Angry Malta protests over new Frontex rules

D Phillips

Feb 22nd 2010, 13:38

@Charles Grixti,
Maybe we could also look at (the easy one first), which gender commits the most crimes, or most often has the idea to become parents for the social benefits.
Or which age group were the worst offenders then blame everyone between 24-35 years of age.
Or maybe look at shoe size as an indication of propensity to do things, blame size 9 feet for the problem.
Lets then take all people between 24-35, all those with size 9 feet and a particular gender, ghettoize them, treat them differently on the basis of their gender, age and /or shoe size, expose them to the discriminatory bile that is put forward by those with your mindset. Possibly, just possibly, statistically, they’ll become the group that causes problems.
Ridiculous idea? Of course it is, but no more ridiculous than yours.

sean grima

Feb 21st 2010, 20:34

TL Mizzi: multi culturalism implies that there are many different cultures all of which are valid, not a universal culture. your comments, as well as those of others such as charles, reveal that your are not as educated as we are. i do not consider the opinion of a civil servant with a secondary education to be of the same worth as that of a professional, who has studied at post graduate level. the more one studies, the more one learns to be humble and appreciate the value of other cultures. that is not to say that everything is good or that everyone is good, but simply that good and bad transcend cultural and racial boundaries.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 20th 2010, 21:06

@sean grima,
"TLM: listen, i may be half your age, but i was not born yesterday, so cut this thing of you being the only person who can pontificate. in general multiculturalism works everywhere, including in malta "

I have news for you sean, you have not yet lived in a multicultural nation, as Malta is not multicultural no matter how much you dream on and wish it to be so. You can pontificate all you want about the wonders of illegal africans in our midst , but I cannot talk about the farce called multiculturalism? A farce that I experienced daily, while you where still a toddler. If you like the riots in north Montreal or the riots of the Parisian suburbs , maybe the riots of Milan is more your style, then multiculturalism is for you. People who have lived this reality know the truth and not culture destroying utopian liberalists who never left Malta, that swallow the myth of universal culture and think they have it all figured out.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 20th 2010, 19:06

@D. Philips

On the contrary, the origins of Nazism and kindred philosophy is not immaterial to me as this ties in very well with the ‘multicultural’ agenda being promulgated amongst the Western nations this century.As I see it, your so called equality of peoples is a very cleverly disguised plan to install a Right Wing agenda, hiding under Christian Charity and supported by mainstream Religions,to sow the seed of discord around the world,thereby destroying nationalism and nations, with the end objective being to have everyone being a sub-human or at best a semi-citizen which such euphemistic titles such as Italian-Australian, Somali-Canadian, Greek-Australian and so on, with only the White Supremacist being the true full-fledged citizens with a right to Ruler into perpetuity.
So yes,Nazism and it doctrine is very valid and fruits of it can already be seen in the stratification of classes found in South and Central America, and now in America and Canada itself.Europe is still a work in progress and I am very suspicious of people who come out with flat out platitudes about immigrants and multiculturalism for at best they are either naïve dolts or at worse paid shills of the Ruling Elite class.

Mary Smith

Feb 20th 2010, 17:10

@Sean Grima

Multiculturalism does not work ANYWHERE. Even the late PM Pierre Trudeau, one of the first champions of multiculturalism in Canada had great misgivings about it at the end.

I can vouchsafe to you that in the cities of Canada, the original and founding northern white population have all moved away to be with their own kind in small far northern communities, as the cities became enclaves of ethnic ghettos, where even if you lived there for a hundred years, you would still be a stranger and viewed with suspicion by the other ethnics all around you. Never mind the socio-economic reasons why multiculturalism was invented after the last world war, (mainly to break up nationalism and as a source of cheap labour for the Capitalist machinery), it makes for a sad, lonely and solitary life and existence in a land overflowing to capacity with masses of humanity that all wish to re-create the very conditions and cultures that they supposedly ran away from when they emigrated here.

Charles Grixti

Feb 20th 2010, 16:44

@D Philips

Then explain to me why, as a worker in Family Court in a metropolitan, multicultural city in North America, where the Black population numbers only 8% (a mixture of native born Africans and Caribbean Blacks), comprise over 80% of our Family Court cases. The cases are always the father, will wanting children from different women, point blank refuses to support and maintain them. Why, just last week, a Black colleague of mine told me that she is positively ashamed of her men-folk, when she saw the obvious, and told me that would not allow any of her children to get involved with a Black men. They expect to be the baby fathers to as many children as possible but not the baby parents. They want the State to support these children, which it does. How is that for building a thriving nation? The city is already $3.5 Billion in debt because of the welfare rolls.

The situation/percentage ratio is similar in the Criminal Courts too. And make no mistake about it, these people did not come here as slaves, but where given every opportunity to succeed using taxpayers dollars. the facts and statistics speak for themselves.

