drivel. However, rest assured that Governor Bonham Carter 99.99% subscribed to notions of "white" and his words are indicative that the Maltese are not Africans. I might not agree with his political views, but he was an educated fellow. I wonder what you would be, Mr. Finch.

Edric Micallef Figallo

Dec 23rd 2008, 01:36

@Raymond Sammut

That National Geographic thing is no academic and peer-reviewed journal. This is what Maltese geneticist prof. Alexander Felice wrote in this same newspaper, effectively trashing the the National Geographic endeavour.

He had this to state:

"...we have shown that the contemporary males of Malta most likely originated from Southern Italy, including Sicily and up to Calabria..."

"There seems to be little input from North Africa. "

We are aware of conflicting conclusions published as an interview in the popular National Geographic magazine. Despite an intensive search we cannot find them reproduced in the mainstream scientific literature. We consider that data somewhat flawed, and furthermore, unsound. National Geographic is not a peer-reviewed academic journal and thus the weight of the evidence is poor compared to other peer-reviewed academic journals that are also in the public domain. One cannot be comfortable with data that have not passed the scrutiny of peer review. "

Kenneth Cassar

Dec 22nd 2008, 14:00

By the way, I don't know about the rest of you, but I think that if recent news are anything to go by, Mqabba and Birzebbuga seem more dangerous than Marsa.

See: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081221/local/mqabba-shooting-man-accused-of-the-attempted-murder-of-21-people and http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081222/local/two-women-injured-in-birzebbuga-fight

John Borg

Dec 21st 2008, 16:51

Raymond Sammut - I hate to bust your ego once again but the fetish of tracing racial origins of nations has been relegated to the realms of quackary for several generations. Incidentally, so has the measurement of skulls to decide which "race" is more intelligent than others.

Raymond Sammut

Dec 21st 2008, 02:54

@ Chris Finch

There is presently an article by Natalia Antelava running on the BBC website. It is about DNA testing in Lebanon and the Phoenicians. A representative sample, collected recently by researchers working for National Geographic, showed that a large percentage of Maltese males carry the Phoenician gene on our Y-chromosome.

Your way of determining descent is most banal, if not insulting.

Nevertheless, I do not have curly black hair or dark skin, nor many other Maltese do, and while many of my relatives do have such attributes, your comment is the most flagrantly racist to have ever been put on these boards.

By the true meaning of "racism", your comment is offensive both to the Maltese people and to the African people for the ignoble way you tried to identify one and the other.

John Borg

Dec 20th 2008, 21:53

Brian Doyle, there's a saying in Texas that when you're in a hole you should stop digging.
You claim that I'm generalizing and yet in an earlier post you said "immigrants have NO care for your law or society." By what stretch of the imagination is that not generalizing?
You also said that what I was or was not called is of no interest to anyone. I agree, which is why I did not mention it until you suggested that I was playing the race card.
Finally, except for persons enjoying diplomatic immunity, no one who commits a crime in Malta is exempt from the law.

John Axiak

Dec 20th 2008, 21:38

Although I do not defend in any way what Mr. Abhukhadir is being accused of I openly disagree with inspector Valletta's statements in court.

I believe that if people are scared of going to Marsa (if they are at all... I haven't noticed any decline in persons in the area) not because they are afraid of being mugged or rapped but because they dislike dark skinned people.

If people are really afraid of being mugged or beaten up in Marsa they wouldn't visit Pacevill, would they? There's more than one street fight every Saturday night in that area and people do end up seriously wounded on certain occasions.

Furthermore on many occasions I visited Marsa open center and ate, drank and sang with people residing in the open center. I never felt threatened and I am looking forward for another opportunity to spend some time with people in the Marsa open center.

Denis Catania

Dec 20th 2008, 19:43

@John Borg: You still keep mixing LEGAL immigrants with ILLEGAL immigrants. There is a big difference. This is an insult to all legal immigrants allover the world. Who waited thier turn to migrate. Including the Africans who are coming legally to the United States. By the way we do have no-go zones in the U.S. There are places where I can't go at night unless my girlfriend is with me. As you can imagine my girlfriend is not of European descent.

Brian Doyle

Dec 20th 2008, 19:02

@John: This article and the conversation are about illegal immigrants. Unless you advocate people coming to Malta illegally, committing crimes, and then receiving virtually no punishment? Oh of course I forgot - the minute someone speaks out against this he/she is branded 'racist'. I suggest you re-read the article and take a moment to actually absorb what it said. The fact that one person in another country called you a smelly indian has no bearing on this nor is of any interest I doubt to anyone. You have generalised my comments and totally missed the point. People like yourself are the biggest danger to Maltese culture.

