Maurice Mizzi, Bidnija
Berlusconi strikes again at illegal immigration
Last week the Italian government promulgated a law making illegal immigration a crime. One might agree or disagree with this law, but I suspect that Mr Berlusconi, being a man of action, has tried to circumvent the advance of Islam into his country.
He has seen how this religion has taken over Britain where according to the British media there are no less than 85 Sharia courts creating a two-tier legal monster. Among the rulings there are some that advise illegal actions and others that transgress human rights standards as applied by British courts.
Furthermore, the internationally respected OECD has revealed that 71 per cent of new jobs during the last 10 years have gone to immigrants, creating a massive unemployment problem in the country.
Thanks to the Italian government, this summer we have been spared the arrival of at least another 2,000 illegal immigrants, but there are still some 9,000 of them living in our country.
If we really want to preserve our culture, our religion and our present lifestyle, these immigrants will have to be sent back to Libya from where they embarked or directly to their native countries.
There are already some 800 illegal immigrants working and taking our jobs. We must forget the so-called burden-sharing arrangement being negotiated with our brethren the European Union countries. It is a joke. The round of negotiations reminds one of one's favourite team hitting the post 10 times without scoring.
Nobody looks after our own country better than ourselves (that should be the norm). We must not rely on anyone to help us and therefore we must shake off our inertia and act.
It was our intelligent generation that established democracy and avoided our country being dragged into a civil war and anarchy in the 1980s.
These illegal immigrants should do the same for their countries. They should be given a course in democracy, given about €10,000 each and sent back to the countries from where they came. With a sum like that they would be glad to leave, particularly now that their dream of ending up in Italy has evaporated into thin air.
In the long run the sum of €10,000 for each person is cheaper than keeping illegal immigrants in our island with all the army looking after them.
I hate to think what we will do in an emergency such as an earthquake when all our valiant soldiers will be needed to help us.
In the meantime we are a kind nation and during the time that these immigrants are on our shores, we should treat them with all the kindness possible.
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Matthew Sultana
Jul 8th 2009, 21:32
10000 euro will be enough to attract more immigrants to Malta. It is a small fortune for these people. The word will spread and more will come.
Robert Callus
Jul 8th 2009, 18:45
@Charles Sammut
I never said the world is fair. It definitely isn't. When I mentioned fair trade I refer specifically to not proft organisations internationally that invest in human and natural resources where the worker gets a decent wage. Up to now it is responsible for about 5% of Africa's export. It is increasing and if you have visited places like the UK and Finland lately you might have noticed you can choose to buy fair traded goods even from mainstream establishments.
True 5% won't stop Africa's problems. However, the impressive results of these 5% show clearly that if paid a decent wage people stop 'making babies' (cause that's all they do in your fertile imagination) and work. Rather than a fat cat reaping the profits out of people's misery, these are then invested for more (fair) trade and community projects.
Fait trade is one of the measures Fr Dionisius Mintoff suggested in his six points in a letter that was published yesterday. A letter with which you had fun trying to ridicule in this online version of the Times.
pat camilleri
Jul 8th 2009, 17:27
Mr Mizzi, is spot on again.We want the illlegal immigrants sent back, and anyone caught employing them should be severly punished. We must all do our bit and report workers who might be employed without the right permits.One c an acquire a telephone number which is totally anonymous. The police will be able to help.Action is needed.
lgalea
Jul 8th 2009, 17:25
Louis Gialanze
Totally agree with you .
That was one of the worst mistakes ever made by any government in Malta.
It is thanks to Berlusconi (even though he tried to dump some of the illegal immigrants on us) that the invasion has stopped at least up to now.
We want action like that taken by Berlusconi not that currently taken by the Maltese Government.
c. camilleri
Jul 8th 2009, 16:34
WEll done Maurice. You have spoken for all of us. Still there are some who do not want to hear or see what is happening in other countries. They will only realise this when it is too late. Just one example of a Maltese living in the UK. He and his wife worked hard and bought a block of flats which now would be worth more than a million sterling. But because they became surrounded with foreigners nobody wants to buy it except the foreigners of course on the cheap.
