Joseph M. Cachia
Letter to an illegal immigrant
I address the following to my friend, the illegal immigrant: Believe me, I'm writing this with a heavy heart. Definitely, I wouldn't have written it had I any suspicion that you were in any way involved in the arrogant disturbances and rioting taking place regularly by groups of your colleagues.
By their ungrateful and disorderly attitude they are continually disturbing the public peace. What do they expect to get by hurling food at their servers or burn their mattresses and break doors and windows, just to mention a few cases? They wouldn't have done this in their country and lived to tell it. They must realise that they are playing with fire and should be careful not to overdo it!
The Maltese are quite a generous and hospitable people and would willingly accept to feed and clothe you in spite of this being hardly bearable given our meagre resources. Local resentment of illegal immigration is constantly increasing in the face of economic slowdown and higher unemployment levels. However, you can be sure that this is not the result of any form of discrimination or racism but, rather, through apprehension and anger, mostly anger against the European countries, especially ex-colonialists, that, besides doing nothing to alleviate the sufferings they have caused, are still continually taking every possible opportunity to advance their imperial ambitions at the expense of African peoples. Let me begin by confessing that I do not believe that it is fair on you for us to keep you here away from your country and separated from your family. You deserve better. In all probability, when you waved goodbye to your family and friends and sought our country's shores, you never imagined ending up in such difficult circumstances here.
While in other much bigger and industrialised countries your kind of immigration may be considered good for their economy here in Malta, it's completely different in so many ways. We are not a dispatching depot for migrants, thus encouraging unwanted illegal immigration to Europe. Being such a small island, Malta cannot permit itself being turned into a regional refugee camp. You must understand that you are considered as an illegal immigrant and, consequently, debarred from immigrating to any other EU country. The EU has no immigration policy, except for the exploitative and scandalous Blue Card scheme or, rather, tactical ploy.
The main objective of the EU Blue Card is to meet its market demand for labour. The scheme is a new form of exploitation and discrimination as the EU countries will take only the cream of the crop while depriving under-developed countries of qualified and skilled workers. However, although on the premise of protecting migrants from exploitation, there is grave concern on its impact on the brain-drain on non-EU countries, especially African. There are no options to mitigate the effects of large-scale departures of skilled African professionals because there are no concrete policies to address skill shortages caused by this brain-drain. This is what you should be protesting against, my dear friend!
Blame the so-called civilised societies for keeping a country rich in resources, poor in an abused population, although it wouldn't be fair to blame only foreigners for this human tragedy as there often is a collusion between foreigners' greed and local corruption and incompetence. You must well know whose role it is to establish the corrupt regimes that govern Africa today. Why does nobody refer to the part that European and US companies play in feeding the Swiss bank accounts of African corrupt politicians and generals?
The present stream of migration across the Mediterranean sees its roots in the ugly faces of slavery and colonialism, past and present. Today, as a continent, Africa is still enslaved because of its vast natural resources. You must be aware of how development experts are concerned that the combination of soft United Nations regulations, inefficient legal systems and compliant local elites are aiding foreign land grabs in Africa.
And, finally, my dear friend, can you in all sincerity blame us for being suspicious of the real intentions of any of your companions? Can't any of these illegal immigrants embed themselves in our country in support of a terrorist operation in the future? Such is the way that so-called "sleepers" would operate. Please bear in mind that nobody knows how many illegal immigrants use stolen identities. If one cannot prove one's identity, what kind of help does one expect?
Much bigger and richer European countries are adopting other measures, some of which are considered harsh but definitely intended to protect their people. They are not permitting any illegal immigrants to land on their shores, intercepting them and returning them to their place of departure, mainly Libya.
If they manage to land, they are immediately placed in deportation centres, not much different from "concentration camps". You know well enough that the Berlusconi government promised to pay Libya $5 billion over the next 25 years as compensation for the colonial period. Why not ask the British government to apologise for African slavery and colonialism? Isn't there still a case for Britain to pay reparations to African nations? After all, the wealth of the West was built on Africa's exploitation.
My friend, you have landed in the wrong country. We were never your colonisers. On the contrary, we were ourselves colonised by other powers.
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Joe Xuereb
Sep 2nd 2009, 17:20
Joseph Cachia wrote what seems to me to be an interesting and clearly set out argument on the matter of illegal immigrants. Unfortunately, it seems that some commentators misunderstood him. May I reiterate. One must not, ever, allow oneself to be blackmailed into expressing false sentiments that one does not instinctively feel inside. Political correctness is all very well, but......... @ Calascione, what have the Tuareg got to do with this discussion.? Red herrings do not sit well with indigo swaddling clothes you know.
Steve Calascione
Sep 1st 2009, 23:45
In his Letter to an illegal immigrant, dated Tuesday, 1st September Joseph M. Cachia writes about the problem of African immigration as he perceives it, having read one presumes, comments posted on the Times comment section.
I thought the letter was a good example of what Herbert Marcuse called “the reality problem”. Reading between the lines, the perceived problems of the Maltese were projected onto Africa and Africans, which are mentioned ten times in the letter.
The reality is that Tuareg of the Saharan interior for instance have as much in common with the administrative tribes of 20th century Sudan, as Greeks have with Norwegians.
Besides, the use of such ideologically-charged language can only increase the risk of further acts of genocide. This is actually what immigration is.
Nathan Young
Sep 1st 2009, 22:47
@Joseph M Cachia
Why do you only mention the the British Government with regard to slavery and colonialism?
The Dutch,Germans,Belgians,Spanish and French also colonised Africa.