John Borg

Dec 20th 2008, 18:31

Sure, Raymond Sammut. This is all one big conspiracy against Malta involving traitorous Maltese, local and international NGOs, the NP and the LP, the Church and the United Nations. They are all working hard day and night to destroy us.

John Borg

Dec 20th 2008, 14:15

Brian Doyle: I would suggest that being called "a smelly Indian" as one is waiting at the bus station sounds pretty racist to me. People like you are always ready to generalize when it comes to foreigners but (lo and behold) when it comes to defending racism you suddenly become the very epitome of nuanced arguments. The difference between you and me is that I did not generalize from my situation by claiming that cities in the U.K. are full of racists whereas you argue that British and N. American cities are full of no-go areas because of their immigrant population.

Raymond Sammut

Dec 20th 2008, 12:51

Some people speak more out of spite for Malta and the Maltese rather than for any other reason.

Speak as they may, none of them would testify in the Malta law courts under oath, as this superintendent is reported here by The Times to have had the temerity to do.

This is a malicious traffic being conducted on a large scale, with the illegal immigrants collaborating and being a party to it. It has crime syndicates behind it, and their networks only keep getting stronger.

Wait until after February. The Commission for Refugees will still be there firmly in place, the blank forms ready to be filled, and the satellite phone up and going.

The "asylum" fraud will continue. The strangling of Marsa will continue. The victimisation of the small island Maltese nation will continue.

In the meantime, the Maltese government cannot afford to remain passive, getting suckered by all the "human rights" perverse claims, and not taking concrete action to stop and reverse this traffic.

Brian Doyle

Dec 20th 2008, 10:09

@John Borg
Please don't play the 'racism' card at me. There are millions of people of all colours in UK and indeed whole areas where there are no white people at all. You assume a couple of incidents of 'mild' racism are due to your slightly darker complexion - highly unlikely considering the amount of people with a lot darker complexion who have no problems. However this is not about skin colour. Read the article - an illegal immigrant (and three of his friends) committed a crime with no fear of repercussions. A crime that the Maltese simply would not commit. I work near the Marsa area and I know of at least two unreported rapes and several unreported violent robberies ALL committed by the immigrants of the area. You can close your eyes, pretend it's not happening, and then pull the 'race' card on anyone who comments about this decline. Alternatively you can stop trying to be so politically correct and accept the immigrants have NO care for your law or society. This happened in the UK in the 60s - now look at it. Wake up or accept the death of your country. Simple.

c.zarb

Dec 20th 2008, 08:21

And what are your suggestions Mr Borg? Should we start giving social housing to the illegal immigrants or should we start paying their rent? I don’t know where you live my friend but land in Malta is rare and precious. We have a serious overpopulation and resources problem and the least we need is more people (especially unskilled labor). These sorts of perks are rarely available even for the Maltese citizens who had been living here LEGALLY for years (some of whom had been paying taxes).

The only solution to this problem is a well systematic burden sharing. Malta is simply too small and overpopulated for this waves of illegal immigration.

John Borg

Dec 20th 2008, 00:01

Denis Catania: immigrants - illegal or otherwise - do not generally want to live in other people's houses nor in detention centers. What immigrants generally want is to build a new life and if some Maltese would get rid of their prejudices they would find out that that isn't a bad thing after all. And may I add that your petition is a huge waste of time, which wasted time you evidently seem to have in abundance.

John Borg

Dec 19th 2008, 23:57

Brian Doyle: I only studied in the U.K. for a year and cannot knowledgeably comment on the situation there nor on your own personal experience.

I can tell you that while living in the U.K. I did however experience one or two incidents of mild racism from what you may consider to be "true" Englishmen simply because I have a darker complection and was presumably taken for someone from the Indian sub-continent or the Middle East.

On the other hand, I have lived in the U.S. for 11 years. I can tell you that while law and order is a problem in some neighbourhoods within large North American cities, immigration and immigrants have nothing to do with it. Maybe you have never been to the U.S. but most Americans, including myself, consider diversity and immigration as something to cherish rather than condemn.

Denis Catania

Dec 19th 2008, 22:22

SILVIO VALLETTA for Police Commissioner. God bless you for exposing the truth. Supt:Silvio Valletta you are Malta's Man of the Year.

