Child born at sea 'has right to be registered'

p.grima

Aug 12th 2009, 00:08

@-Chris Clayburn-

"If you are so bothered about the 'jobs of Malta' being taken, then why agree to join the EU!?.....now all the highest paid and best jobs are open to 100s millions of people, all your housing and land is on the market to foreign investment and foreign ownership....."

Where is the invasion of Europeans now that we've been in for 5 years? Why all this fuss and panic? You seem a bit politically biased to me, or rather politically parroting.

"a few migrants....." You must be joking. FYI there are already thousands of them. Have you been to Marsa lately?

Chris Clayburn

Aug 11th 2009, 11:07

If you are so bothered about the 'jobs of Malta' being taken, then why agree to join the EU!?.....now all the highest paid and best jobs are open to 100s millions of people, all your housing and land is on the market to foreign investment and foreign ownership.....this is more of a threat to the Maltese way of life than a few migrants.....and I wonder who is benefiting from the cheap labour on building sites, factories, general unskilled work, etc?....if I lived in a country ripped apart by war, I also would try and make sure my child was safe!..where is the sense in these arguments?

p.grima

Aug 9th 2009, 15:58

@-marjolene grimaud -

Yes, of course, and not only she, and not only to Malta, but to all of the western world.

marjolene grimaud

Aug 8th 2009, 00:11

@P Grima
Do you suspect that maybe she is on a mission to infiltrate the Maltese?

p.grima

Aug 6th 2009, 23:51

"She now hopes to be reunited with the rest of her family who are still in Somalia."

Well, why doesn't she go back to Somalia then, or rather, why did she have to leave Somalia in the first place?

Joe Fenech

Aug 6th 2009, 21:26

Does Malta actually have a Minister of Immigration (not Foreign Affairs...there are no affairs with foreign countries here!)????

cecil herbert jones

Aug 6th 2009, 21:00

@Dr Emmy Bezzina
While I believe your arguments to be both wise and legally sound, and in fair balance, I also truly respect your knowledge of EU International Laws.

However I beg to differ from an aspect in the argument you bring forward, in that you state that ...' this Somali has no automatic Right to demand this nationality privilege from our country. This is basic and should be known to all as otherwise we would be inundated with such legally unfounded claims.Ms Chama`s factual arguments are definitely not acceptable by any logic.Just think of the consequences for tiny Malta.' I believe that everyone has the automatic Right to demand anything, and the recourse to justice is open to all demands, and with no exception. This does not mean that the demands would be upheld by the Courts of Justice, but it is the only way that justice can be seen to be had. Therefore, while the argument you bring forth is a valid one indeed, it really pertains to the AG's vocab and left to the Judge to decide upon, while Ms Chama, the claimant must therefore have the Right to the Recourse by law.

Pule; Carmel

Aug 6th 2009, 20:52

If there are so many exceptions to any written law, why bother to write laws in the first place??

cecil herbert jones

Aug 6th 2009, 20:39

@T Gauci
Le ma nahsibx il-lögika tieghi hazina. Anzi nemmen li hi wahda mrazzna b'koerenza. Jekk tahseb li ahna nezistu go dan il-pajjiz b'hilitna biss sejjer zball ghax ahna dejjem ghandna bzonn lil haddiehor jghinna kif nahseb taf. Ghalhekk meta tinqala problema bhal din tal.klandestini Afrikani, specjalment meta din mhix biss qieghda teffettwa l-Malta izda pajjizi ohra fil-Mediterran ukoll, allura irridu nharsu lejha b'lenti ohra. Bilfors irridu naghmlu hekk, m'ghandniex triq ohra.

@A Baldacchino
Your comment is perspicacious and thus your thinking is along the right path in my opinion. That is why I think that while we caretake the problem humanitarially we should also have a plan to encompass the future of this problem as it grows, for believe me it will grow. Since we are squashed in between two giant continents, and since the continent we belong to is not helping us sufficiently to curb this problem we should open passage for the migrants to flow right past us. We can start by granting the migrants already in Malta an amnesty and prepare them for a European lifestyle in mainland Europe, following which we have the power to turn the key and set them free.

Ludwig Flask

Aug 6th 2009, 18:51

@ Dr Bezzina: Interesting comment!

