Irregular migration causes problems

Allan Gatt in his letter Burdensome Migrants (November 30) trivialises the issue of irregular migrants, claiming that migrants do not create a bigger problem than our pets, our spouses or our dependants. He also trivialises "national culture" by referring to local customary festivities and to the reaction to the distribution of free condoms on the University campus.

Applying his cue relating to the ability to define oneself through words, there is much to suggest in what he says, that he is inclined towards a globalisation of cultural values. In such a context, national identity tends to become meaningless and the loss of cultural value becomes inevitable.

I do not wish to suggest political and economic reasons why the flow of irregular migrants has recently slowed down; yet Mr Gatt's sarcastic reference to the Christian benevolence of our people trivialises Christian values and offends those Maltese selfless individuals and voluntary bodies, who go out of their way to provide hospitality for the irregular visitors.

In his attempt to trivialise the economic and social problems created by unregulated migration, Mr Gatt brings economic and social problems into play. Again, here, he betrays his characteristic naïveté by proposing solutions relating to family size, distribution of wealth and availability of resources. Could he be using the issue of irregular migration as a catalyst for promoting a radical agenda?

I wish to repeat an opinion, generally held in Malta, that the uncontrolled flow of irregular migrants is causing economic and social problems which may become more serious in the future if the flow persists in an unregulated way.

I wish to take this opportunity to endorse the views of Arthur Muscat (November 30) and Maurice Mizzi, who started this correspondence, and who deserves credit for having the courage to call a spade a spade.