Joe Xuereb (London UK)

Dec 19th 2008, 21:21

@Andre` Callus. Please tell, these weekly visits that you do to your 'friends' at the Detention Centre, are they entirely altruistic or are they some form of self-congratulatory tokenism? If it is no more than a token gesture, be careful because the knowing can smell it a mile away.

Denis Catania

Dec 19th 2008, 21:06

@Brian Doyle asks: Where are the strong united Maltese people that have always kept Malta as it should be??
Mr.Doyle I have been asking myself that question too. Visit this petition you will see some of those strong united Maltese. http://www.gopetition.com/online/21497.html Please pass it on to your friends.

Brian Doyle

Dec 19th 2008, 20:13

As someone who left England and came to Malta to get away from increasing crime due to mass immigration it is a shame to see Malta declining so rapidly and making all the same mistakes as UK and US made a long time ago. Apathy to the first wave of immigration leads to the decay of moral values and society over the next generations. Learn from UK and US otherwise you'll be facing a multi-cultural society where the Maltese will eventually become the minority - all the while smiling and bowing down to the 'visitors'. Where are the strong united Maltese people that have always kept Malta as it should be?

c.zarb

Dec 19th 2008, 19:26

Who cares from where these people are? I am against uncontrolled illegal immigration no matter from where it comes.

c.zarb

Dec 19th 2008, 18:56

And let me guess Mr Mercieca, there are no No Go areas in countries (like France, England, Sweden and the US) that can afford to throw more perks towards the illegal immigrants as we do am I right?

Mark-Anthony Fenech

Dec 19th 2008, 18:44

@ Chris Finch

If you want to take it further even you are descended from Africa.. Homo Sapiens came out of Africa..

FRANK MERCIECA

Dec 19th 2008, 18:21

If the Maltese people do not want no go areas, then all immigrants should be allowed to work pay taxes and contibute to our society, instead of being locked up like some criminal. Malta is the only country in the civilised world were immigrants are locked up.

Denis Catania

Dec 19th 2008, 17:44

@Chris Finch: I know you people don't look at the Maltese as White. The Brits always looked down on the Maltese. I know there is only one kind of White men in the World. The ones that are pink and change to red once in a while. Can you please ask your people to give back, what they stole from Africa. Mr.Finch can you propose that to the Queen, please.

Denis Catania

Dec 19th 2008, 17:13

@Andres Callus says: I go to Marsa every week to meet some friends living at the Open Center.
Have you ever tried to help them get out of the Center?? Have you invited these friends live with you in a normal living environment?? If not, why not?? SOME FRIEND. This is one of the problems in Malta. The do-gooders want to talk, but they don't give the illegals a helping hand.

W Hutton

Dec 19th 2008, 16:21

Chris Finch,

I always research well before I say something. The maltese are predominantly descended not from Africans but from South Italy, Sicilly, and Spain ( Camilleri, Spiteri, Calleja, etc). There are people of semitic origin (Abdilla, Muscat) but this is largley aside the point. The reason why the Maltese are maltese is because they are law abiding, tax paying, active citizens of the state. They have the right to complain about these illegal entrants breaking our law (the sheer cheek!).
This race card that liberals like to play whenever something like this happens is getting a bit worn out.

Alan Agius

Dec 19th 2008, 16:06

Totally agree with superintendent Silvio Valletta.

Fabian Borg

Dec 19th 2008, 13:54

Too sad to see Maltese fighting with words between eachother because of third parties.
All this is just destroying this fragile country and I hope we can survive this coming winter.

John Smith

Dec 19th 2008, 13:32

"And once again we see the blatant racism of the Maltese coming to the front. Cries of 'Send them home' ringing loud.
"

An illegal immigrant, by definition, is a criminal. Deporting someone who sneaked in illegally is not racism. There are legal ways to get into Malta, and they chose to avoid them.

edward bartolo

Dec 19th 2008, 13:09

@D.MANGION:

How did you conclude that I do not respect Jesus?! What I said, is that crucification is something of the past, thankfully. And, that it is, extremely far fetched , to imagine people here in Malta, to resort to such an abhorrent act. Moreover, if you follow Jesus, you do not judge your neighbour. Remember, he said: "Don't judge and you will not be judged."

Love and have a very Christian Christmas.