A. Baldacchino

Aug 6th 2009, 17:50

MR.Van Gurchom, if you want an answer for why people in african countries are in turmoil and have to leave everything behind, i will give it to you. it is because France, Belgium, Nederlands, England etc, which happen to be your people, (coz from what i deduce from your surname , you are dutch or belgian w/e), some decades ago, raped africa, leeched it dry, and left all the turmoil and trouble, just because of their superior military power. Now, decades later, while all these countries i mentioned enjoy the fruit of what they stole, they SHAMELESSLY refuse to share the burden with tiny malta who never had nothing to do with their dirty affairs. On the contrary, Malta was continously sacked and ruled by foreign powers for the last thousands of years, and now, just a few years after we gained independence, we suffer the consequences of the troubles these countries caused. I DONT BLAME AFRICANS, I BLAME WHO CAUSED TROUBLE IN AFRICA.

A. Curmi

Aug 6th 2009, 15:38

Here are some irrefutable, indisputable facts about Malta. With a population of about 405,000 occupying an area of around 316 sq. km., Malta is the sixth most densely-populated country worldwide - approximately 1,290 people per sq. km., excluding tourists. Malta has no natural resources except for salt and limestone. We have no mountains, rivers, or lakes; no mineral deposits of any kind. We produce only 20% of our food on 31.25% of our land considered arable, depending on importation for most of our necessities.

It is no wonder therefore, that many Maltese are concerned about the alarming influx of illegal immigrants. It is outrageous that there are those among us who resort to accusations of racism and callousness when concerned citizens express their unease at the steady stream of illegal immigrants. These people come here illegally and they are straining our national resources to the point of exhausting them. Many of us feel torn between compassion for them and self-preservation.

Malta is flirting dangerously with the fine line that separates humanitarianism from national suicide. When it comes right down to it, we are facing a national collapse. The wise old adage states that, “Charity begins at home.”

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Aug 6th 2009, 06:59

@ Paul Borg, Lorraine Vella, Joanne Micallef, Denis Catania, Rachel Aquilina, P Agius, T Cilia, L. Dimech, Joe Fenech

Well said to you all. Please seriously consider a political career in the Maltese or European parliament because Malta and indeed the whole of the EU needs this kind of reasoning more now than ever.

A. Borg

Aug 6th 2009, 00:24

Shame on you Paul Borg and D. R. Caruana. I bet you are among those call themselves Catholic. If there ever was such a thing as another life I would simply augur you to live the life of a woman and merely undergo the pain of labour and childbirth before saying that "(she) planned the birth of (her)child to coincide with (her) arrival at (her) planned destination in Europe. to provide (her) with an "anchor citizen baby" But the baby decided to arrive early and ruined (her) plans."

T.gauci

Aug 5th 2009, 22:27

@cecil herbert jones

Jien x'jinteresani x'jigri f'pajjizi ohra jien tridx taqa d-dinja ghalija, haga illegali hija illegali full stop. kieku kont jien u int kieku waqa u kiser siqu, jekk l-afrikani jridu jsiru nies jaghmluwa bil hila taghom bhal ma ghamlu missirijietna. l-logika tieghek hazina

Raymond Sammut

Aug 5th 2009, 22:24

@ Melissa Bagley

Ten of the Somalis on the illegal boat presented a Somali passport to the Russian captain after boarding the "Yelena Shatrova". This means that the authorities in Somalia do issue documents. Not all of Somalia is in a state of civil war.

Registration can be obtained, but it should be obtained legally at least for the sake of the child. This child was born under the Russian flag. No-one has the right to decide the wrong thing for this child. He or she will want to know the truth when she grows up -- the Russian flag was there for her at the moment when she was most vulnerable.

Alastair Farrugia

Aug 5th 2009, 21:50

She is just asking for registration for her child. The baby needs a birth certificate for official purposes - this is not a passport or a citizenship document.

cecil herbert jones

Aug 5th 2009, 20:59

Mhux hekk! Hekk jonqos li l-anqas qalziet ma' jistghu jilbsu......at least that's a perk in Malta when compared to other countries!
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090805/world-news/judge-adjourns-sudanese-womans-trouser-trial

Melissa Bagley

Aug 5th 2009, 20:50

All she is asking is for registration - she did not ask for Maltese citizenship. JUST REGISTRATION. And even if the certificate is issued in Malta, it does not mean that the person is a Maltese citizen.

And heck, if I were a woman from Somalia, I would do EXACTLY the same to save myself - escape to EUROPE. Do you think authorities in Somalia would give her a document to leave the country, when it is at war? BIG JOKE. So of course it is going to be illegal in our part of the world. What can a woman with a baby girl do in Somalia except live in fear that she may be raped and murdered, and see the same fate happen to her daughters, and her sons taken as child soldiers? Therefore, take whatever risk. How many more women need to be gangraped, taken as sex slaves and have there unborn children murdered with a bayonet stuck up their vaginas?