D Phillips

Feb 20th 2010, 12:49

@TLM,
Some may argue that the Africans (or any other groups)worst enemy is people with attitudes like yours, whether those people are white, brown, green or blue. Protestantism is not synonymous with high living standard, unless of course you are now also claiming that your superiority is enhanced by your religious background.
Your belief that you belong to and are therefore superior to any other human being is arrogant in the extreme and as a white, Northern European, Protestant I find your mindset nauseating.
The origins of Nazism are immaterial in the context of this discussion, what is relevant is the similarity of the beliefs. Its attitudes like yours that have cost so many people so much in the past, thankfully those that have the same ideas and beliefs as you are in a minority, and an ever dwindling one at that.

Raymond Cachia

Feb 20th 2010, 01:41

@ Sean Grima

Of course all the things I have mentioned in my previous blog are happening today as we speak. Just because they are not being reported in the mainstream media, that does not mean they are things of the past. In fact, some of these things are so outrageous that they were actually starting to be reported in the BBC, CNN and other prime news reportage. Just do a quick google search for each topic and they will surely come up if you need any verification. And that Sean, is just the tip of the ice-berg - if you really care about human beings as you purportedly claim to do, then I suggest that the first thing you do is get your head from out of the sand and stop preaching moral relativism. Only a cruel sadists will claim that all cultures are equally valid and good. Pity those that get born into the 'equally valid' culture, like the man in Somalia recently who was publicly stoned to death for having a girlfriend

Would you say that all cultures were equally valid if you were in his shoes, God rest his soul?

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 19th 2010, 23:12

@ D. Phillips,
The African's worst enemy is the african. Population control would help sub saharan africa immensely for a start.
You mention Nazism and the mafia, please do some research on both these subjects and you will find all roads lead to that famous city on the seven hills and its infallible caesar.Protestant people have brought a high standard of living anywhere they went and settled, as evidenced by countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It sure beats the fascisim of south american nations and the poverty of the central american ones, all products of their most holy and catholic Spanish and Portuguese founders and their legacy.

sean grima

Feb 19th 2010, 12:27

sorry - it should have read ray cachia, not ray sammut.

Raymond Sammut

Feb 19th 2010, 11:48

@ sean grima

Are you sure you meant to address me, Sean? Nowhere on this comments board have I made any reference to the issues you are raising.

sean grima

Feb 19th 2010, 10:35

@ray sammut: you are pointing out practices which are no longer the rule, but the exception in these cultures. by way of comparison, arranged marriages were the rule many decades ago in our culture, but have now been wiped out. that is because cultures, all around the world evolve.

people in africa no longer live in the jungle - there are large cities and towns all over africa. whilst it is true that such practices have not yet been eradicated, they will usually survive in remote villages which still cling to traditional way of life. for example, no 'modern' african young lady living in an urban centre would be married at a very young age.

notwithstanding, the study of african history and culture is an academically recognised subject, and we should not demean it by considering it inferior to ours, as it is not the case.

sean grima

Feb 19th 2010, 08:19

@TLM: listen, i may be half your age, but i was not born yesterday, so cut this thing of you being the only person who can pontificate. in general multiculturalism works everywhere, including in malta - of course there are exceptions to the rule like in anything. there are 53 countries (mostly artificial creation of colonial powers, but anyway), a number of which have been successful. may i remind you that a good part of europe's success was built on the proceeds of the vast resources in africa, with only a small minority of africans getting a benefit. the atrocities of the war in the ex yugoslavia is only a recent reminder that europeans are no less subject to committing such acts than africans.

Raymond Cachia

Feb 19th 2010, 04:46

@Sean Grima

Oh come on now! I have had it with your myopic moral relativism. Do you mean to tell me that a culture that sanctions and condones child marriage (girls of 8 or 9 married to men old enough to be their grandfathers), the selling of brides to expiate family debts, a court ruling that the gang rape of a woman is a just punishment for a crime committed by her brother or cultures that demand the FGM of their girls or where women are from birth to the grave the property of a man (father, husband, brother or other a male relative), cultures that proscribe and carry out heinous punishments for things that are part of being human, such as falling in love or choosing your own religion or lifestyle, are equal?

Well, I believe sir, that if the god Moloch was still being worshipped, demanding the burnt sacrifice of a child each time, you would be the first out there defending the right of the Molochian cult to their religion and also stating that their culture was equal to a secular humanists culture the respects Human Rights.

Raymond Sammut

Feb 18th 2010, 23:09

@ D Phillips --"Raymond, If you are incapable of following a discussion because it moves from point to point I suggest you take up reading comic books."

I better not take up reading comic books. They would make me capable of moving "from point to point" in a discussion, and lose sight of the real issue. Good luck with your comic book reading.

D Phillips

Feb 18th 2010, 17:03

@R Sammut
Raymond, If you are incapable of following a discussion because it moves from point to point I suggest you take up reading comic books.
Just to clarify it (again) for you, the heading is irrelevant, my comments and therefore my point in the discussion with TLM were relating to the comments regarding cultures.