Joseph Vassallo

Dec 19th 2008, 13:03

@Carmen Caruana... hey wakey wakey please... it's not stealing the sunglasses that is so serious; it's knocking a fellow homo sapiens on the head with a bottle, so that he could steal them!!!

c.zarb

Dec 19th 2008, 12:25

The Immigrants within the open centers are entitled for free shelter, free food. free clothing and free medicine. Electricity and water is also free and on top of this they are also entitled for pocket money. Now Im not saying that this is enough. What I am saying is that this is the limit that our country can provide, and it is more then any one of us will ever be entitled for.

James Zammit Gauci

Dec 19th 2008, 12:14

@Chris Finch:
According to you, all Mediterranean peoples, Italians, greeks, Maltese, Etc must be descended from Africans as we all are mostly dark.....!
As we all know we already have our own home grown criminals but that doesn' t mean we have to tolerate foriegn criminals who we as a nation are caring for and helping start a new and better life. That adds insult to injury!
In my opinion any foreigner who is found guilty of crime should be deported the moment they finish their sentence, whether they are black,white,yellow or pink with green spots!
This is not racism just common sense as we definitely do not need more criminals!

D.MANGION

Dec 19th 2008, 12:10

edward bartolo,
Don't underestimate Jesus Christ.

Remember...with an (army) of 12 persons, mostly fisherman, HE still remains the MOST influential human being in history......

....yet you Mr. edward bartolo think that HE would not be able to get people's attention today!

I believe. I respect ALL his teachings, even the ones that I find really hard to understand.

That is why I tend to understand the staunch defence of the Jesuits and all of the other religious orders towards the emarginated, whomever they may be, whatever the colour of their skin.

J Abela

Dec 19th 2008, 12:03

@ Giov De Martino
X'ghandu x'jaqsam li qed tghid int ma' dan l-artiklu??

Noel Borg

Dec 19th 2008, 11:29

Fl- ahhar tkellem xi hadd!!!

Mike Farrugia

Dec 19th 2008, 11:16

The authoriites are not realising that this is not a racism problem. The problem is rising because of the ongoing discrimination against the law-abiding Maltese citizens.
If a Maltese citizen breaks the law, he will have to pay for it.
It is not the same for illegal foreigners. They come in without documentation, regardless if they they are criminals or not, given pocket money, free food, furniture, clotes, phone cards, medicines etc, € 28 million a year at least.
They work illegally and do not pay any taxes, social service contribution or anything else. Moreover, we have to fork out more taxes to subsidise the maltese workers who have their jobs taken by foreigners!
They should be given freedom of movement and allowed to continue with their original destination, otherwise change the law and make it lawful to enter Malta without proper documantation.

A.Magri

Dec 19th 2008, 11:15

People like Carmen Caruana, James Debono and Chris Finch seem to know better than a superintendent who deals directly with crime in that area.

Yes, people are afraid of wandering about in Marsa, just like the English are scared to go to certain areas in London, the French in Paris etc etc.

All those illegals who abuse of the already generous system should be deported after found guilty so that the genuine immigrants can benefit from the funds available.

David Micallef

Dec 19th 2008, 11:14

Just like the ‘Beaufort wind force scale’ used to describe wind speeds based on observed sea conditions, I suggest a similar scale be drawn up to describe the relative safety/danger of any zone in Malta.
Where on the Beaufort scale ‘Force 0’ means the sea is completely flat, a ‘Safety Zone 0’ would mean a zone is completely secure/controlled, such as a beach where one can feel safe in leaving his belongings on the shore (cell phone, wallet, handbag…) while swimming.
Going up the scale, areas become less safe; a ‘Zone 4’ would indicate that driving up to an ATM after dark withdrawing cash with his/her kids remaining in the car is OK. ‘Zone 8’ however, would indicate that one would feel unsafe withdrawing money from the ATM after dark, even if he/she has adult company. ‘Zone 12’ would be a no-go area, driving through considered extremely foolish.
Now both major banks have their ATMs in this area. Before anyone starts pointing fingers, I suggest they do the ‘ATM test’ and decide for themselves how safe the zones really are.
As my late Mathematics teacher would say, give monetary value to anything, and things will look so simpler.

L Spiteri

Dec 19th 2008, 10:33

What I really can't stand is that some of them, instead of thanking us for having our country host them and as a result putting a great burden on us, they just simply want to take over. If they are in Malta they are expected to obey are laws just like any other foreigner!! It is true that some of them are poor but I personally have seen many of them carrying mobiles which are more expensive then mine, are given 3 free meals a day whilst Maltese citizens having family problems and having to resort to the "Ghabex" home are only given one meal a day and have to provide themselves with toiletries. Apart from the fact that they are given free medication and free medicine whilst I being a Maltese student who does not work, have to fork out my earnings to buy my medicine.

edward bartolo

Dec 19th 2008, 10:19

Quote: D.MANGION
"I'm damn sure that most of you writing down here would crucify him again even today. "

Crucify him?! Are you still living in the Romans Era? If it were today, people would simply ignore him, that's all! I am totally sure that most posters here, abhor torture and, by the way, crucification was a very cruel form of torture.