May this woman and her family find some peace France.

cecil herbert jones

Aug 5th 2009, 20:44

@T. Gauci
Jien Malti bhalek, imwieled Triq Fleur-de-lys, B'kara minn genituri Maltin. L-edukazjoni sekondarja hadta fil-Kullegg San Alwigi minn ghand il-Gizwiti, u ta' dan ghandni grat sal-gurnata tal-lum.

Issa, fuq dak li qal l-avukat tal-mara Somaliza, ghalkemm jinstema li l-mara qeda titlob id-dritt li tirregistra t-tarbija hawn Malta, probabbli dan huwa l-lingwagg li juzaw l-avukati gol-Qorti biex jindirizzaw xi kwistjoni, u li allura jista jaghti l-kaz fil-probabilita li l-mara m'uzatx l-istess approc izda marret ghand avukat biex taghmel rikors lill-Qorti Maltija biex titlob lill-istess Qorti biex ihallija tirregistra t-tarbija taghha. Dan l-agir nispera tista tifmhu ghaliex ghandek tkun taf lin-nisa Afrikani huma kollha umli, galadarba gol-Afrika tirrenja patrijarka totali.

Jien mh'inix favur li jigu l-barranin hawn Malta b'moghod klandestin izda qieghed inhoss lil-migrazjoni minn go l-Afrika hija wahda minn dawk it-tsunami, biex insejjhila hekk. Fis-sens li l-Afrika qieghda thoss il-htiega li tinbidel, u bhal kul bdil ta' dan it-tip iqanqal il-migja tar-razzez. Ghalhekk nibqa nsostni li din hija haga li tirrigwarda lill-Unjoni Ewropeja fis-shieh u li ghandha timpennja ruhha hafna aktar milli qieghda timpennja ruhha. Ahna membri shah ta' din l-Unjoni u ghandna ghalfejn nippretendu l-ghajnuna kollha u mhux inqas minn hekk. Nispera qed nitkellem ghalik ukoll?

Joe Fenech

Aug 5th 2009, 17:09

Also, remember: Somalia (not Afghanistan) today is the Al Keida’s base - this should be no news as the BBC and many international politicians have stated it . Al Kaida was in Afghanistan 10 years ago - it's hub is not there anymore but in Somalia. Do we ever discuss the dangers of this? That’s not we need Gonz!!! Come on, show us what you’re worth!

Joe Fenech

Aug 5th 2009, 16:25

Send all these illegals back NOW. How far will they go with their demands? They think that everything that crosses their mind is a right. NO SIR!!!!

Do you want us to end up like the UK with gangs, knife crime and crime. If you're on holiday in London, go to Hackney, Wembley, etc and you'll see take a body guard with you though).

L. Dimech

Aug 5th 2009, 16:20

I tell you it takes some nerve to take the Government to court !!!!! In their country they don't even know where to find a lawyer,

I wonder where they get this nerve from? Malta easy and hanina? Why isn't she claiming nationality from Somalia, Libya or even France ?

On a more disturbing note - WHO'S TO TELL US THESE CHILDREN ARE REALLY BORN ON THE BOATS AND THEY REALLY BELONG TO THE WOMEN THEY'RE WITH? ARE THESE BABIES BEING USED? WHO'D GIVE BIRTH ON A SMALL BOAT JAM PACKED WITH OTHER IMMIGRANTS? I can see a rabbit maybe but not someone who already knows what giving birth means.

The softer we are the harder they come down on us. I don't give a damn if anyone calls me a racist - I just cannot stand these immigrants including the ones coming in from Eastern Europe posing as dishwashers etc. (until they take over the household), who all of a sudden become wise to what their rights and expectations should be.

They need to take a running jump on a rolling doughnut. Right about turn and back to where they came from - whatever the colour of their skin.

T.gauci

Aug 5th 2009, 14:53

@cecil herbert jones

i prefer if you don't speak on my behalf consider you're a foreigner.