D Phillips

Feb 18th 2010, 16:52

@TLM,
I have absolutely no doubt that you believe your own prejudiced ideas, probably much the same way as a certain high ranking Nazi had a strong belief in his own ideas including belonging to a master race, I just find it very sad that you choose to do so.
You are talking about one group of people within a culture, would you tarnish all those who may be culturally southern European, as criminals because of the mafia?
Any group of people who are marginalised or treated differently because of preconceived prejudices and bigotry will always cause problems, whatever ethnic, racial, religious group they be from.
Your white Protestantism is not a culture, as much as you may wish it to be so.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 18th 2010, 16:06

@sean grima,
Some cultures are incompatible to live together with other cultures, as proven by real life experience that you sean lack in great quantity , so they should live in their own separate nations, what is so wrong about that? Why push the new world order agenda of multiculturalism on tiny Malta, and who benefits?
Africans have to start to make their huge and rich nations in africa, into safe habitable places instead of running away and bothering other people of other nations who do not want them.
Take any sub saharan nation and replace every african with a european of any nationality, and that country will blossom, I can guarantee it. The african mind unfortunately cannot seem to work in the fashion of the european and the sad results are to be seen in their nations decade after decade, so why import this mindset to tiny Malta, so tiny Malta can be transformed to a carbon copy of a failed african nation? Who benefits, not the maltese native and not the african invader.

sean grima

Feb 18th 2010, 08:30

No culture is intrinsically better than any other: all cultures are valid, and every human being should be "assessed" on his or her own personal merits, irrespective of ethnic origin. according to the views of some commentators here, when we look at a black man, we should automatically label him as a criminal - thief,murderer, rapist - and a lazy person. of course such labelling and stereo typing is offensive and odious. people like messrs mizzi and sciberras try to extract a general, sweeping statement from a few examples, thereby condemning whole races or cultures - when there are hundreds of different "black" cultures. thankfully, as a result of better education, such archaic, crusading, attitudes are now becoming ever more marginalised.

Raymond Sammut

Feb 18th 2010, 01:08

@ D Phillips --"Actually Raymond my main point was about the statement about cultures, creation and equality and the subsequent problems that small minded attitudes then cause."

You clearly need to be reminded that the heading of The Times article is "Angry Malta protests over new Frontex rules", which has got nothing to do with your "main point". Malta is objecting strongly to Frontex because the laws on border protection and immigration are applied by all countries universally worldwide, including those in the EU. They take precedence over Frontex rules. They have nothing to do with "reading books" or the cultural differences to which you are alluding. If Frontex acts contrary to these laws, then Malta has the responsibility to disengage from Frontex and adopt its own patrol procedures. All illegal aliens then need to be returned to point of origin with the assistance and cooperation from the source country. The onus is on the incumbent government in Malta to take this course of action or it can expect to be voted out of office at the next general election.

D Phillips

Feb 17th 2010, 21:32

M Sciberras,
Indeed.
Good night

Mikiel Sciberras

Feb 17th 2010, 20:20

@D. Philips

From your writings it is evident that you have nothing but contempt for the Western culture that you have chosen to live amongst. Why are you still here, when virtual Islamic paradises are at your beck and call, places like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and a host of others? Or do you form part of the silent 'fifth column' that is surreptitiously being built in every country in the West to install your world Caliphate?

Just because Malta is a member of the EU does not make us blind to the fact that it is the EU itself that is issuing these 'multicultural' policies, and that the "Eurabia' agenda that has been in the works for decades.

But make no mistake; this will only last until ordinary European citizens finally wake up to the truth about their governments' secret machinations that have gone for too long behind their backs. And the slowly but surely Europeans are coming to their senses, then you will see which culture and values are superior. Europeans, as always will show their true mettle - do not mistaken Christian charity or compassion as a sign of weakness. For those who did, died to regret it.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 17th 2010, 18:26

@ D Phillips,
I lived awhile Detroit Michigan and then Toronto Ontario for many decades, White European Protestant christian culture is in my estimation superior to any afro based culture that I had to endure in crime infested Detroit neighbourhoods. The freedoms that I enjoyed were the results of a White Protestant culture as opposed to the roman catholic southern european culture of my birth place in Malta. My views on multiculturalism as I experienced it in decades of living in Toronto, is that its a failure and that a national community would be far stronger based on a mostly single culture and people as there is in Japan and South Korea . Anywhere I have lived in North America, crime is exacerbated when the afro culture moves in as I had to move house from the Jane and Finch area of Toronto, as crime shot up with the arrival of Jamaican immigrants& their afro based culture. My workload in Criminal Court also shot up dramatically with the arrival of these people, coincidence, I think not.

D Phillips

Feb 17th 2010, 17:21

@Raymond Sammut,
Actually Raymond my main point was about the statement about cultures, creation and equality and the subsequent problems that small minded attitudes then cause.
You’re more than welcome to protect your border as you see fit. However if you (by you I mean Malta) want to engage with and be taken seriously by the rest of the world then you cannot put forward (as a serious argument) that your border protection and immigration laws should be dictated by the colour of someones skin or what culture they come from or any other similarly absurd notions.
Whether you like it or not, currently Malta is a member of the EU and therefore is expected to follow some laws, which you may or may not agree with, and behave in what most would describe as a civilised manner. Judgements based on a persons culture are not.
And regarding France I’m sure if they want to launch criminal investigations, good luck to them, Malta I’m sure has the same right.