Muscat.Pat

Dec 19th 2008, 08:44

@ Giov Demartino
Sorry to digress, but Mr Demartino suffers fro SELECTIVE amnesia. He should read the Times archives and read how MLP supporters were pelted with stones in Gozo in the 60's ;shops were forced to close and PN suporters blew their whistles and illegally went took over the Churche's bells at Rabato. Zejtun's debacles were shameful but so were the ones at Gozo. Please remember that facts are sacred and that not everyone is biased as you are.

mcalleja

Dec 19th 2008, 08:25

@ i galea.
there's nothing posh about him living in rudolph str. most prob he's living as Osanna Pia run by the SBDs.

however marsa was always a no-go zone, going back at least 10 yrs. i used to work for a company based in that area which is known as ALBERT TOWN. that area round the open centre, which was formerly a school was always the place to find prostitutes and drugs.

how about trying to make these people gainfully occupied, if we cannot provide them with passports to a new life. not all of them are criminals, therefore we have no right to place them into one nice bundle. as the saying goes IDLE HANDS, ..................,

D.MANGION

Dec 19th 2008, 07:41

Stop criticising the Jesuits.
They are doing exactly what Jesus himself would have done. (and I challenge everybody in the World to prove me wrong on this).
That' s one of the reasons Jesus was crucified for- taking the side of the emarginated.

I'm damn sure that most of you writing down here would crucify him again even today.
Your wording shows it all !
....and still HE would again forgive you, "for you don't know what you're doing".

J.Spiteri

Dec 18th 2008, 18:38

A comment from the Director of the Jesuits Refugee Service would be most welcome. A couple of days ago he urged the authorities to reduce the detention period of these illegals.

carmen caruana

Dec 18th 2008, 18:30

Oohhh yeah because an illegal immigrant stole a sunglasses it's too scary to go to marsa.......?!
It's something natural that if you leave hundreds of immigrants living in the line of peverty and leaving them open to full exploitation they will form a new underclass in our society. It's too easy to say I said so bla bla bla, if we don't do anyhing and please stop feeling you're all St'Francis just because we feed those immigrants. If they have the possibility to learn and to INTEGRATE within our society maybe they can learn our laws but if we just go to courts and alarm people out there, I'm sorry but you will never change things !!!

P Debono

Dec 18th 2008, 18:14

@ Chris Finch. Get your facts straight.

The Maltese race is NOT in any way related to Africans. Since you made such a sweeping statement, I'll teach you something you should have learnt in your History lessons, that the Maltese race originates from the Phoenicians (today's Lebonon).

Anyway back on topic. So this means that the other three criminals are running loose somewhere on our streets while we speak?

David Seychell

Dec 18th 2008, 18:10

"The court heard how the owner of the car had stopped to buy a Coke when he was attacked by four men"

If it was the other way round, i.e. a black immigrant being attacked by 4 white men, I bet the mass media would have labeled it: 'A racist attack in Marsa'.

Giov DeMartino

Dec 18th 2008, 17:35

Igalea is perfectly right. We are in our own country and we should not ,be afraid to go anywhere. BUT just over 20 years ago half the local population was not allowed to go to Zejtun. On that occasion we were stopped by Maltese crtiminals aided by the forces of order!

charles zammit

Dec 18th 2008, 16:23

i believe that if this area is becoming a bit of a roughshod, the police should patrol it more frequently. One thought to ponder upon. if the maltese are getting scared of roaming round the open centre area how come we see all these non-law abiding people living there being employed everywhere all over malta presumable overworked and ill-paid.

charles aquilina

Dec 18th 2008, 16:01

Its about time that we have police stationed permanently in Marsa and Hal Far.

Sandro Agius

Dec 18th 2008, 15:32

Blaming the Catholic Church or the Jesuits for showing mercy towards people escaping from war, genocide, famine etc is not fair. I ask why you don't blame politicians, EU, USA, UN and other West countries who did nothing to help their ex-colonies in the past. We shall not lett no UN Commision telling us what we shall and shall not do in our country.

