Police clarify Marsa comments
In making comments on Marsa in a recent court case, police superintendent Silvio Valletta wanted the accused to learn that Malta had laws and these had to be obeyed.
The police said today they wanted to clarify media reports on Supt Valletta’s comments during an arraignment in court.
timesomalta.com had reported Supt Valletta telling the court that Maltese people were becoming too scared of going to the area near the open centre in Marsa.
The police said that Supt Valletta was one of the prosecutors in the case against Somali Ali Mohammed Abhukhadir who pleaded guilty to theft from a vehicle, the illegal arrest of a person and of slightly injuring this person.
The defense lawyer asked the Courts to put the accused on probation but Supt Valletta did not agree and wanted to give the message that Malta had laws and these had to be obeyed.
So he insisted in court that even if there were no laws in the country the accused came from, he had to learn that in Malta there were laws and these had to be obeyed.
Supt Valletta, the police said, had told the Courts that one also had to ensure that Marsa did not become a no-go area for the Maltese and called on the Courts to give the accused a harsher sentence than that requested by his lawyer to ensure this.
It was the duty of the police, Supt Valletta had said, to ensure that Marsa did not become a no-go area.
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p.grima
Jan 5th 2009, 23:23
Keep it up Supt Valletta.
JPace
Jan 5th 2009, 23:22
I cannot understand why the police corps wanted to clarify what Supt. Valletta stated in court.
What he said is the truth and no matter how much we try and twist facts and press releases,
Marsa today is a No Go Area. Anyone who states otherwise is free to take up the challenge
to walk through their day or night!!!
What the police corps did with such a statement is to shield the seriousness of the accusation brought against this illegal immigrant by shifting the attention on what
the Supt. Valletta stated...which is the truth!!
Robert Callus
Jan 5th 2009, 20:28
@Dennis Catania
I agree that migrants shouldnt have been put en masse in an overcrowded filthy area, known for criminality.
However to be fair with the govt, as far as I know there aren't children there. Correct me if I'm wrong
Denis Catania
Jan 4th 2009, 15:20
@Manual Mifsud: First I commend you for helping the illegals. Can you tell us what kind of help you give the illegals in Malta??? When in Malta, can you invite me to come with you to help???
@Justin Meli: I know first hand on the prostitutes issue. I was raised in Gzira. What has this 20 year government done over there??? Nothing!!! So you wont bring up your children there. But it's OK for little African children. You have any pictures you can e-mail the group with your children sharing a good time with little African children???
Ivan Attard
Jan 4th 2009, 12:29
I admire Supt. Valletta for his honest and rational comments.
I, for one already do not go to the area mentioned for fear of my safety.
No-go areas are sprouting up in our beloved, 'safe' and tiny Malta thanks to them and the inefficiency of the government!
Karl Glanville
Jan 4th 2009, 11:46
To Michael A. Vella:
Are you seriously instructing a maltese citizen to avoid a maltese road intersection where he can learn with a driving-instructor?! Malta is for the Maltese, and there shouldn`t be any NO GO Areas for us citizens in order not to raise hope for an illegal immigrant who is seeking one-day job opportunities. Yes its obvious that there are many other intersections where he can practice, and it`s also true that immigrants have other options rather than come to Malta!
Manuel Mifsud
Jan 4th 2009, 09:00
@Mr/Ms IGalea
@Malcolm Seychell
@Dennis Catania
I'm sorry I did not reply to your last comment yesterday as I had to get out and meet some friends. Thank you for your advice, i.e. that of going abroad to help immigrants in their own country. That would be a noble mission. However, at present I am needed here, in my own country. I will only be ashamed if I were to be one of those who would rather have the illegal immigrants drown before reaching our shores. You keep missing my point: I do not rejoice when these immigrants end up in Malta, however I am duty bound to help them if they need my help once they are here. If you are so irritated and frustrated because I help needy human beings, then, I'm sorry, there's nothing else I can tell you.