“These are universal laws applied by all countries worldwide”. On the basis that one culture is superior or inferior to another? What books do you read?

D Phillips

Feb 17th 2010, 16:48

@TLM,
Regarding population density OK. However you base your entire theory on equal cultures on aesthetics and building quality? What is your “culture”? Judging by your comments you think your culture is superior (I’m assuming you are not arguing the point for your culture being inferior) to others and by association, that you are superior to those from within a cultural base that you deem not equal.?

I too have lived in a multi-cultural society for 95% of my life and have seen and experienced the massive benefits of doing so, where people are not judged on what colour they are or where they come from, but on what they can contribute to society. Crimes and criminals come from all walks of life, all colours, all religions, all sexes, all hair colours. No go areas are created by marginalisation of groups of people not because of what culture they come from.

In my opinion people from countries or cultures who believe themselves to be “better” are the ones we need to be careful with.
Indeed, Malta needs to engage and be taken seriously by the rest of the world, claims such as yours are not conducive with that process.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 17th 2010, 14:28

@D Phillips,
Yes not all cultures are created equal, If that was the case Mogadishu would look like Florence and Florence would look like Mogadishu. Malta is not a place for illegal immigrants of any kind or legal ones for that matter, It is a tiny 122 sq. mile barren rock of a place that has has some of the world's highest population density in the world, if anything Malta should be still getting rid of surplus population through legal migration to other lands as in past decades. Malta does not need the multicultural experiment shoved down its throat to engage the rest of the world, as we been engaging the world for thousands of years just fine without multiculturalism. Anyways, who voted for this multiculturalism,was there a ballot for this social engineering program given to the public? I have personally lived in the multicultural experiment abroad and it is an abject failure, it is a clever way for the elite to hold on to power by having the un-unified common man argue amongst themselves in their little ethnic divisions.

Raymond Sammut

Feb 17th 2010, 12:48

@ D Phillips -- "...and on the other lift the drawbridge, pull up the shutters and close off this little island to live in isolation."

You are clearly making a seriously flawed and an unfounded allegation. The issue here is border protection and immigration laws. These are universal laws applied by all countries worldwide. The Maltese people should not be accused of "isolation" for wanting their government to apply these laws like everyone else. For example, only a month ago, the French boarder was violated by a human smuggling mother-ship which is said to have dumped 124 illegal aliens on Corsica. The French government immediately announced a criminal investigation. The Maltese government, on its part, experienced these type of activities all too frequently for more than two years. I have no recollection of the Maltese government ever announcing an "investigation".

D Phillips

Feb 16th 2010, 18:57

@TLM,
“Not all cultures are created equal” – It astounds me that anyone can be so arrogant as to make a statement like that. It is you who lives in a Never Never land fantasy world, thinking that this country can, on one hand can engage with the rest of world through the likes of EU membership, when it suits, and on the other lift the drawbridge, pull up the shutters and close off this little island to live in isolation. You love to throw up your little examples of where you claim the multiculturalism has failed, and pay no heed to the vast majority of situations where it is a success, where small minded people are in a, very small, minority.
I’m sure you will continue to take whatever statistics you like and interpret them in whichever way benefits your way of thinking, however illogical it may be.
Until people stop marginalising others there will always be problems, attitude like yours exacerbate these problems and thankfully that same attitude is slowly disappearing both here and abroad.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 16th 2010, 17:10

@sean grima,
Your basic problem is that you have a Peter Pan fantasy world view were you think all cultures can live together, were as in the real world they are not compatible to live near each other .
Not all cultures are created equal. Blogger have already told you many times over, it is not the skin colour it is the culture that is incompatible. The statistics and their interpretation are not arguable.
When you are being mugged on a Detroit street or any no go areas these cultures have created, are you going to tell yourself that you studied these cultures in depth and this cannot be happening? How naive are you, you invent things to excuse a non compatible culture, no matter what the older experienced people have told you. You are not convincing anyone sean.

sean grima

Feb 16th 2010, 08:39

i repeat that your basic problem is your warped view of black people as people without any culture, thereby wiping off entire continents and nations. there is no evidence that black people are more prone to crime only because of their skin colour - that is your simplistic interpretation of those statistics, trying to twist them to suit your arguments. this is nothing more than prejudice and stereotyping, which is the result of not studying a subject in depth but relying on perceptions.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 15th 2010, 15:28

@sean grima, The hard facts statistics by government agencies that you do not want to accept because they do not suit your Malta destroying agenda. So what is the excuse in the last 45 years of in the USA, affirmative action and quota hiring to benefit blacks and the lowering of scholastic standing so they can enter higher education institutions, complete with tax payer money grants to incite them to stay in school. They still commit seven and a half times more crime than any other group after all the advantages they been given over everyone else. Sean you are a thirty something year old living in Malta, who visited the UK and you think you know it all, try listening to your elders who have lived and worked for decades outside Malta , they will tell you the real story about your favorite people that you are so keen to burden Malta with. Your elders have walked the walk, you haven't !