The Church is beside the poor, for its her mission...maybe you feel the comfort to give money, others with their money they also dedicate their lifes.

I agree with many of you when saying something must be done...but this must began in political level and by making laws so to reduce the idea to some of those people to make a crime....for example....the status of refugee will be taken if the person is involved in crimes such as theft, drugs, etc....if they come to Malta they must adapt themselves to us....and stay at their place....Many of them are not criminals but people in need....Come on...its Christmas....were is the spirit.

I am sorry to what happened to our Maltese co-citizen and justice must be done but let's not exagerate now

james debono

Dec 18th 2008, 14:54

I expect the police to protect everyone living in Malta (including immigrants) from crime not to make generic statements that an area is not safe. After all its their responsibility to uphold the rule of law in Marsa and everywhere else.
I have been to that area and visited the open centre without any problems. I did not feel scared because there were people of a different skin pigment. I suspect that this is the reason why many maltese feel scared. If that is so it is a racist feeling.
Of course crime happens everywhere in Malta-let alone a depressed red light district which hosts the open centre. Even before the immigrants came the area was notorious for the presence of not so law abiding Maltese pimps.

Stephen Saliba

Dec 18th 2008, 13:02

Although i agree that we should try to repatriate most of the illegal immigrants, i think the quote is a bit exaggerated. I do not think thefts from cars in Malta started with the influx of immigrants.

dusty williams

Dec 18th 2008, 12:58

louise vella

shhhhhhh he might be fast asleep!

Charmaine Chetcuti

Dec 18th 2008, 07:28

How about the Hal Far open centres?? I work there and when leaving work late (especially since now it gets darker earlier) it's not exactly heaven on earth! Considering also that the area is poorly-maintained and that there is not enough lighting, it gets even more scarier. And police? They only come here when the immigrants cause an uproar or there is a fight.

And the level of dirt is incredible. Either the open centres are not supplied with enough skips or the immigrants have no manners at all. Usually after perhaps persons or charities donate them clothes, the place is littered with clothes and shoes the immigrants throw away! The place has become like a new Maghtab.

victor scicluna

Dec 18th 2008, 05:49

Well, if Marsa is a no-go zone, the same is for me Zurrieq and Hamrun during festa day!

Chris Finch

Dec 17th 2008, 23:46

And once again we see the blatant racism of the Maltese coming to the front. Cries of 'Send them home' ringing loud.
So the Inspector claims people are afraid to go to Marsa. Well I've been down there and to be honest its not worth going to, not because of the open centre, but because its a dump (why do you think the Government put the open centre there).
And how many people are afraid to go into the countryside at this time of year? Try walking in the trees at Mizieb! Try walking at L'Ahrax! You will feel a lot more threatened because the ones making the threats in the countryside have shotguns.
Oh, and the Maltese race is descended from Africans (look at the curly black hair, dark skin and brown eyes) so these people should be welcomed as brothers.

Andre' Callus

Dec 17th 2008, 23:25

I go to Marsa every week to meet some friends living in the Open Center, and not for a minute have I ever felt threatened. On the contrary I was impressed by the welcome and hospitality I've seen from the persons living in the Center. Of course when you have a relatively large number of persons living in a particular place it is natural that a small percentage will commit criminal acts, like it is the case in any other area in Malta.

S.Bonello

Dec 17th 2008, 23:09

Well said Superintendent Silvio Valletta! I fully agree with Mr.Valletta & R.Sammut comment. How about the accident sentence?

Andrew Cumbo

Dec 17th 2008, 19:06

Well said, Inspector Valletta!

Same situation at Hal-Far, we fear ourselves driving on our way, to work our shifts early morning and night hours and the same back home. Female colleagues tell us, they pray daily not to have any malfunction or a simple flat wheel in their cars while driving along Hal – Far Industrial zone. Authorities shall lighten more the entrance of this Industrial zone; at least this will comfort more drivers using this area
And what about these people cycling with no lights when it’s dark? Can somebody educate them to cycle safely on our roads? It will be unfair to accuse someone for negligible driving, if unfortunately is involved in an accident with such irresponsible cyclists.

David Seychell

Dec 17th 2008, 18:44

This is just the beginning. Our children, once they'll grow up in 10 years time, will have to face the consequences of our irresponsible illegal immigration policies.