@M Vella

imissek tisthi tkun favur haga illegali

Oscar Cassar

Aug 5th 2009, 14:50

We already have private hospitals encouraging pregnant women from Africa to give birth to their children in Malta - EU (against payment) and now we are being asked to give a Maltese (EU) birth certificate to other children having their birth on immigrant boats, days before reaching our island…

mickel van gurchom

Aug 5th 2009, 14:47

All people who are talking negative about this, should look at themselves, after getting international protection, this Somali woman wants what every person has, a document her baby was born.
As it appears in the reactions, some people have no idea why some people leave everything behind.
Unfortunatly, we will allways have these negative people, shame on you!!!!!

T Cilia

Aug 5th 2009, 14:46

The concept behind all this is SO obvious!! What responsible mother would undertake such a dangerous voyage when she is at the termination of her pregnancy?.. great consideration for the unborn life she is carrying!! And what responsible mother would leave her other 3 children behind in, as everyone says, a dangerous country??? As a mother I know that I would stay close to my children & fight for them tooth & nail if they were in danger. Let's hope that this case is scrutinized very scrupulously as otherwise we shall be inviting other irresponsible mothers to take the same action!!!

David Muscat

Aug 5th 2009, 13:49

THe Somalis coming here have no documents or birth certificate. I doubt if these formalities exist at home. It doesn't seem to have stopped them doing what they want. So, should we give all people without documents or birth certificate a birth certificate? Why?

In some African countries birth certificates do not exist . Should we register these too.

Dogooders, instead of shouting racism at the top of their voices, are hereby invited to tell me why a baby probably born in Libyan territory on a Libyan boat and transferred afterwards to a Russian ship should have a Maltese birth certificate but a baby in the Congo should not. Or should they too?

Mario Tabone

Aug 5th 2009, 12:58

Why ask to be registered in Malta I wonder !!!!!
As far as I am aware and please correct me if I am wrong but according to International Law any new born is registered in the country in whose territorial waters they happen to be at the time or in whose air space they happen to be flying through.
I would presume that if this woman's child was granted a Maltese birth certificate then it could cause a precedent to other cases either now or in the future.
Please dont misunderstand me as I'm all for helping refugees when possible but for Dr Azzopardi to say that the circumstances are irrelevant , to me is beyond belief.

cecil herbert jones

Aug 5th 2009, 12:01

@All
These posts are in my opinion over-reactionary, and they reveal the impulsive nature of the posters. In the case of the Somali woman she has done nothing wrong in asking the Law to grant her the right to certify her sibling in Malta. I repeat she has done nothing wrong in asking to be granted this possibility. She has not demanded or insisted that she has to be given the right, but has merely asked the Law to intervene. And she has done so for obvious reasons, for if she had asked you lot this is what she would get. In my opinion she went about it the right way........not so savage after all is she !! No wonder France offered her protection!

Oscar Cassar

Aug 5th 2009, 11:11

Why should a child birth on an immigrant boat three days before reaching Malta be give a Maltese birth certificate? The formal identity, status and citizenship should be give by the country from which immigrant’s boat left and which I suppose is the place were the boat is registered.

C.ZARB

Aug 5th 2009, 08:38

I think that the child should be registered. At the time being this kid doesn't exist (in the eyes of authority) and that is unfair. Stating that she is definately not Maltese since it doesn't reach the criteria of being one. I hope that the government doesn't accept giving Maltese citizenship to these children because we would encourage pregnant women to have children in the middle of the Maltese territorial waters and therefore complicating any rescue missions.

P Agius

Aug 5th 2009, 08:30

We gave her protection, we gave her food, we gave her a mobile, we gave her clothes, we gave her beds, now she wants our nationality when she wasn't even in Malta too?

@ M Vella
perhaps you for (conveniently) forgot to mention more things that are happening: rapes, drugs, hold-ups, violence, riots. Is that ignorance too? You have still a very long way to become credible my friend!!

Rachel Aquilina

Aug 5th 2009, 06:23

I read the Malta times regularly always a good read so i know whats happening back in sunny Malta (which i miss very much).
This story fascinated me, i cant believe this woman has the nerve to ask Maltese authorites for a birth certificate, when she was on a boat, obviously on a Libiyan boat, but thats still African citizenship and not what she was after. She knew exactly what she was doing, leaving her country and children at 9 months pregnant, to get citizenship from a European country and then to bludge off their government to rehome her and then send for her other children and probably extended family. This shouldnt be allowed and i hope the Maltese Government stick to their guns and not accept this application, this would never be approved in Australia. If shes so concerned about her child having an identity then it should be Somalian, just like its mother. And whos paying for this lawyer? the taxpayers, as usual. She should be fined for adminstration fees wasted on her by local authorities. Keep these immigrants out of Malta so it can stay the beautiful old cultured country that it should be. :0)

Denis Catania

Aug 5th 2009, 01:39

If this child was born to at least one Maltese parent than the baby can file for a Maltese citizenship. None of the above happened. So this baby should not even get a Maltese citizenship never mind a Maltese birth certificate.
This woman should be glad she wasn't charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Which I strongly believe the minister of justice should start charging these parents when they leave a safe place like Libya on the high seas in such a dangerous manner.