Guze Xerri

Feb 15th 2010, 15:18

2) To Sean Grima, And your proposition of why Black lack behind, (centuries of discrimination and poor education) does not hold water either. Europeans under the Feudal System which went on for centuries were victims of class discrimination, left poor, over-taxed and uneducated by the Feudal Nobility, with the vast majority in Europe being serfs (read slaves) working the land of their Lords and Masters for just a subsistence existence. However, Europeans rose above their sufferings and inequities to go on and create modern Western civilization. So please, enough of your excuses!

Guze Xerri

Feb 15th 2010, 15:17

1) To Sean Grima, Dismissing the arguments of people who justifiably are concerned with ‘Big Brother’ governments imposing an elitist agenda from above, with the term “conspiracy theorists”, will not do. The word “conspiracy’ comes from the Latin “con-spirare”meaning to breath together as one.Any group/organization coming together for a common cause to further their own interests and that of their clan or social class is by definition a conspiracy.Therefore, by this definition, any group such as an Association, Union,Lobby or Organization is a Conspiracy. The word ‘theory’ is misleading here too, for it does not mean a conjecture but a proven fact, such as the Theory of Thermodynamics, the Theory of Relativity and the Theory of Gravity, all of which are proven scientific facts. ‘Conspiracy’ can be seen all around us, especially at work, where even humble wage earners will try to weasel a better deal for themselves, many times at the expense of co-workers. Yet you would have us believe that at the upper echelons of power, things occur by happenstance! That the elite do not work purely for their own self-interests and have the means, financial and political to get their agendas enacted.

sean grima

Feb 13th 2010, 13:30

we are now all aware of the conspiracy theories on which your arguments are based. the statistics quoted should be interpreted in the light of the fact that black people have suffered from centuries of discrimination, which is why they constitute the majority of the so called 'lower' classes, especially due to poor education. any attempt to justify racism on the basis of those statistics is superficial.

Raymond Cachia

Feb 12th 2010, 22:55

@Sean Grima

You stated:

“Your arguments are based on a stereo typed, prejudiced basis. anyone arguing that people have criminal tendencies because of the skin colour and race/ethnicity is not taken seriously in today's world.”

I have news for you. Stero-typing is what is used in Marketing research and compiling Statistics. Yet, you do not even want to believe the legitimate crime rate figures given by Law Enforcement and other governmental agency from different parts of the world, using such data.

By the way, Blacks end up in violence and crime not because of their skin colour or discrimination (in fact, a lot of "positive" discrimination has been institutionalized in most Western countries for a while now) BUT because of their culture and values.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 12th 2010, 20:08

@ sean grima,

Malta does not want them either. So what Ray Sammut is saying is correct - Libya is a perfectly safe country for these people. Why can Libya not agree to any Conventions and uphold international agreements and laws, yet it is included with the rank and file of "Democratic" countries, and is invited to attend high summits with former pariah Gaddafi partying with the likes of Berlusconi and other big wig, both from the EU and the US. I guess having oil and money is more important and trumps all other consideration, with our hypocritical world leaders.
So the Libyans do not want sub saharan illegal migrants who are for the most part their moslem brothers, in their vast and under populated nation, yet you seem to think that we maltese should except them all into our tiny over crowded 122 sq. mile nation.
Something does not add up here. Maybe the Libyans have figured out something that you have yet to figure out sean."

Guze Xerri

Feb 12th 2010, 19:08

To Sean Grima, I am well read on the subject that I am talking about young man, I been a student of this for many decades and I do not watch films, You have to live as long as I have sean and rub shoulder with the right people to know what is actually going on, the news media is not telling the real story. The vatican and Superior General Adolfo Nicolas are the prime movers and shakers in all this along with the SMOM and Grand Orient Lodge Freemasonry,( which Gaddafi is a member to ) are all in the hands of the mentioned superior general. The UN and their NGOs are part and parcel of the same cabal and is ushering their aims. Nothing happens in a vacuum, trust me on that. A lot of naive people are working for a new world order goal without ever being aware of it. They been brainwashed with a suicidal pie in the sky liberal agenda since they entered the school system at a young age. The elite, despite their rhetoric, are not call the elite for nothing, as they always favour their own race and kind.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 12th 2010, 16:59

@sean grima, "anyone arguing that people have criminal tendencies because of the skin colour and race/ethnicity is not taken seriously in today's world" Maybe in your make believe world sean. From the US Dept of Justice: "According to the latest US Department of Justice survey of crime victims, more than 6.6 million violent crimes (murder, rape, assault and robbery) are committed in the US each year, of which about 20 per cent, or 1.3 million, are inter-racial crimes. Most victims of race crime – about 90 per cent – are white, according to the survey "Highlights from 20 Years of Surveying Crime Victims," published in 1993. Almost 1 million white Americans were murdered, robbed, assaulted or raped by black Americans in 1992, compared with about 132,000 blacks who were murdered, robbed, assaulted or raped by whites, according to the same survey. Blacks thus committed 7.5 times more violent inter-racial crimes than whites even though the black population is only one-seventh the size of the white population. When these figures are adjusted on a per capita basis, they reveal an extraordinary disparity: blacks are committing more than 50 times the number of violent crimes of whites."

sean grima

Feb 12th 2010, 13:56

ray, the problem could be that libya does not want them in the first place. it is wrong to assume that libya looks at sub saharans in the same way as libya looks at us.