john muscat
Jan 4th 2009, 07:46
Whatever Supt Valletta said is the same as what many people from Marsa say everday. I happen to have quite a number of good friends from Marsa and they tell me same things that Supt. Valletta said. The Police did not have to clarify anything at all. Clarifications should be made when there is something that cannot be completely understood and to to clarify the truth. The truth cannot be clarified because it is a reality which the authorites are completly ignoring and denying.
lgalea
Jan 3rd 2009, 23:43
Justin Meli
Are you joking?
tone nastri
No Mr. The Maltese emigrants were not ILLEGAL. They were LEGAL and went because the countries where they emigrated wanted immigrants. They had to have school and trade certificates, had to submit to health checks before being accepted, they had to have someone already in the country who had to guarantee that they will not be a burden on the state social security, and lots of other conditions.
The ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS are just that. ILLEGAL, UNWANTED and UNWELCOME.
Good life or not I don't want what I and my forefathers have worked for disappear just to give them a better life. They should stick to their own countries and work hard as we he and those before us worked to be where we are now.
Manuel Mifsud
You can go to their own countries and work for them there.
Helena Psaila
Try pulling the other one Helena.
They can fight in their own countries for a decent life as we and those before us have done to be where we are now. I shall not let any ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT destroy what we have worked for.
malcolm seychell
Jan 3rd 2009, 23:16
@manuel Mifsud
We will also pray for you.
Michael A. Vella
Jan 3rd 2009, 23:15
@Mark Tabone: "...(During a driving lesson near Albertown) We approached a pedestrian crossing, on which about 4 immigrants were standing. Quite rightly, my candidate stopped to give way for them to cross. All of a sudden we got surrounded by about 15 or more immigrants who were in the area. One of them opened also the car's rear left door. "
The 'immigrants' standing/sitting around in those locations do so only in the [all-to-often vain] hope of being given a day's work. Road intersections are consequently popular locations for that purpose. Any vehicle stopping next to these persons is interpreted by them as being driven by someone who could offer such job prospects. That is all there is to it.
Mark Tabone, there are other junctions where your pupils may practice driving, and so thereby avoiding raising false hopes in those 'immigrants' who are so evidently desperate for the opportunity of an honest [fairly paid] day's work.
joseph cachia
Jan 3rd 2009, 22:59
To ALBERT FENECH. You are out of 'ORDER'
Big difference between illegals arriving from any country to anyone coming from PALESTINE
illegal or not. We are ALWAYS ready to SHELTER and HELP Palestinians.
Why should GAZA population stop bombing Izrael? It's their HOMELAND legally occupied
by Izrael. As FREEDOM FIGHTERS for their land it is proper and natural to bomb the occupiers. America should supply them with W.M.D. and legally will use them against Izrael.
Hamas are DEMOCRATICALLY elected to govern all PALESTINE , all the world accepted their
legallity except the U.S.A.
WE Hamas sympathisers MALTA , except the hypocrite ODD ONES, are always ready to help
them
Justin Meli
Jan 3rd 2009, 21:00
@dennis catania
if You want to call the government racist go ahead. for the government and for people like you the little african children arent good enough for swieqi etc..you too know that marsa was a dangerous place to go , heck go and raise your children there near the prostitutes , drug dealers , high population of heroin addicts etc., it is a fact that part of marsa was always a mess ..
i never for a second ever felt threathened in the open centre , infact it feels safe and these monstrous criminals make you feel welcome .
this right wing propoganda has to stop.
Denis Catania
Jan 3rd 2009, 20:01
@Justin Meli:The only people hiding anything is the courts and or the government. Where are the transcripts to the hearing?? Why are they hiding them?? What will they hide next?
Racists are the ones who put this people in Marsa, knowing it was always a dangerous place??? Why would you put little African children in a dangerous place like Marsa??? Why not Sweiqi??? Why not the Luxor??? Are these little African children not good enough for Sweiqi or Luxor??? Why can't we move them to Sweiqi??? For a better chance.
Justin Meli you seem like a very smart man, you even knew Marsa was dangerous. Can you answer some of these questions. If your claim is right. That the police KNEW that Marsa was dangerous??? Is the government a racist??? Why didn't the police stop the government from putting tent city in Marsa??? Where will the next tent city go???
