Migrants give a helping hand in Marsa
A group of migrants who live in the Marsa open centre have helped in a clean-up of a section of the locality, the local council said.
At the end of the activity they had a meeting with the Mayor, Francis Debono, who thanked them for their initiative and urged them to repeat it.
In this way, he said, some of the residents of Marsa could change their attitude to the migrants.
A committee which managed the initiative promised more such events as well as meetings to discuss problems affecting the locality.
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Francis Debono
Feb 9th 2009, 15:44
After all these comments it is appreciated that such an issue was raised. I think that everybody has forgotten that Malta is now part of Europe and tha main problem is that our brothers and sisters in Europe have forgotten to share this big problem with the Maltese. We have more than these Immigrants illegally but the difference is the skin complection but we are accepting them without any problem. Besides that the problem for the Locality of Marsa is that the area is over populated and this issue is in the responsability of the Maltese Government. The initative of cleaning is a good idea and I hope that Maltese take it as a lesson and clean the mess that sometimes cause themselves and do not wait for somebody to clean behind them. This is not to forget the big problem that the whole island have with illegal Immigrants. I wish that our Government with EU take action for the Maltese Islands.
lgalea
Jan 28th 2009, 21:30
Brian. J. Camilleri - St. Andrews
We should not even enter that political festival let alone have illegal immigrats representing us!
Malvin Debono
They were only cleaning the litter that they and their illegal immigrat friends did and have been doing to the area since they came here.
Gavril Flores
Are you volunteering to clean up after the illegal immigrats mess?
jamie pace
Compensate them? For what? For being here ILLEGALLY without any right whatsoever and living like leeches on OUR taxes and stealing work from Maltese CITIZENS?
Edwin Mifsud, Denis Catania, Joe Borg
Agree with you. It was nothing but a gimmick, but they will not succeed into making us accept their integration into Maltese society. Repatriation not integration.
T.gauci
Using them as slaves? They should be made to clean up everywhere from the mess they make wherever they happen to be and in compensation for maintaining them on our taxes.
P Debono
Jan 28th 2009, 19:45
Why do people keep calling them "migrants" as though they are real migrants? They are illegal and there is no two ways about it. People should go to Marsa and see for themselves the state of affairs of that worn out part of Malta.
Anthony Grech
Jan 28th 2009, 19:43
Everybody has the right to comment, but nobody is right when his/her comment is plain cruel.
lgalea
Jan 28th 2009, 18:40
Illegal immigrats, you will not change our opinion about you.
You only cleaned what you dirtied.
Denis Catania
Jan 28th 2009, 18:31
According to Joe Borg these guys sound like my son. Want to get praised for cleaning their own mess. Maybe this is a propaganda. If it is. Shame, Shame, Shame on the involved.
S Azzopardi
Jan 28th 2009, 18:13
Thats nice , thanking them for cleaning their own mess ! or should we clean it up for them too ?
Come one wake up !
Joe Borg
Jan 28th 2009, 17:32
thank you? the place they cleaned up is the same place where they go to drink beer and wine and litter it with empty cans and bottles..
Denis Catania
Jan 28th 2009, 17:27
Very nice of them. Do these illegals want to stay in Malta(I doubt it) or are they being held against their will. Now can they fix the damage caused at the detention center, due to the riots
Anyone in favor of the illegals is a pro illegal immigrants lobby.
Joe Vassallo
Jan 28th 2009, 17:25
@ T. Gauci
Nowhere have I said that we should take more – I have said that we should treat them as human beings. Mind you, if I were told that there’s a boatload of people out there, and I have the choice of letting them drown or saving them by getting them into Malta, I would certainly get them here.
From what I read, it seems a fair number of my fellow Maltese would prefer to let them drown.
Regarding the EU – my friend it was the big boys in the EU who left their ex colonies in a mess, and these people are paying the price.
What I said about the EU is that it should invest in these countries to convince the people that their future lies in their own country.
That is the only solution - as long as we let these countries rot and their people die of hunger, then we will continue facing this wave of humanity trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.
Andrew Cassar
Jan 28th 2009, 17:17
@Edwin Mifsud
I am sorry to inform you that it is not wrong to USE people, it is wrong to ABUSE people. I hope that society feels that I am USEful and that I am never a burden. Open any psychology book, depressed people say that they feel USEless. The reason why we have a problem with illegal immigrants is that they feel USEless in africa, but they are USEful in europe!!! Unfortunately there are too many crossing over which is causing them to be a burden and therefore are prone to being abused.
T.gauci
Jan 28th 2009, 17:07
its obvious propaganda not only that but also they're using them as slaves
@Brian. J. Camilleri - St. Andrews
your comment is really funny mate, we should not particiapte in the song contest let alone send foreigners to represent our country.