Raymond Sammut

Feb 12th 2010, 10:18

In the "National Institute Economic Review 2005 -- 194, 106", one can find the following note (Note 7):

Quote: "There are bilateral agreements between an EU state and a non-member state that provide for an asylum seeker to be sent back to the non-member state through which he or she
had transited. They have been heavily criticised for opening the door to serial refoulement." :Unquote -- Timothy J. Hatton

There are two issues here to consider:

1) The principle of "refoulement" is included in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. But in Malta's case, returning illegal immigrants to Libya (transit country) would not result in refoulement since Libya is neither a "war zone" nor a "disaster area" (Refoulement definition). In fact, Libya is a gainfully employing country, and no-one would be in a position to criticize Malta.

2) One has to ask whether the Gonzi government, over the past two years, has ever sought a bilateral agreement with the Tripoli government.

sean grima

Feb 12th 2010, 08:39

your comments are disgraceful and shameful, and an insult to average human intelligence.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 11th 2010, 17:00

@ Guze Xerri,
Thank you for pointing that out Mr. Xerri, it is far worse than any one can imagine, only South Africa tops them in the murder sweepstakes and Liberia is in the running.

sean grima

Feb 11th 2010, 16:20

your arguments are based on a stereo typed, prejudiced basis. anyone arguing that people have criminal tendencies because of the skin colour and race/ethnicity is not taken seriously in today's world.

Guze Xerri

Feb 11th 2010, 16:17

To Trevor Mizzi, that Jamaican murder rate is closer to 4 homicides per day in that tiny Caribbean nation that has been independent from Great Britain since 1962. And with only a population of way under 3 million people, mostly of african descent, that is an outrageous murder rate by anyones judgement, sad but unfortunately true. Oh the humanity.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1737306.stm http://www.first-magazine.net/2008/05/jamaicas-murder-rate-how-bad-does-it-have-to-get/

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 11th 2010, 15:27

Correction: actually the murder rate in Jamaica is closer to a shocking 28 murders per week in a nation of 2.7 million !!
http://www.first-magazine.net/2008/05/jamaicas-murder-rate-how-bad-does-it-have-to-get/

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 11th 2010, 14:58

@ sean grima,

In places like Sierra Leone, Liberia and other sub saharan african ALL there is is black africans. So now you are saying that the blacks discriminate amongst themselves and that is why their community and nation is always in shambles. These people have to take responsibility for themselves and do not need spokesmen like your self to excuse their self made inequities on other races. Even Jamaica is populated by 91.2% blacks and they also must discriminate amongst themselves according to your anti white, anti european logic, and that is why their murder rate is 5 per week.

sean grima

Feb 11th 2010, 14:36

perhaps the reason for the statistics you quote is that in spite of the official rules, the black community continued to be discriminated against. there is no empirical data to support your argument that having black skin equals being lazy or having criminal tendencies.

Mikiel Sciberras

Feb 11th 2010, 14:10

@Sean Grima

Have you ever lived in, Jamaica, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Detroit, Chicago, Compton in Los Angeles, the Malvern in Scarborough, Jane & Finch in Toronto, Bedford Stuyvesant in New York or any inner city in North America? If not, I invite you to a pleasant walk amongst your African friends in any of these areas.

No book reading will teach you more than an open-eyed visit to these districts. And the problem is not their skin colour either; it is the culture that they bring into a country. Namely absentee fathers who neither provide emotional or financial support to the many children that they produce from numerous partners. This in turn leads to children/youths growing up without positive role models. The result is an ever growing, geometrically increasing cycle of poverty/anger/despair leading to high crime rates and hosts of social ills. And no matter in which country these people are placed, the results are the same?

And this is not stereotyping either; this is statistics based and is glorified in Black pop-culture, especially Rap and Hip-Hop. Naturally, we all know exceptions; however the whole science of Marketing Research is based on categorizing/segmenting the behaviour of distinct groups

Raymond Cachia

Feb 11th 2010, 01:05

Dear Sean Grima

The Agenda is NOT dictated by common sense or the common good. When our own dear PM Trudeau in Canada started to build social housing in anticipation for the Black immigrants that were coming in from Jamaica. They already knew that these guys were not going to work two jobs, scrimp and save to put a down payment on a house like my parents and other European immigrants did.

Government also instituted laws to give Blacks an advantage, including a ‘first hire” policy for visible minorities, i.e. people of colour, got all the good paying Public Service jobs. The private sector was likewise instructed. Indeed some companies were afraid not to hire a Black person, even if they were not the best qualified, as they were afraid they would be facing a discrimination suit. It was hard going for those immigrants of European backgrounds and job adverts said outright ‘Whites need not apply”.