Mark Tabone
Jan 3rd 2009, 19:59
Recently, whilst conducting a driving test, I instructed my candidate to pass through Albert Town. She exited December 13th Road to the area of the open centre. We approached a pedestrian crossing, on which about 4 immigrants were standing. Quite rightly, my candidate stopped to give way for them to cross. All of a sudden we got surrounded by about 15 or more immigrants who were in the area. One of them opened also the car's rear left door. Both my candidate and myself got frightened, and I asked her to proceed on the road to avoid them. Can't the police do patrols in these areas and instruct the imigrants not to disturb and harress drivers whilst driving or stopping in these area. This episode happened to me twice in a week.
A.J. Anastasi
Jan 3rd 2009, 19:52
@ Tone Nastri,
The Maltese immigrants you are referring to in the 1940s and '50s were not illegal, for the simple reason that during those periods, Malta was a colony/protectorate of Great Britain and the Maltese all had British passports.
Britain was our mother country then!
So, how can one be illegal in his own mother country?
AJA.
..
louise vella
Jan 3rd 2009, 19:43
OPEN YOUR EYES!
Read the article "Unemployment a social time bomb for Spain" in this very same newspaper (The Times) today.
Manuel Mifsud
Jan 3rd 2009, 19:05
@all extreme right
Stop spreading all this hatred. The Maltese were always renowned for their friendliness and generosity especially with those in need. May God bless you all and may you and your loved ones never come to the point of having to leave your country to seek shelter somewhere else.
ALBERT FENECH
Jan 3rd 2009, 18:37
This is a social plague that has become endemic all-round. I create problems because of my own total irresponsibility and lack of acumen and foresight - but then I throw my problems on the rest of the community and expect that community to solve all my problems. That is why the world is currently plagued with social crisis i.e. unmarried mothers have various children by various fathers but then the state has to provide the mother and children with privileged housing, with generous allowances etc.
Worse of all, various do-gooders are always at hand to make the decent citizens of the world feel guilty as if the plights were all of their making. So, I work hard all my life, pay my taxes, observe all my civil and social dues and strive to bring up a decent family, but then I am also made to feel guilty for the misdemeanours of all those who blithely flout all human and social decency.
That is where the problem lies.
Justin Meli
Jan 3rd 2009, 18:25
surely the imigrants didnt make marsa a no-go area... it was always a nogo area way before the open centre , and the police KNOW that
@all
your comments , spreading hatred and misinformation about illegal imigrants is causing more and more hatred in the maltese people and is making marsa more a nogo area .
your excuses and hiding after ISOLATED incidents to spread hatred and racial discrimination is whats the maltese police should work on....
albert fenech
Jan 3rd 2009, 18:25
The core issue here is not one of racialism, or colour, or whatever. It is an issue that has become internationally relative - that is, I create the problem but then I hold you responsible for solving it. Many illegal immigrants are from countries that have created their own problems (i.e. Somalia). Instead of the nationals striving to solve the problems they have created in their own homeland, thousands of individuals flee and end up on other people's shores with the message "I'm you're problem now - so solve it".
This is also very much the core issue in the current Gaza-Israel problem. Instead of running around the streets creating panic and instead of international communities organising "protest marches" and throwing shoes all over the place, why don't the people of Gaza impose on their leaders to STOP bombing Israel - after all, it was they themselves who voted Hamas into power. So again, instead of solving the problem they themselves created, Hamas sympathisers look to the international community to solve the problems they themselves have created!
Denis Catania
Jan 3rd 2009, 18:03
@Manual Mifsud: Who' stopping you? Catch a flight and go and help. Get a visa. They won' let you enter without a visa.
tone nastri
Jan 3rd 2009, 17:56
lgalea If The ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS had a good life they wouldnt come here and everywhere else in the world would they .I dont want them as much as the next person but im also not a racist. And yes this situation has to be sorted out very soon. But also you may have forgot that the maltese were also illegal immigrants in the 40s and 50s. mostley to England and Australia. And people to scared to open the door after 20:00pm is aload of crap . To me the maltese have never been a nation of scared people. They were not scared in the wars. And so they shouldnt be. yes everyone has a right to protect there country but do it the right way. Dont get me wrong but that part of marsa has always been grim even before they came here. lgalea please calm down. I never said anything about giving them as good life did i .As i said before if they break the law punish them as they should be.