With reference to slavery. The tribal chiefs used to round up the young men and sell them to the Captains of the ships, so you can not only blame the slavers.
Joseph Ellis
Sep 1st 2009, 20:37
I am glad that Joe Cachia is well and with an active mind as has always been his self. But I am disappointed that he is being so parochial in his analysis of the problem and has abandoned the internationalism which he used to embrace.
Christopher Ripard
Sep 1st 2009, 17:57
Hallina minnek sur Cachia!
Africa was de-colonised 50 years and 2 generations ago! Who blames things like the Hutu massacres and corrupt regimes on the West is distorting facts. When the West clonised Africa, there were no massacres. Relative stability and progress was the norm. The British especially offered opportunities for technology transfer and education (vide Malta).
If Africans could get their act together, boot out the warlords they have allowed to replace their colonial masters and start developing their far from meagre resources, the whole world would be better off. Instead - and this you conveniently left unsaid - the West pours BILLIONS in aid into Africa.
Perleeezzzee - get serious!
Steve Calascione
Sep 1st 2009, 16:15
Mr. Cachia. You mention 'Africa' or 'African' ten times in your letter; yet the Tuareg of the Saharan interior are as different to the administrative tribes associated with the 20th century Sudanese state, as Greeks are to Norwegians. There is no single solution to the problem of the enslavement of Africa. The process of identity formation is ongoing.
Muscat. Pat
Sep 1st 2009, 15:35
The root of illegal migration is in Africa itself. Until Africans wake up and get rid of their corrupt leaders while telling sanctimonious EU countries to stop the bank facilities of African billioners dictators, migration will not stop; but it is neither our duty to pay for the original sins of others! On the other hand it isimportant to remind those dishonest "do gooders" who confuse on purpose the cause of geniune political refugees- who deserve our help- and illegal immigrants. The two are different, and our problem in Malta lies with the illegal immigrants who endanger their lives crossing seas but not fighting for justice in their homeland.
Joe Xuereb
Sep 1st 2009, 15:15
Malta was colonised since the year dot. The provenance of the first settlers is immaterial. So no red herrings please. By tradition and usage, Malta's identity is entirely European. Yes, even before the became a member of the European Union. It never colonised anybody. It may have coonised minds through missionary work but that is hardly colonisation with material benefits/exploitation. I disagree with any form of proselytism of any kind but it has its uses (see below).
Malta became independent. And because of a deeply embedded Europeanism spirit, it had a go at independence with a high degree of success. Many other states elsewhere gained independence too. They fell to despotism, genocide, dictatorship, and so on. The Maltese missionaries failed them(?) - they did not preach genocide. But the genocidal are often ruthless and determined. But one thing is certain. They have no right to come knocking on Malta's door, a Malta historically generous and benign. And European. Certainly they have no right to rock our boat. We worked hard to stabilize. And I will have no state, no church blackmailing me into thinking otherwise. No way, Jose!
John Azzopardi
Sep 1st 2009, 13:22
Bottom line is this........Malta is too small to have already accepted all the illegals we have among us. ANd that only in a few years time. This does not bode well for future Malta and our children. One has to imagine what Malta looks like in 20-30 years. Oh my.
louise vella
Sep 1st 2009, 12:19
Mr Cachia, thanks for the depth of your thoughts and feelings.
Galea. L
Sep 1st 2009, 11:31
MSciberras
You must be living in cuckoo land.
They are still exploiting them through their multi-nationals.
Physically and militarily they are not there, but they are now economically exploiting them.
D. Scerri
It appears that you need to revise your history. The Maltese people asked the British for help against the French, but never wanted the British to rule Malta as their colony.
Do you know about the 1958 riots because the people wanted their rights and not to be trampled upon by the British colonizer?
Do you know that the British Government gave independence to Borg Olivier because it was afraid that if Mintoff came to power it would have to pay much much more as it had to do in 1971?
Did you know that the British Government kept the right to use all of Malta for its purposes?
Did you know that the British Government kept the right to bring its own police force to police Maltese citizens?
You had better start learning your Maltese history Scerri, or perhaps you are yourself trying to spread misinformation?
Joseph M. Cachia
Excellent letter.
J Micallef
Sep 1st 2009, 11:16
I think Mr. Cachia has been very honest in his contribution and expressed the same sentiments of many a maltese national, something that others fail to admit.
Mr. Cachia, just put on you virtual bullet-proof vest and prepare yourself to be accused of being goodness-knows-what, as freedom of expression works in funny ways on our island.
D. Scerri
Sep 1st 2009, 10:59
We were colonised by the British when we asked them to come here. We became independant when we wanted to and a republic after that. They the British forces left when we asked them to leave. There was no revolution, there was no spilling of blood. It was all democratic and peaceful and a simple matter as we were already running our country.
The sooner people grow up and stop blaming others for their own failures, the sooner they can move on.
Better still, the sooner people learn the truth and stop spreading misinformation, the better for us all.
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
Sep 1st 2009, 10:33
Fl-ahhar xi hadd li jitkellem car u bil-fatti. PROSIT
MSciberras
Sep 1st 2009, 10:28
Oh God. QUOTE especially ex-colonialists, that, besides doing nothing to alleviate the sufferings they have caused, are still continually taking every possible opportunity to advance their imperial ambitions at the expense of African peoplesUNQUOTE. Such a complex issue and we get this socialist claptrap. Africa is independent, in charge of her destiny and in fact, CHINA, not the former colonial powers, is today the most important trading and economic power for most African countries. And China, unlike Britain, Germany and others, does not attach conditions relating to human rights on economic aid. So who is exploiting who?