Andrew Azzopardi

Aug 4th 2009, 23:15

If the baby was born on day from libya and 3 days from malta then she should ask libyan authorities for the birth certificate. OH WAIT! i forgot! libya doesn't spend millions of euros on keeping these immigrants malta does.

cecil herbert jones

Aug 4th 2009, 22:41

@All
In the 1900s the Maltese used to walk the streets of New York barefooted and unable to speak a word in English. Things have changed since then, but let us not forget who we were way back when we were seriously poor.

These migrants want to go to mainland Europe. They don't hate Malta but a few thousand Maltese hate them. I wonder why? If it is the colour of their skin I can understand the nonsense. If it is the expense they impose on us, well that is also nonsense since neither the government nor the church has ever made imposed on us to pay a single Euro for their upkeep. If it is the inconvenience they are causing we should look at ourselves first. If they're taking our jobs it is because there are jobs to be taken and we don't want them. Those of you who are displaying some kind of bravado uttering so called sentiments for our homeland security by demeaning the authorities should try handle the situation themselves, but not by spreading hate. It only makes matters worse. Or is that what they are after?

lgalea

Aug 4th 2009, 22:39

h galea
Can you give me the law concerned and the relevant article galea?

Dr Emmy Bezzina, B.A.,LL.D.

Aug 4th 2009, 22:26

Being humanitarian is one aspect to the argument, violating our Nationality and Immigration Laws is something totally diverse. If this woman was Somali, then obviously the nationality of her child should be that of her native country.Failing that, it is the Law of the Place where the Boat is registered.In the circumstances where obviously one would not know if the Boat is registered anywhere at all,those on board cannot just assume that by giving birth ,the offspring is automatically entitled to be registered as a national of the State in which the child initially finds itself.Hence it is incorrect to presume that this is the Case.Not only Private International Law is hereby involved, but equally arrangements among the EU Member States as to how they control matters like this in accordance with Justice & Home Affairs in the Area of Freedom. Security and Justice.So this Somali has no automatic Right to demand this nationality privilege from our country. This is basic and should be known to all as otherwise we would be inundated with such legally unfounded claims.Ms Chama`s factual arguments are definitely not acceptable by any logic.Just think of the consequences for tiny Malta.

joe camenzuli

Aug 4th 2009, 21:15

If the child was born on a Russian ship then its Russia responsability to register thr child.
It is also Libya as she was still in Libyan territorial waters.

Joseph Markham

Aug 4th 2009, 20:49

She can always register her sibling in Somalia.... I wonder why she wants to register this child in malta... makes one think...

michael southgate

Aug 4th 2009, 20:38

DID I READ THAT RIGHT? SHE WAS 1DAY FROM LIBYA, BUT 3DAYS FROM MALTA?

h galea

Aug 4th 2009, 18:00

To all concerned, Maritime Laws says if child is born within terittorial waters of Malta he/she is maltese. The immigration police can check when the boat left and arrival time at Malta against the distance to find out if birth was in local area. Shipping has not begun under PN rule !!!

John Borg

Aug 4th 2009, 15:42

You who are posting negative and hostile comments about this woman and her child should know that you are in a minority. Most of us - religious or not - are nothing like you and want nothing to do with you.

Chris Mifsud

Aug 4th 2009, 14:53

@M Vella

Its NOT racism ..

Why should Malta register the illegal immigrants baby when it was not even born here ?

We have done more than enough for the illegal immigrants even though we are not responsible for them .

M Vella

Aug 4th 2009, 14:23

@all, Lorraine Vella

Fiex wasalna? Dal-kummenti baxxi u moqzieza, dak li wasalna fih. Injoranza u mibgheda, swat, qtil u razzizmu sfrenat.

The woman has been granted international protection and was even relocated to France - ha tistaqsu ghala telqet fuq il-holiday minghalikom ukoll??? Ahjar inhallu dax-xoghol ghal min imiss u jara b'idejh. When is the government implementing a policy to fight all this ignorance and rampant racism. Utterly disgusting.