Manuel Mifsud
Jan 3rd 2009, 17:36
You keep repeating the same things. It's not a question of whether anyone wants illegal immigrants or not! It's a question of whether we should help them once they end up on our Island. First of all as a civilised people and as true Christians we should do our best to help them. Moreover we are bound by international laws.
No one forces you to help them but you have no right to stop others from doing so.
Helena Psaila
Jan 3rd 2009, 17:32
@ Igalea
People deserve a decent life wherever they are.
People only have life - if that is not decent, what else remains?
Helena Psaila
Jan 3rd 2009, 17:29
I am a woman and I have been to Marsa Open Centre alone, to see for myself what people love to chatter about.
Everyone was very courteous and I did not feel threatened.
louise vella
Jan 3rd 2009, 17:22
The Guardian on 30 December 2008 published an article “Malta: where hysteria is no answer to the plight of refugees” –
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/30/malta-refugees
It quoted Father Joseph Cassar of the Jesuit Refugee Service as saying that in five years time there will be “a social catastrophe”, with ghettoes and social unrest in Malta as a result of the illegal immigrants. We already have the ghettoes. Marsa is one of them. Other towns are on their way to becoming ghettoes. Do we need the social unrest?
Denis catania
Jan 3rd 2009, 17:21
@Manual Mifsud: Does my poor uncle have the right to live like you and invade your home???
Does a car thief have the same right to drive your car by stealing it??? Mr.Mifsud LEGAL immigrants have the rights to a better life. Illegals need to go back home and do it properly. Apply for entry to any of the 27 EU countries. If that's were he wants to go.Before i would come in your house, I would ring your bell and wait for you to invite me in.
lgalea
Jan 3rd 2009, 17:07
Manuel Mifsud
The ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS have a right to a decent life in their own country not OURS where they came ILLEGALLY.
As for the vast majority of the people, the online poll by The Times proves you WRONG time and time again.
We and our forefathers have worked hard to be where we are and we shall not allow the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS to destroy what has been built at great sacrifices.
If you feel like wanting to give them a good life go to their own countries and work for them there.
Enzo Caruana
Jan 3rd 2009, 16:55
Supt Valletta was right and correct in his comments. Ask the Marsa residents how they feel about this sad situation. Let us stick to our realities and try to come to grips that with a 400,000 population Malta is just one district of any of one of the big European cities. Just imagine what impact a foreign colony has on a small town like Marsa. I have relatives living in Marsa who are now scared to open their doors after 8.00pm.
Supt Valletta is paid to uphold the law and to protect Maltese law abiding citizens. If immigrants who are living off our generosity and taxes are not taught and warned to behave and conform to our laws they should be forced to do so. Let's hope that there are more law enforcement officers like Supt Valletta. We have a very serious problem tha is bound to grow beyond control in 10 - 15 years time. We have repatriated Egyptaians, Why cannot we also reptriate Somalis. We know where they came from. Can anyone tell me if any serious investigations were made about the boat people who carry sattelite phones or about the powerful outboard engines on their boats.
Paul Barrett
Jan 3rd 2009, 16:40
@ Tone Nastri
Talking of drink driving - does anyone breathalise the guys that have just re-done the white lines on the Coast Road in the area between the Naxxar Road and St Paul's Bay - at least one of them must have a terrible hang-over - or perhaps just the jitters LOL.
K. Pullicino
Jan 3rd 2009, 16:21
"Unfortunately there are too many who are frightened to speak the full truth at all levels of our administrators at the expense of the Country's interests!"
Such as those people who don't admit that the Maltese are prone to mistakes and think that they have a superiority complex?