Joseph Calleja

Dec 17th 2008, 18:28

Hate to tell you this but " I told you so ". This is only the beginning and it will get worse in the years to come. These people are desperate, that's why they left their country. Where is the EU now? What are the Jesuits and the other bleeding hearts going to do when things get worse and a Maltese Citizen can't move freely around the island. Yes I do feel sorry for them but when foreigners start threatening the safety of a Maltese Citizens, it has to stop.

Deo Catania

Dec 17th 2008, 17:56

We were warned about what was going to happen but the 'Catholic' Maltese always believed in these illegal immigrants, now the rest of the Maltese will have to suffer. And that's not enough, if it happened that the Maltese victim defended himself he would have been accused of assaulting an illegal immigrant and all hell would break loose. Nice situation we found ourselves in.

lgalea

Dec 17th 2008, 17:47

These are the type of illegal immigrants that are being allowed to remain here notwithstanding that they came here illegally.

Why should we, Maltese citizens, in OUR OWN COUNTRY, be afraid to go ANYWHERE that we please just because we already have violent illegal immigrants roaming our streets?

Gonzipn, the people are fed up with the illegal immigrants and their antics and demand that they all be repatriated and kept under lock and key until they leave Malta.

The general election may be a long way off yet, but there are other elections where the people can show their disapproval on their vote.

louise vella

Dec 17th 2008, 17:24

The minister responsible for law and order, the police and illegal immigrants is Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici.

On whose side is he?

Denis Catania

Dec 17th 2008, 17:09

Marsa is not the only place where Maltese are scared to go. Lawrence wake up. Tick Tock, Tick Tock time is running out.

a.cassar

Dec 17th 2008, 17:06

Today Marsa tomorrow Malta

Graham Holme

Dec 17th 2008, 14:16

At the moment ,its just Marsa ,that is classed as a no go area.
How long before the whole of Malta is turned into one?

jcaruana

Dec 17th 2008, 14:07

In a case like this why was the accused not repatriated back to Somalia?? is this his thank you for allowing him to stay and earn a living here. Malta may not be their destination but by far much better than somalia. Sending him back would have send a clear message to all other immigrants that in ROME YOU DO LIKE ROMANS DO.

michael fenech

Dec 17th 2008, 13:59

Unless GonziPN and his boys get a good hold on this big problem we can kiss good bye to TOURISIM, one of the big reasons tourists keep coming back is because MALTA is a safe country to visit.

Once this kind of problem hit the news in the EU we're DONE.

Robert Dimech

Dec 17th 2008, 13:56

Oh! So it's kinda official now is it? As if we didn't know that already! Prosit
Inspector, especially for having the guts to say this out loud in our Courts of law.

Isobel Mcgonigle

Dec 17th 2008, 13:55

Afraid to go near Marsa, the UK made the same mistakes and every major city now have their no-go areas where there is a concentration of illegal immigrants. Even the police are advising people to stay away.
How many are now on their free mobile phones telling their mates to get to malta, six months free all inclusive holiday, pay no regard to Malta's rules and regulations and finally receive a free flight home, a suitcase full of freebies with 5000euros in their pockets.
Welcome to the EU hard working,law abiding citizens of Malta.

J Farrugia

Dec 17th 2008, 13:51

Why not repatriate him to somalia? He committed a crime in these islands and a hideous one for that. stealing from a maltese citizen and attacking a maltese citizen. Very well said Inspector.

nmuscat

Dec 17th 2008, 13:48

I was myself a victim of a crime by a foreigner last Thursday in Pieta`. The offender stole my wallet together with my ID card, driving licence, etc, my mobile and other personal effects. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Police Force for their prompt assistance and for taking care of me until my immediate family arrived, as well as the two gentle persons who kindly lent me their mobile to call for help - you all helped to offset the damage. Although my official documents were stolen, I still had to pay 25 euros for my driving licence. Shame on the government for charging these fees to people who are victims and whose lives are shattered by the wanton acts of others. Finally I appeal to everyone to stay on their guard because Malta is no longer the safe place it used to be.

Sandro Pace

Dec 17th 2008, 13:45

The situation is totally unacceptable. No Maltese should fear to go anywhere on his island, let alone for problems created by foreigners.

Such things should be considered before toying with the insane idea of implanting anymore large open centres anywhere else on the island. Villagers of such towns will make any government of the day politically pay for ruining their town.

If Malta has reached an unsustainable limit re. illegal immigration, the State should stop it by whatever means or divert it elsewhere. Not burdening it on the society.