Now, forty years later, and even with these advantages, the Black community in Toronto, although they comprise less than 8.4% of the population are responsible for more than 35% of violent crime (Police statistics).

A secret “Agenda” more shocking than you can imagine.

sean grima

Feb 10th 2010, 10:23

before you open your mouths to spout most of the nonsense you write about africans, you should take some time to actually read, learn and study about african society, culture and anthropology. the agenda is dictated by common sense, the time it will take will depend on the attitude of both sides: maltese and african. i suggest you should ask the PM, not me, about his advisers.

Raymond Sammut

Feb 10th 2010, 09:38

@ sean grima --"the long term agenda is to achieve integration of these people into our society, which is the only way to avoid creating a sub culture/ghetto."

You clearly need to elaborate more on what you mean by "long term agenda". For example, who set the agenda? How long is "long term"? How did you come to know about the "agenda" and why do you think "it's the only way"? Who are the professional advisers to prime minister Dr Gonzi on the integration policy of this long term agenda? Can you name at least one such adviser? How is Dr Gonzi informing the PN, Parliament, and the general public on the ongoing progress of the integration process? How long will it take Dr Gonzi and his government to achieve the long term agenda?

sean grima

Feb 9th 2010, 19:35

@TL Mizzi: your racism knows no bounds? maltese people had over 10 kids regularly until a few decades ago! of course libya is safe for maltese! but not for sub-saharan people!!
@guze xerri: your comments, like those of TL Mizzi cannot be taken seriously. you are trying to spin a international plot between the church, NGOs, Africans and some governments which are hell bent on destroying europe. you probably watch too many films.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 9th 2010, 16:03

@sean grima,
These somalis have to start to rebuild their nation at some point, running away is not the answer, Malta was never a recipient of the Marshall plan as a British colony, we got war damage funds from Gt. Britain that is all. They, the muslims somalis do not have to be a sizable majority to cause the typical islamofascist trouble that is common to all nations where islam lives with an other religion, it is the nature of the beast. The Philippines and East Timor are a good examples. The fecundity of the Somalis is much greater that the maltese, they regularly have 8 to 10 kids especially when everything is paid for by the taxpayer in western christian lands(Go to St. Paul Minnesota and /or Toronto to see all this).Libya is NOT an unsafe country no matter how you want to spin all this, maltese people are coming and going to Libya all the time.You seem to just want to destroy Malta and its culture sean, why create a problem where none exists.

Guze Xerri

Feb 9th 2010, 15:13

To Sean Grima.
I lived the multicultural experiment for many decades and I can tell you it is a sham, a total failure, it is a clever plan by the elites to have the little man fight among other little men and they the elites hold on to power. Ghettos are naturally formed, I seen and experienced this myself, people like to live among their own kind, there is no enrichment, only rankle and distrust among different groups. Come to Dixon Road by the airport in Toronto and I will show you the Somali enclave and the apartment buildings they live in, fully subsidized by the tax payer while they live on welfare cheques. The idea of multiculturalism and a unified nation is an oxymoron, the Japanese and Chinese know this empirically. Amazing how the powers that be do not shove multiculturalism down their throats like they do to the western white nations.
The UNHCR is an arm of the vatican and this is all their masterplan and I would never believe their lies.

sean grima

Feb 9th 2010, 14:59

TL Mizzi:

1. you are trying to compare two incomparable situations - malta was at war for a few years, not the decades somalia has been involved in war, and had the right institutional setup, and a marshall plan, which enabled it to rebuild.
2. in theory there might be conflict between christian and muslims, but in practice the numbers are too small and will remain so in the forseeable future, notwithstanding your doomsday scenarios. your reasoning that because of a hypothetical conflict, they should be sent back to their unsafe countries is fallacious.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 9th 2010, 14:51

@sean grima,
The Somalis are very safe in Libya, and their muslim culture fits right in with the muslim Libyans. The Nigerian conflict between these two religions that you mentioned is reason enough not to inundate Malta with muslim Somalis, as that will be the future conflict with the maltese from the decedents of these muslim Somalis that to care so much about and want to flood Malta with more and more of them. Why create a future problem where non exists? Malta is not a place for immigrants of any kind, legal or illegal. It is way too small and with one of the highest population densities in the world. My parents never left Malta during the siege of the second world war, they toughed it out like a lot of other maltese, the Somalis better learn to solve their problems at home instead of bothering other people with their unwanted presence.

sean grima

Feb 9th 2010, 10:21

@Guze Xerri: cultures evolve throughout the ages, and benefit and are enriched by interacting with other cultures. i guess the people at UNHCR, the Refugee Commissioner etc are better equipped to decide whether Libya is 'safe' than your nephew! the long term agenda is to achieve integration of these people into our society, which is the only way to avoid creating a sub culture/ghetto.
@TL Mizzi: you might want to ask somalis why they did not leave before! i am sure that if you were in their place, you would patriotically remain in your country, ravaged by war, crime, famine etc to try and rebuild it!! the biafran people could not leave biafra because it was blockaded by the nigerian forces throughout the war, which is the reason why biafra ended up collapsing. interestingly, the biafran people were mainly the Igbo people/tribe. They live mostly in southern Nigeria, are mainly Christian, and are still discriminated against by the northen Hausa/Fulani, who are mainly Muslim and who occupy most of the top posts. Consequently, although southern Nigeria is rich in oil, most of the Nigerians who leave their country are Igbo people.