John Borg
Jan 3rd 2009, 16:07
Some people will clutch at any straw that comes their way. First it was "Superintendent Valletta for President"; now this officer has become an arch villain in the eyes of the Far Right. For these people any story is but another strand in the ever more tangled conspiracy theory of how Maltese culture and "identity" are being destroyed by a devilish coalition involving the Maltese political class, Jesuits, NGOs and employers in search of cheap labour, along with the dastardly European Union, foreign governments and international organizations.
Manuel Mifsud
Jan 3rd 2009, 15:56
@Igalea
Illegal immigrants have the right to live a decent life as much as you do. Thank God, the vast majority of Maltese and Gozitans are of the same opinion.
Denis Catania
Jan 3rd 2009, 15:46
@Tone Nastri: You are right , we don't need more crime in Malta. But please don't mix legal immigrants with legal. Even most of the illegals are good people,no doubt. But they still committed a crime entering Malta and what's worse is they jumped in front of a family that wants to come to Malta from Africa in a legal manner.
Tone Nastri
Jan 3rd 2009, 15:25
As for a ghetto i think alot of people have been watching to many movies. it really makes me laugh! the way some people speak. And the way some talk about the laws in malta. As if people here dont break laws.And know the laws. like drink driving and speeding and hitting some poor innocent person and then running off for instance. Theres so much of it here its unreal.
Im not scared to walk in marsa why should i be. And why would i go where the immigrants live. theres nothing there to see anyway. Its true its getting out of hand here. To many immigrants but not all are bad people.theres bad in every nation including malta ok.if they break the law then they should be punished like everyone else here on the island. But dont single out the immigrants. For me i would be more worried about getting stabbed in paceville by some drunk idiot.
Joseph Cauchi
Jan 3rd 2009, 15:14
It is irrelevant what Supt. Valletta actually said. The fact of the matter is that Marsa is a “No Go Area”.
Let’s hope that our Government does not designate further such sites in our neighbourhoods.
Are we Maltese helpless in this situation?
Unfortunately our elected representatives seem to be abdicating their legitimate obligations in safeguarding the interests of the electorate.
As far as I know I did not vote for a programme that included such policies. Or was there something between the lines, which I didn’t see?
Quo Vadis Malta?
../..
Joe Scerri
Jan 3rd 2009, 15:10
I wonder if all this fuss would have been created had the accused been a Maltese. No one would have said the the superinendent was being racist I guess.
James Frendo
Jan 3rd 2009, 15:09
Its about time that such comments start to be taken seriously and coming from a high ranked officer gives them the required importance. It is also about time that Government starts doing something about this situation, cause we are being intimidated by these ILLEGAL immigrants in our own country.
lgalea
Jan 3rd 2009, 15:06
a mifsud, Every Maltese citizen has a right to comment on the lawlessness or otherwise of another country once its citizens come here and break our laws.
David Pisani
Superintendent did the right thing at the right place which should have been done long ago by EFApn and Gonzipn.
Manuel Mifsud
The funds should be to employ MALTESE CITIZENS who are out of work not ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Allowing them to work will entice more to come here.
Noel Cutajar
Jan 3rd 2009, 14:49
What truth?? I should dare say that comments such as these were made by someone who was prosecuted for commenting on racial hatred...so?
Bernard Darmanin
Jan 3rd 2009, 14:36
i don't know why one has to clarify what is already clear enough and clear to everyone. Supt Valletta only stated what everyone already knows. I have never seen people enjoying a nice evening walk around Albert Town even before this whole thing started.
Give us ALL Malta back.
Denis Catania
Jan 3rd 2009, 14:26
Charles Micallef: The big question is or I should say the scary question is. Is Supt Valletta being intimidated by the Police dept and or the government??? If not. Where are the transcripts??? They are public records???
@Ronnie Galea: You are a 100% right. The illegal immigrants made Marsa a no-go zone or I should say the government and or the Maltese Police Dept hire ups. For not taking a close look at this problem and provide proper police protection. Hire more police. Hit the pavement and walk the beat.
a mifsud
Jan 3rd 2009, 14:18
Can someone please tell me where the 'clarification' is? Reading this is just a repetition of the original report.