Philip Camilleri
Jul 8th 2009, 16:22
Dear Mr Mizzi,
Compliments on such a well thought letter. Whilst I agree that while they are here immigrants should be treated kindly, maybe we could look at ways of raising a decent sum of money for them to take back to their homeland. For example a national project to immpove infrastructure, cleaning the isalnd and immigrants could be paid a fixed wage of which they would be given a part each week to live off and the rest put in a savings fund for them. When the fund reaches say 10,000 Euros they would have to pay for a flight home and an account opened in a global bank in their homeland. They would then be able to access the balance when they get home. DNA samples would be taken on exit from Malta and should such an individual attempt to return here, he would then face detention and immediate deportation. I am sure that if a think thank is set up many workable solutions can surface.
louise vella
Jul 8th 2009, 15:47
I earnestly ask Dr Gonzi to appoint Mr Maurice Mizzi as the person in charge of the problem of illegal immigration. He should be given a limited staff and budget, and be put in control of the detention centres, the open centres, the Refugee Commissioner's office etc. He should also be given a "doctor's mandate", that is, to do whatever is necessary to heal Malta of this growing problem which is undermining our social fabric, our economy and our national security, as Judge Joseph Galea Debono said in a recent judgement. Dr Gonzi should remember that he is no longer the head of some NGO but Malta's prime minister.
Alexander Morana
Jul 8th 2009, 15:07
Some posters cannot stomach the fact that a government had the guts to do something about the risks and threats to its country!
Why is it that some people cannot give credit to someone who stands up and speaks against the assumed moral wishes or creed and their imposing, I know best than thou attitude?
Come on let's face it Berlusconi was smart enough and managed to pull the carpet from under all our feet.
We aren't better than the poor African country with cap in hand waiting for big brother to come and help us with our problems. Shame on the Malta Government.
helen c galizia
Jul 8th 2009, 15:05
Mr Callus puts the case well. Might I add that there seems to be some confusion here between Islam and Africans who reach our shores without papers - many of whom might be Christians (from the days of colonisation) - not that it matters. Renowned worldwide charities will confirm that once African families have a reliable livelihood they do not wish to have many children - just to ensure that the children they do have survive into adulthood. What is more it is children (and their parents) in the West (and that includes most of us) who make huge demands on the earth's resources - not African families. As to the Daily Mail - well, I am surprised!
Charles Sammut
Jul 8th 2009, 14:09
@ Robert Callus
I think that it is you who is playing the fool, you and your 'fair trade' pipe dream. Wherever did you get the delusion that the world is a fair place? The world is inhabited by creatures, human and otherwise whose main objective in life is surviving as best they can. Be it a lion in the savanah or a beggar on the streets of Culcutta, they have the same goal. Survival.
Where missionaries are concerned, I do not ridicule them, if that's what rocks their boat, fine by me.If someone wants to smoke herbs to feel fulfilled, that's ok too. I don't mind what anybody does as long as they take full responsibility for their action or lack thereof. God forbid everyone got his kicks the same way.
I find it puzzling that these people are incapable of helping themselves and rely on others to do it for them. Let me give you an example closer to home. Why do the residents of the Marsa Open Centre complain about the dirt they live in? They are provided with free water and scouring cream, what else do they expect? We clean?
H Caruana Galizia
Jul 8th 2009, 13:42
Thank you for your reply Mr Mizzi. "illegal immigrant" is rather an imprecise term. I will come back to you but in the meantime would refer you once again to to cogent arguments made by Father Mintoff from the Peace Lab (yesterday's Times). The Times of Malta has my permission to pass on to you my personal email.
Louis Gialanze
Jul 8th 2009, 13:40
For the umpteenth time may I repeat my call to recriminalize illegal immigration in Malta. Italy now has the mechanism in place to thwart illegal immigration. If Italy can do it why not us. Next time around we might not be so lucky or else the cavaliere might not be in a position to ride out to our rescue. Indeed, together we can stop the invasion but only if our leaders put the interest of our country first.
