PL prepares for illegal migration debate

Joseph Borg

Mar 9th 2009, 02:40

The PL is the only pro active party in the country right now.

Alexander Morana

Mar 7th 2009, 23:43

Sur Tanti why is that discussing the issue of illegal Immigration in Parliament, the PL and its leader are catering to the racists and xenophobic sentiments in Malta?
Isn't it time that this issue is tackled in an intelligent and constructive manner in which some solution is found for the benefit of all.

Leaving it to fester will create more racism and resentment, if not divisions in a small country like Malta at time when our social and economic resources are stretched to the hilt and so is the public’s patience.

john snow

Mar 7th 2009, 22:02

First i must say I'm not Maltese, but married in, i will only make this comment, ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL, what ever the case may be, if it about migration, and they are ILLEGAL then sorry they are ILLEGAL, and the government should act accordingly, i/e send them back to the last country thay left from,

Joseph Calleja

Mar 7th 2009, 20:32

It seems like most comments made here are being made about politics and politicians. The main subject here is ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. The big problem is that Malta is too small to accept and cater to the quantities of illegal immigrants coming to this little island. Let us all stop playing politics and pointing fingers and maybe altogether we can come to a sane solution. I don't think any one party can solve this problem by themselves and unless all parties can agree and put politics aside and concentrate on the real problem, nothing is going to be solved. This happens to be everybody's problem!

m farrugia

Mar 7th 2009, 20:22

@mbuhagiar
I guess you are just assuming that nothing is being done to tackle the problem but I have no reason to think that you're one of the most informed as to how par idejn sodi and his govt is handling the situation. I guess the last person to be informed would be you.

So get the facts right from informed sources next time before commenting and assuming that nothing is being done.

Ivan Attard

Mar 7th 2009, 20:08

@Raymond Camilleri and Johnny Tanti:
You may be underestimating the feelings of the VAST majority of the people. Now you may call me whatever you like but make no mistake that people like me (and there are many) who have voted PN in every previous election since when they were eligible to vote will not think twice next time to shift to the party that ponders to the concerns towards illegal immigration. I will vote to whoever promises (is that what every hopeful does before being elected?) to tackle the issue of the wholesale rape of our Maltese values and culture and stop the present impotent stance 'at wait-and-see' and 'what crisis?' by the GonziPn.

You may be worried about that, as PN apologists, I can understand. But for people who harbour no ulterior motives coming from blind allegiance to the PN like many columnists and other lackeys, action against this very present danger is of paramount importance. After all Malta comes first not the PN or PL!! You all may have to eat your words in a few months time.

M.Buhagiar

Mar 7th 2009, 19:31

@M.Farrugia

To solve the problem of immigration why don`t you suggest to JOSEPH to do NOTHING like what Mr. Par Idejn Sodi is doing!!! .

If you want to impress , next time try better!!!

jimmy vella

Mar 7th 2009, 19:21

Give the man the benefit of the doubt but unless he comes out with something extraordinary he would look a fool, anything short of suspending our international obligations will be a complete waste of time.This is not a problem that can be solved by dialogue and speeches.

m farrugia

Mar 7th 2009, 18:58

So tell us Joseph, how do you intend handling the problem better if the PL is in govt?

How do you intend sending them back or stopping them from reaching our shores whilst adhering to UN standards, as all democratic and developed countries are expected to do???

When you were in the EP, what did you do to help your country handle the situation better??

I bet the country will never get an answer from the PL for these questions, we got used to the 'stagun politiku gdid' style of politics now, highlight people' concerns, but offer no concrete proposals

Michael Cutajar

Mar 7th 2009, 18:49

It looks like the Nationalist Party apologists are frustrated because it is only Jeffrey Pullicono Orlando that had the guts to come out in public and criticise his own party for doing absolutey nothing on illegal immigration in Malta.

Well truth is that I know some other Nationalist Party backbenchers and no less than 2 fronthbenchers who are four square with JPO but are not willing to show their dissent at a time when the Prime Minister lost control of his one seat majority in parliament

12 months have passed since the pn won a wafer thin majority and the polls are showing that the majority want them out of office.

charles agius

Mar 7th 2009, 18:34

Immigration, is it just black immigration? What about the others Dr Muscat, who are really taking our children's jobs? The illegals from all places and continents that are making their home here. Where are the police? What about starting to stop people on the spot and asking for their identity. Has Malta orgotton that we are still festered with 'white' north africans? First and foremost no problem will ever be settled as long as Dr.Muscat keeps using every means to create problems rather then offer sensible solutions. Hysteria wil take us nowhere.A year ago we voted PN ie we voted also against racisim and all those who harbour such thoughts or ideas. Prepare yourself Dr Muscat and show us you are growing up in the harsh political world of reality that affects people's lives.