David Muscat

Aug 4th 2009, 13:56

If anything, the baby should be registered either in Libya, (the boat was Libyan) or as a second choice Russia as the ship was Russian.

Registering every single baby on the high sees is not our duty. With the lawyer's reasoning, we will end up registering every baby from Tenerife to Alexandra.

To me, undertaking a sea journey when 9 months pregnant is irresponsible in the extreme.
I pity her other children who were left at home. It seems babies are a form of currency with which benefits can be obtained.

She must be well off to afford a lawyer. Or is this a case of legal aid being funded by the taxpayer?

r ferriggi

Aug 4th 2009, 13:07

mr Clayburn

you speak wise words.

but also you need to consider:

these countries are in the state they are in because of the peoples choics in elections, their councils, etc etc.

we have elections and (try) to chose responsible , non corrupt people ( sometimes we fail!)

but,,,,, any such coutnries from where the immigrants originate is full of corruption.

is it OUR fault as well??!?! do the citizens have 'some' blame for choosing their leaders??

my point is...... everyone likes democracy, freedom of speech, human rights etc but how many fight for them IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY??

many modern democracies have had to fight and die for what they/we have!!!

this is important. you get waht you vote for in many cases.

lgalea

Aug 4th 2009, 12:47

Christopher Clayburn
Spare us the Catholicism and pity tears Christopher. We have none left for the ILLEGAL immigrants who in the words of the prime minister himself are invading our country and living like leeches on OUR taxes.

d. borg

Aug 4th 2009, 12:23

I cannot understand why she's making all this fuss about this child, but then left her other three children back in Somalia. This baby is definitely not Maltese, so she must seek her birth certificate elsewhere, maybe in her own country.

Joanne Micallef

Aug 4th 2009, 12:23

She escaped for a better life, being just 25 I deduce that she left 3 young defenseless children behind in Somalia. Now if the situation there is sooooooo tragic, what hopes are there that they are stil alive and well?
Anyway, hardships and poverty are found all over the world and not just in Africa, seems to me that these people are privileged just because they come from Africa. Everyone has the right to work hard to improve their life, it’s when they resort to illegality that I have problem with.

MT Caruana

Aug 4th 2009, 12:14

@Paul Borg.
You said it all, prosit.

Christopher Clayburn

Aug 4th 2009, 11:16

For a country so grounded in Catholicism, it is a contradiction for me that people should be spoken about in such a resentful manner, especially when you consider the hardships these people have had to endure. It is narrow minded to think that you will solve these problems through criticism. These African people are no different from you or I, they just want a better life. These frustrations should be directed at the Government, the EU, the US and the UN to reduce suffering in their countries and remove their need to migrate.

Stephen Forster

Aug 4th 2009, 10:03

Everything is irrelevant according to her lawyer....

Robert Cassar

Aug 4th 2009, 10:03

There is a simple solution my dear.. just register your baby in Somalia and leave us Maltese ALONE.

Malcolm Seychell

Aug 4th 2009, 09:25

Of course the baby has a right to a birth certificate but it should be a Somali one and not Maltese

Paul Borg

Aug 4th 2009, 09:24

As I understand someone born at sea, under international law, can claim citizenship of the country of the ship's registration. So Hatra Chama, apply to register your child in Libya. In the alternative you are purportedly still a citizen Somalia: so register your child with the Somali authorities. Another prospect is: following your rescue at sea by a Russian ship, the first "place" in a Convention country of your baby's refuge also try the Russians. BTW we are not stupid: you planned the birth of your child to coincide with your arrival at your planned destination in Europe. to provide you with an "anchor citizen baby" But the baby decided to arrive early and ruined your plans. No expectant mother who has her baby's well being at heart would ever dream of undertaking such a hazardous journey by sea on an open boat within days of her expected delivery. So don't expect us to sympathise with you, after the failure of your plan to "morally blackmail" us with your new born baby. What document do you use to travel to France and why cannot you add baby to it?

Lorraine Vella

Aug 4th 2009, 09:13

why did this so caring mum leave her country when she was pregnant??? that is the question i guess... but she now has the nerve to ask for a Maltese birth certificate, even if her baby was not born here and even if the baby was not born in local waters or on a local vessel. U le le, fhiex wasalna!!

I M Dingli

Aug 4th 2009, 09:00

I guess the last paragraph of this article says it all. She cannot expect anything from the local authorities, i guess she is lucky enough to be living in France so why push things any further?