George Caruana
Jul 8th 2009, 13:40
Dear Maurice Mizzi,
I asked about their origins, not existence
Maurice Mizzi
Jul 8th 2009, 13:02
@George Caruana
Dear Mr Caruana
Are you implying that we, in Malta, have no culture, no religion and no lifestyle?
Maurice Mizzi
Jul 8th 2009, 13:00
Dear Mrs Caruana Galizia
In my opinion an illegal immigrant is someone who enters our country without a visa or/and a passport.
I would like to know what would have happened to me had I gone to a country outside the EU without a passport or a visa.
I read all the British newspapers including the Daily Mail and The Times.
George Caruana
Jul 8th 2009, 12:22
Words cannot convey the dangers such ideas pose on any society. History speaks for itself.
And may Mr. Mizzi tell us the origins of "our culture, our religion and our present lifestyle" that he is so determined to preserve?
Robert Callus
Jul 8th 2009, 11:56
@Charles Sammut
Do you really believe in what you say or do you just like playing the fool? I hope it's the latter.
Africa does not need foreign aid, it needs fair trade. The problem isn't (and you know it isn't) the fact that all Africans are having sex 24/7 as you imply.
The problem is that many Africans work extremely long hours for little pay, with the money going to a coalition of African dictators and European and American multinationals.
Yes there are missionaries like you mentioned. They're doing a good job. You may try to ridicule them and call them do-gooders, however I'm sure they are more fulfilled in life than some do-nothings except for hitting the vulnerable on an online newspaper.
Where fair trade organisations managed to defy dictators and worked with the people, rest assured that the people worked hard and proudly improved their situation. Profits were then used for community projects instead of feeding fat cats you and your idol Berlusconi seem so fond of.
Helen Caruana Galizia
Jul 8th 2009, 11:38
I have two questions about this letter. First: on what evidence is a decision taken that someone is an illegal immigrant as opposed to having some other status? Secondly in writing about the British media I would like to know exactly which daily or Sunday papers Mr Mizzi has been reading? Fr Mintoff's letter in yesterday's Times might be worth reading side by side with this one. .
Charles Sammut
Jul 8th 2009, 11:02
Allowing illegal immigrants to remain in Malta will be doing a dis-service to them and their continent.
As Maurice Mizzi correctly states, abandoning your country is a cop out. This is what is destroying Africa. They have become addicted to foreign aid and in many cases have become so inert that even something as simple as a pipeline for water is too much for them to bother about because the do-gooders will come and do it for them.
It makes me sick when I read about how some missionary singlehandedly laid 400 metres of pipes to bring water to the village. I suppose the natives are too busy breeding children they cannot feed to bother with such minor detais as water. The sacks US Food Aid will still arrive.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/us-food-aid-is-wrecking-africa-claims-charity-461903.html
Maurice Mizzi
Jul 8th 2009, 10:36
Dear Mr Caruana
It is important that most of these 9000 illegal immigrants are repatriated at all costs. Dr Berlusconi seems to find answers to everything. On the other hand we prefer the diplomatic way which is not working. The donation of the sum of money to the immigrants which can even be increased was only an idea, perhaps you have others.
Carmel Gatt
Jul 8th 2009, 10:13
Well done, Mr Mizzi. You have expressed my thoghts and sentiments exactly. When is this government going to wake up to the fact that the EU is NOT going to help? We are being taken for a ride. Burden sharing will never succeeed because EU countries have enough troubles of their own with illegal immigrants. This small island has reached a high standard of living with the sweat and the toil of its people, past and present. Are we going to betray it now?
R. Caruana
Jul 8th 2009, 09:57
Excuse me Mr Mizzi, but are you re-inventing the wheel?
Such a scheme of voluntary repatriation supported by a sum of money to be use in the immigran'ts home once he goes back is already in place, and has been taken up on several occasions.
louise vella
Jul 8th 2009, 09:16
Mr Mizzi’s letter could be the basis of an action plan to solve the problem of illegal immigration. It is founded on the author’s love of Malta, his experience of our recent history, Malta’s geographical and economic realities and limitations and a long-term vision of Malta’s interests. Dr Gonzi should take this letter and put its ideas into effect as soon as possible. They are much more practical than all the talk about Malta’s religious obligations.