D Spiteri

Mar 7th 2009, 18:29

Every one has to stand against the illegal imigration.
I hope that the PL does not follow the GWU steps. GWU is giving free membership to ilegal imigrants and the Reggie Miller Foundation, the Education Department of the General Workers’ Union is giving free Education to these ilegal imigrants.

victor vella

Mar 7th 2009, 18:27

Some people are re joicing because the PL is preparing to discuss the ilegal imigrants in Parlament,why now? the illegal imigranst have been with us for ages the problem has been getting out of proportion for ages.Let me tell you why now, it is because the people form the opinion of the PL Leadership , they shout whatthe people are shouting for in an effort to show the people that they are the ones who care, but in reality they are simply a party without direction as they have allways been.I had high hopes when Dr Muscat was elected leader but I am sorry to say he is not any better then the ones before him.In politics shooting from the hip is a disaster.

lgalea

Mar 7th 2009, 18:21

simon james schembri
Ghax dik l-unika arma li c-cittadini Maltin ghandhom meta l-politici ma jridux jisimghu.
Ghax dak huwa l-uniku mod li l-politici jifhmu.
Ghalhekk il-messagg trid twasslu bil-miktub fuq il-vot.
Qed tifhem issa?

John Azzopardi

Mar 7th 2009, 18:17

Let's hope that the debate on illegal immigration is constructive and results in ideas on how to deal with illegal immigration in a humane and firm manner. Illegal immigration is just that. Illegal. There is a very small group (who was not elected - UNHCR, advisors, certain NGOs, etc.) in Malta who will welcome one and all. This is not right and this makes the maltese more angry then ever. If politicians do not start listening to the people, the people will in no short time turn to those parties where illegal immigration is a big issue - whether left (CNI) or right (Josie - who to me makes a lot of sense when he talks about immigration as well as other radical individuals). This issue has united the Maltese and Gozitans more than ever and the people in their majority want action to address this issue and to reduce the impact illegal immigration is having on our country. Some people criticized Pullicino Orlando and Arrigo. Well, these 2 individuals spoke on behalf of their constituents which they have a right to do. Let's not shut the door to an open debate ; let's stop kissing up to the EU.

David Seychell

Mar 7th 2009, 18:09

The PL, the political party that imposed the omerta on all his members, is NOW, proposing to discuss the subject, one month before the MEP election. People are SO gullible.

J.Spiteri

Mar 7th 2009, 18:07

What happened to the xarabank crew. Is illegal immigration not a hot enough topic to warrant a program on the subject?

D Ellul

Mar 7th 2009, 18:05

@Igalea
Invalidate your vote and let others decide for you then. Don't be foolish enough to believe that many people will do like you (thus giving Gonzi a "lesson") because we know that in Malta we have a high turnout in every election. If you don't like what the PN is doing re immigration there are other political parties to choose from.

pat camilleri

Mar 7th 2009, 18:03

No more wasteing our hard earned cash, and taxes on people who come her for economic reasons. They are illegal.We cannot keep them. Send them back as many of the major european countries already do.

G. Mangion

Mar 7th 2009, 17:55

@ Duncan Muscat (38 minutes ago)

Il BOZZA, Qed tisttena Cissss, kollox ghandu hinu habib ! First Things First ,

We hope mlppl ,leader j muscat, for once will not try to use this debate as a Ballun politiku
People are fed up with his attidude already ! he shall keep in mind that, this is not a run for hunting votes, this is a National Problem.

simon james schembri

Mar 7th 2009, 17:48

@ Igalea

imbilli tghid lin-nies ihassru il- vot, x' tahseb li se tbiddel ighid? it- tfal iz-zghar ihazzu fuq il- karti...

lgalea

Mar 7th 2009, 17:27

p.s.
It seems that illegal immigration started being put on the agenda and being discussed only after Dr KMB and CNI started collecting signatures for the petition.

lgalea

Mar 7th 2009, 17:23

There is only one message to all the political parties and to all politicants.

We do not want one single illegal immigrat to be allowed to remain in Malta.

You shall continue to find our message on our ballot paper until you comply.

Muscat.Pat.