@Joe Vassallo
we can't take more nor the EU
Andrew Cassar
Jan 28th 2009, 16:59
@Malcolm Seychell
What "pro illegal immigrants lobby" are you speaking about exactly? The only pro-illegal immigrant people there are are the human trafficers. Accusing people who have an inch of humanity, as being pro-illegal immigrants is like accusing Sedqa of being pro-drug and pro-alcohol!! And what about Oncologists...are they pro-cancer? How about those who work with prisoners, are they pro-criminal?
I don't think I ever saw a pro-illegal immigration comment on the Times yet. What I have seen is those who think that these immigrants are humans who have a problem and are causing us a problem, while others only care about our problem but not about the human beings!
Edwin Mifsud
Jan 28th 2009, 15:44
This was nothing but a gimmic to push forward the already failed in other counties intergration idea.
@ jamie pace
"its shows that if we can manage these migrant properly we cld use them for a good cause"
Is it not wrong to USE people???
John Borg
Jan 28th 2009, 15:39
Malcolm Seychell: somehow I don't think that these immigrants set out to impress you when they decided to clean up the place.
Brian. J. Camilleri - St. Andrews
Jan 28th 2009, 15:11
Last summer I had an excellent fruitful debate with a group of African immigrants (I wasn’t actually interested get into detail to know their legal status).
They started singing and in few seconds, crowds foreigners and Maltese were joining listening and enjoying the singing. As a matter of fact, one of the gentlemen attracted me by his and voice.
Seriously, I suggest any of our great composers (Mr. Philip Vella in particular) to pay a visit at Marsa center and discover talents over there. Who knows? If we could get a better result having any of them in prospect Malta Euro song contest. Before jumping for any critics please remember black peoples have got a great record in sports and music.
Many thanks goes to above guys including the mayor
Matthew Agius
Jan 28th 2009, 15:07
Of course the immigrants won't stop coming cos these cleaned up Marsa....that's obvious dear.
However, at least these did something good for society, unlike most of the rest, so they should be gratified, for at least setting the example.
Joe Vassallo
Jan 28th 2009, 14:59
When given the opportunity, most of the migrants will be more than happy to work – to do anything which will give them back some of their dignity as human beings. We forget that these are human beings, and they should be treated as such, instead we lock them in cages for months on end.
We need to remember that the majority of them were brought to Malta after they were picked up on the high seas – very few actually had the intention of landing in Malta..
I agree that Malta is bearing more than its fair share of the burden, but we should not take it out on these people – if anything they need sympathy and support. Rather, we should be putting pressure on the ex Colonial powers, as well as the other EU big boys to invest in those poor countries – if we can give them a future in their country, the vast majority of them would prefer to stay in their homeland.
Furthermore, whilst they are here, we should try and develop any talents (arts, sports and so on) that the African community has – this would benefit them and us.
malcolm seychell
Jan 28th 2009, 14:59
They should do it on a daily basis.
I am not impressed at all. It is the usual propaganda from the Pro Illegal immigrants lobby
Cleaning rubbish for one day its nothing compare to the millions we spend on them
Eric Soames
Jan 28th 2009, 14:41
Funny, I submitted a comment yesterday suggesting this very thing as a goodwill gesture, but it wasn't printed.
d. borg
Jan 28th 2009, 14:34
Mr Mayor, as if because they helped to clean up a part of Marsa, the problem of the open centre or of the large quantity of illegal immigrants roaming about has been solved!
Kenneth Galea
Jan 28th 2009, 13:43
I always lambested the GonziPN government about his total complacency regarding the illegal immigration issue which has now become a national crisis.
However I also insisted on numerous occasions to make the most of the situation and use these people to clean up Malta. Our island does have a bit of a reputation as a dump and an eye sore. I must also add that the Government should take this operation seriously and pay wages to individuals depending on the number of hours they put in regardless of nationality. The Government also needs to give an incentive. On this note I must also say that if this operation were to be carried out during the summer months the 'immigrants' probably will do a far better job than our Maltese citizens.
Gavril Flores
Jan 28th 2009, 13:41
Good initiative and even better if maltese and immigrants cleaned togther...
jamie pace
Jan 28th 2009, 13:36
well done ..to the migrants and also well done to the local council for the idea and initiative,i hope other local councils would emulate them...especially in bugibba and qawra the place needs a really good clean up...its shows that if we can manage these migrant properly we cld use them for a good cause...not withstanding they need to be compasated for the good job...
Adrian Borg
Jan 28th 2009, 13:30
It's the least they can do ...
Kenneth Cassar
Jan 28th 2009, 13:20
Well done, and thanks.
Malvin Debono
Jan 28th 2009, 13:20
Its funny how we're very quick to blast them when they come over here but no one has had the decency to say well done yet in this forum