"even if there were no laws in the country the accused came from"
Does Supt Valletta know this for a fact? Does this not hint at arrogance from the Supt, that Malta is such a superior country. Why don't we go through all the court cases of Maltese citizens charged with theft from a car and see what sort of sentence they got and if they were let out on bail?
I stand by my initial comment (especially as there has been no explanation of Supt Valletta's comments) that it was very reckless of Supt Valletta to make these comments.
David Pisani
Jan 3rd 2009, 14:00
(Supt Valletta, the police said, had told the Courts that one also had to ensure that Marsa did not become a no-go area for the Maltese and called on the Courts to give the accused a harsher sentence than that requested by his lawyer to ensure this.)
Its good if Suprt Silvio Valletta addressed this point with The prime Minister or the Minister in Charge instead of the courts.
To mention things such as a no go area, for me wasn't the right place and moment, when that person is brought in courts in relation to a crime. Sorry for me the police superintendent
was wrong.
Its not a point of taking sides here, its about talking the just way.
Brian Maloret
Jan 3rd 2009, 13:49
Indeed Louis, it is refreshing that a senior police officer has the courage to express his thoughts and feelings publicly. Also many of my Maltese friends have talked about what they see as the arrogance of many of these illegal immigrants and especially the Somalians. It would seem that when they receive a service in a shop or a bar they rarely say "thank you" for the service that they have received; to me that is not only arrogance but also bad manners. I have also noticed that when I've been on a packed bus especially during the summer months most of these illegal immigrants who, in the main, are young men will not give up their seat to an elderly or disdabled person when they board. I am of retirement age myself but will give up my seat to someone who has greater need to use it than I. Theses illegal immigants should have greater respect for Malta and the Maltese people for the refuge that they have been given.
Manuel Mifsud
Jan 3rd 2009, 13:46
Perhaps it's about time we should start burden sharing in Malta. The funds to maintain this open centre plus some additional funds should be redirected to the Local Councils which could employ 3 to 10 immigrants accordingly. They could do maintenance work and other necessary odd jobs. In this way, the immigrants will not be amassed together with all the resulting risks to themselves and the residents of the locality in which they are living. Moreover, they would be earning some money legally and at the same time contributing towards the benefit of the Maltese economy .
Meanwhile I urge the authorities to do their utmost to limit the influx of illegal immgrants. I also urge those persons who instigate hatred towards these immigrants to come out with some tangible solutions to this enormous problem.
Charles Micallef
Jan 3rd 2009, 13:31
In material in what context did Supt. Valletta meant to have stated, whatever was initially reported, was 100% accurate.
If only, we had more upstanding people in Malta like this Policeman who calls a spade a spade and not hide behind the facts, than we can call ourselves a real free democracy.
Unfortunately there are too many do-gooders, who are frightened to speak the full truth at all levels of our administrators at the expense of the Country's interests!
Denis Catania
Jan 3rd 2009, 13:29
What Supt:Valletta said, whether he said what the Times first reported or his similar story are both true. Most Maltese feel Marsa is scary, some Maltese feel it's getting scary. Where are the transcripts??? Why are we hiding them??? We want the transcript??? Who do I send a check to???
@Supt:Valletta; What comments are you upset at??? The ones that called you racists??? or The ones that backed you up your statements??? If you a upset at the ones that backed you up your statement. Sorry, Supt.Valletta we will never stop backing up the Maltese police dept. Never Never Never. Not just the ones that arrest illegals immigrants, but also back up the ones that arrest the Maltese that commit crimes.
Louis Sinagra
Jan 3rd 2009, 13:24
At least Supt Valletta has the courage to speak the truth . I congratulate him for warning these illegal immigrants from Somalia that in this country we have laws . Another thing we have to teach the Somali's is not to be arrogant to their Host Nation .
l borg
Jan 3rd 2009, 13:16
no go area?
i might ask?
who wants to go thier anyhow?
M Valletta
Jan 3rd 2009, 13:12
Agreed! And imsure other places like these will crop up in the future adding to the ones we laready have.
Ronald Galea
Jan 3rd 2009, 12:53
Marsa near the open centre ALREADY IS a no-go area thanks to these ILLEGAL immigrants.