Marion Pace

Dec 17th 2008, 13:41

These somalis should be returned to their country as I think most of them are missing their culture. If they dont intend to respect our laws and us, they cannot remain here. They should not turn our country into another Somalia!

Alex Wright

Dec 17th 2008, 13:37

It is really becoming scary to go to these places what the law should do is those that are caught breaking the law should be returned back to their country. Those that don't respect our laws should be made to leave. We did not invite them to our shores they invited themselves at least they should respect our laws.

James De Giorgio

Dec 17th 2008, 13:33

Finally someone woke up and had the courage to say things as they stand. If a normal civilian went around saying the same publicly, he would be arrested for racism...

albert fiorentino

Dec 17th 2008, 13:29

How about the guy being deported after finishing his sentence?

Joseph Zammit

Dec 17th 2008, 13:28

Well said Mr.Valletta.
I admire the police force courage when they do the beat of the area. I hope we will never end up like other countries with a "NO GO ZONE" in our own land

Carlo Paesano

Dec 17th 2008, 13:26

This is the main reason why it becomes sooooo difficult to tolerate other poeple, different cultures and most of all, illegal immigrants. These are the same poeple who instigate fear and as a result, cause society to discriminate and be prejudiced. Now Marsa is a threat. How are we going to fix this? Should this issue be addressed now or when the problem is too late just like the other european countries? Can Malta be an example in the management of this problem? Can we consider Malta as safe for much longer? Can we risk children catching buses in those areas?

W Hutton

Dec 17th 2008, 13:17

Yes, the Somalis do have laws. In some areas, Sharia law. Stealing is haram, and the penalty is loss of limb. Perhaps instead of jailing the accused here, at taxpayers expense , he should be repatriated. Thats enough of a punishment in itself.

R Sammut

Dec 17th 2008, 13:16

I agree fully!

Same goes to Hal Far open centre... I lock the car whenever I pass from there...

Alf Farrugia

Dec 17th 2008, 13:15

Let alone us Marsin living here!!!!!

lgalea

Dec 17th 2008, 13:13

How come that he can live in a posh part of the Island when he is still so young and supposed to be a poor ILLEGAL immigrant?

Why should we, in OUR OWN COUNTRY, be afraid to go to certain areas because of ILLEGAL immigrants?

Gonzipn, NO iffs and buts.
The people are really fed up and want to see the last of the ILLEGAL immigrants sent on their way.

The general election may still be far away, but there are other elections for the people to send their message with their vote.

K Mercieca

Dec 17th 2008, 13:12

Well said, inspector. All authorities involved, should look into this matter, and not let it slip away as if nothing ever happened. The local police force has more than enough onto its shoulder to deal with, let alone dealing with foreign criminals (whoever and from anywhere he/she might be from).

Bertie O'Cassey

Dec 17th 2008, 13:10

What about repatriation? can't we just send him back?

Lorenzo Vella

Dec 17th 2008, 13:05

The area next to the Open Centre in Marsa has been a 'no go zone' for a very long time and not just recently since the opening of the Open Centre. Why don't the police do a crack down on all the prostitution that one finds just behind the open centre? Maybe there might also be some drug trafficking? Who knows? Did Inspector Valletta forget that the Open Centre was actually a school before where children used to suffer from health disorders because of its strategic position just underneath the power station. Mind you I am not promoting illegal immigration but to claim that that area of Marsa has 'become' a no go zone is a step too far!

It has always been a no-go-zone!

patrick camilleri

Dec 17th 2008, 13:02

I've often wondered, (leaving aside criminal behaviour as this is clearly unacceptable), whether these imigrants are given orientation lectures to inform them about our culture and the sort of conduct is expected of them when on the island.

Anyone out there know?

J Galea

Dec 17th 2008, 12:49

SO true.....I'm even frightened of DRIVING through Marsa to go to Valletta Waterfront.

j.schembri

Dec 17th 2008, 12:49

........AND WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 3.......????????

Byron Camilleri

Dec 17th 2008, 12:47

Well said Inspector Valletta.

I don't believe that all immigrants do these illegal acts, but some of them are damaging the reputation of the others.

I believe that Malta should accept illegal immigrants with an exception: Do some illegal act and you're back to your country!

Ramon Zammit

Dec 17th 2008, 12:47

I applaud Mr Valletta for his statement! Marsa has become a dangerous place thanks to these people.

M. Farrugia

Dec 17th 2008, 12:41

Well said, Inspector Valletta! Things seem to be getting out of hand, and the law is there for everyone, including these unexpected "visitors".