Mar 7th 2009, 17:01

Time and again PL is proving that it does not suffer from an inferiority complex when it comes to debates of urgent national importance. Everyone one understands that Malta is at the receiving end of other nation,s problems. While the Bashirs and the other African dictators kill, imprison ,rape and displace millions of people, Malta, the little overpopulated island of 122 square miles, is supposed and expected( by NGO's UN EU and the PN)- to let go its people, its interest, and instead exhaust itself and focus in solving unsurmontable problems of the African continent! When Germany, Britain,France, Italy Sweden etc abandon their passports and their visas and let every illegal immigrant enter without problems, Malta should do the same; but ONLY after they start doing it. In the meantime, the EU, has Poland as the chief organizer of FRONTEX so that it can manages problems of illegal immigrants in the MED 2000 miles away ! And we are supposed to have faith in them? And from the PN the always the same excuses, as it is afraid to talk about Malta's interests lest they offend the foreigners.

Jason Schembri

Mar 7th 2009, 16:52

Maybe everybody involved should reflect on the following:
'Love for our country, for our race, for our people. Preservation of our heritage and our culture. Putting Malta and the Maltese first and foremost.'

wonder who said this ......

Duncan Muscat

Mar 7th 2009, 16:49

EDWI N FORMOSA

dawk mhux flieles faqqsu ta sena ilu .... dawk imzazen kienu li belaw kollox u issa ma hadu xejn hlief dahk f'wiccom ... ghadni nistenna sempliciment bozza jien per ezempju, allavorja m'ghandix bzonn lil gvern biex nibdilhom ghax allahares qadt nistenna fid dlam u min jaf kemm baqali nistenna bicca bozza tigi. Hu pjacir hallas id -dawl bhall ohrajn siehbi issa la dhalt ghaliha.

M Callus

Mar 7th 2009, 16:49

@Michael Cutajar

Joseph muscat is an opportunistic politician. Let us what he will do when Labour will be in power. For that reason I might vote Labour because he is like a copy of Alfred San with an utopian vision!!!

Johnny Tanti

Mar 7th 2009, 16:39

@ Michael Cutajar

@ Ivan Attard

guys, are you for real? do you really think that Joseph Muscat's pandering to the xenophobia and racism currently on the rise in Malta will make him and Labour gain political mileage in the long run. The Labour Party is showing how amateurish it is, letting its followers think that they can do anything about this problem from the Opposition benches...

Grow up and get a life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael Cutajar

Mar 7th 2009, 16:38

@ Raymond Camilleri

I call myself a Maltese citizen first and foremost. and yes I have social democrat values. Malta should welcome asylum seekers and legal migrants. And I am game for integrating them as well.

Illegal immigrants, whoever they are, wherever they come from, should be sent back. It seems like you are one of those nationalist apologists, instructed by the generals working from the bunker to shoot down the Partit Laburista`s work.

Just like ALL Nationalist apologists you have to go back to the past to attack the PL. No wonder the majority has learned that The Nationalist Party is the Past. the PL is the future no matter how hard you try to hide it.

B, Agius

Mar 7th 2009, 16:33

This is a very good news and a very interesting initiative. Hope that at least something fruitful comes out of it similar to what happened on the co-cathedral museum issue. We are at a point where these people are actually invading our country and our lives and in the near future they may even influence our lifestyle.

What I cannot understand in the PL meeting of today is how the representatives of Birzebbuga where not invited. May I remind all and sundry that most of these illegal immigarnts are now starting to come down to the sea shore of Birzebbuga to wait for their compatriots that come to Malta illegally. They are also invading the bus terminus and buses used by Birzebbuga residents. Most of the time it is almost impossible to find places on the buses with all the immigrants using any bus going in the direction of Birzebbuga.

It is about time that the Birzebbuga residents are consulted more, especially by the PL since it is a stronghold of the party. Maybe that is one of the reasons why the goverment does not give this issue the required consideration!!!!!!!!

M Borg

Mar 7th 2009, 16:32

Joseph Muscat is bringing a fresh start to politics in Malta. He is contributing a lot already from the opposition side of the bench. He's going to fight for us for the govt to refund us all the vat on tax from cars. Now he's gonna tackle illegal immigration in a serious manner .... the cherry on the cake should be to make possible the importation of cars from abroad as it should be as EU states.
In 4 years time most probably my No 1 will shift to the red side of the ballot paper.

Well done Joe!

Kaydee Zammit

Mar 7th 2009, 16:23

@ Raymond Camilleri
You know what? KMB is the one organizing the CNI petition to give the majority of the Maltese a voice. The majority of the Maltese are getting so desperate as to sign each petition coming their way. It's unfortunate that you don't realise that only a handful want the illegals in here. Most of the Maltese want them out, not just the two you mentioned!

Denis Catania

Mar 7th 2009, 16:10

@Karl Abela: Why trade sanctions against Malta and not Libya?? Should there be any sanctions, which i doubt, we will turn to nations who respect our sovereignty. Should there be any illegals drowning 100 miles away, let the bigger EU nations handle the rescues. and housings.This is where the illegals want to go anyway. We have a good humane argument. Which is, we can't take care of the illegals we have in Malta in proper manner. Which in turn is causing crisis in Malta for the Maltese and illegals.When you have a good argument and include the the illegals in your argument. You will win the argument for Malta and the illegals alike.

Raymond Camilleri

Mar 7th 2009, 16:06

Do Ivan attard and Michael Cutajar call themselves 'socialdemocrats' or 'socialists'!?? they cannot even accept some kond of integration of even a controlled number of immigrants (from Africa of course...if they were Ukrainian girls they probably would find no problem with 'integrating them'!!!)... the challenge is to control the phenomenon... Well the PL (MLP) has a history of being the bad-kind of Nationalistic Rightist Party... KMB is living proof!

Joanne Micallef

Mar 7th 2009, 16:03

Lets hope something factual will come out from this debate, though I doubt it if the Goverment and the minister concerned dont change their line of thinking.

Joe Fenech

Mar 7th 2009, 15:58

Yes PL! At last you're doing you job.

Edwin Formosa

Mar 7th 2009, 15:54

Hawn min ga qed jghodd il-flieles qabel ma jfaqqsu !! Kif gralhom ezatt sena ilu!! Mid-diskussjoni ntelligenti li ha ssir fil-parlament ha johrog zgur hafna retorika u diskorsi ghall-gallerija.

Ivan Attard

Mar 7th 2009, 15:36

It is what the Maltese people expect in the face of this very real problem - as opposed to the 'no crisis' attitude being proposed to the inert GonziPn by its adviser on illegal immigration Martin Scicluna!
If safeguards to our National security and interest are at stake, we should not shirk from irritating foreign treaties at our very expense! No to illegal Immigration and Integration. Malta's interests come before anything else. Well done to Joseph Muscat for his very responsible attitude to HIS and OUR country.

Michael Cutajar

Mar 7th 2009, 15:07

GonziPN is not acting on this national problem at a time when the writing is on the wall. OMERTA ASSOLUTA. The majority of the Maltese, the middle class and the hard working famlies are worried and concerned that illegal immigration has become a national crisis. Thanks to the Partit Laburista, this matter has been put on top of the agenda. It will be discussed in Parliament thanks to Dr. Joseph Muscat. Here is finally a politician that is giving leadership on this topic.

Dear Dr. Gonzi, doing nothing is not an option in politics. The Partit Laburista is walking its talk. This is the alternative government that we have been waiting for ages. Consulting the maltese citizens and working hard in the interest of the many and not the few.

Well done.

Jeff Inguanez

Mar 7th 2009, 15:03

Joseph Muscat used to say he's "progressive".

If pandering to the extreme right on immigration is "progressive",
then Josie Muscat is just slightly less "progressive" than his namesake!

.

Karl Abela

Mar 7th 2009, 14:54

Opening up his mouth on this topic will be Joseph Muscat's biggest mistake. Why? Simply because there is not straight froward solution to this problem. No country in the world has EVER found a solution to this except to erect high walls with barbed wire on the Maltese border to Libya.....which incidently is in the middle of the ocean. ooops, so what are we going to do?

Ask Gaddafi nicely to stop them coming over? Didn't a labour delegation already go to Libya late last summer to discuss this with him? What was the outcome? NIL.

What is an emergency moratorium on the Lisbon treaty and the Geneva convention going to change? Will we then start to ask the immigrants to turn around in the middle of the ocean and let them drown? Or maybe even retaliate by force and shoot on them? Theoretically we could. But then we would get the whole world breathing down our necks and get paralyzed with the trade sanctions imposed on our country.

Is there a hero what a genuine proposition and no political strings attached out there? I think not.

Ludwig Flask

Mar 7th 2009, 14:37

No compromise. No ILLEGAL immigration.

Stephen Farrugia

Mar 7th 2009, 14:27

No compromise. No immigration.

D Ellul

Mar 7th 2009, 14:16

This is the new way of doing politics, public consultation before deciding on party policy.

malcolm azzopardi

Mar 7th 2009, 14:09

it is about time that we stop burying our heads in the sand and grab the bull by its horns !!!

Let's leave Malta for the Maltese !!!

Brian Maloret

Mar 7th 2009, 14:05

Should the debate not be about "illegal immigration" and not "illegal migration". Surely, more people enter Malta illegally than leave illegally.

Denis Catania

Mar 7th 2009, 14:04

Put an emergency moratorium on the Lisbon treaty and the Geneva convention refugee treaty, until things improve.

Carm Vella Diacono

Mar 7th 2009, 13:59

This is one of the major opportunities for Joseph Muscat and PL to prove themselves as an alternative Government! Hope they would take this chance for the benefit of Malta.