Guze Xerri

Feb 8th 2010, 18:25

To Sean Grima, The Somali people are very safe in Libya, My nephew just returned from Libya and the Somalis are are safe there as any body else. They find work there and no one miss treats them. You Mr. Grima sound like a JRS apologist who is willing to spread disinformation to justify flooding europe with sub saharans and muslims. What is the long term agenda? let me guess, it is to destroy homogeneous cultures in europe and nothing else, all under the guise of christian charity, admit it !

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 8th 2010, 16:05

@ sean grima, Yes they were and are safe and sound in Libya, they are there to work to save up money to pay for an illegal passage to Malta, ask any maltese who works in Libya,Somalis are seen working. Somalia has had other wars on its land and we never were inundated with them here back then, why now? How about the Nigerian-Biafran war of 1967-70, how come their people did not all flee to Malta back then, or in any war on that huge and rich continent called africa, as there is a war going on every year somewhere on that vast continent. Why Somalis, and why now? Somalis have to stay home and try to rebuild a stable gov't and homeland instead of bothering other people who do not want them thousands of miles away like the maltese. A few hundred in Malta is like tens of thousands in a place like the USA. It is too many for a 122 sq. mile overcrowded barren isle called Malta. It is not a sustainable situation, I know it and you know it.

sean grima

Feb 8th 2010, 14:45

Had no one bothered them, they would probably not have come here! you are basing yourself on the assumption that they were safe and sound. there has never been a question of accepting all the somali population: we only get a few hundreds here, ten of thousands go to other countries. After WWII (which did not last for decades like somalia's wars) successive governments sought to rebuild Malta. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Somalia, though I am sure these people would very much like it to be the case!

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 5th 2010, 16:55

@sean grima,
Somalia is a long ways away from Malta, these people were in Libya for years working there. They were safe and sound, no one bothered them, so now we are suppose to accept all the population of Somalia via Libya in Malta because they have a war.
Malta suffered greatly in WW 2 , we did not all invade mainland europe because things got bad in Malta .
Who are you trying to fool !

sean grima

Feb 5th 2010, 08:57

who are YOU trying to fool TL mizzi? how can you compare the situation in, say, somalia to the one in malta from which you left???
@ charles grixti: the underclass you mention would be created if people adopt your attitude to immigrants and turn their backs to them.

matthew tanti

Feb 4th 2010, 17:40

@charles grixti: of course it is none of your business whether other people have kids or not! they have as much as a say as you. tghid mhux hekk nibqghu!

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 4th 2010, 17:24

@sean grima,

The thousands that landed on our shore in small boats.. uncalled for and not wanted and without any papers are not legal immigrants, so way are you so keen to confuse the issue.
A tiny 122 sq. mile barren overcrowded island is not the place for immigration to.
Legal or illegal. Maltese immigrants went to countries that had a need for immigrants like Canada, the USA and Australia. We went there after many months of being vetted in Malta by gov't immigration officials of the countries we applied to go to. Police good conduct checks and health checks complete with chest x rays were mandatory. The selection was stringent , education and or a usable trade with qualification papers were looked at and noted.Once we landed in our host nation we were on our own and did not live on handouts and welfare services cheques from the tax payer of the host nation and there was NO free housing and free meals.
Any Landed Immigrant who fell foul of the law was deported to the country they came from.
Who are you trying to fool mr. grima?

D Phillips

Feb 4th 2010, 13:56

So far, apparently, we have
1st - European Union
2nd - Government
Now we'll add Maltese employers to the list.
Oppressing the Maltese people.
There's a conspiracy round every corner according to some.

Charles Grixti

Feb 4th 2010, 13:27

@Sean Grima

“I can assure you that some of the nicest people I have to know are African!”

But “niceness” has nothing whatsoever to do with it.

The fact is that Malta cannot sustain this influx of immigrants who all want to become permanent residents of Malta, with full rights of citizenship. Are you willing to cede your home, job and future to these people? The majority of Maltese are against this and will never accept it.

And as case after case where this ‘experiment’ has been played out, the results have always been sadly consistent the creation of a permanent and every growing underclass, social tensions, marginalisation, ghettoisation and a sharp rise in crimes. This has happened in country after country. Your living happily ever after “in perfect harmony” theory has not been borne out by experience.

And this is not ‘scaremongering’ and my doomsday scenario is based on empirical evidence.

sean grima

Feb 4th 2010, 13:21

@ray cachia: of course i do not agree that migrants should be paid less than maltese. however, the employers who offer them a lower salary (if that is really the case) are maltese, and such abuse should be curbed. however, it makes no sense to use this as an argument to repatriate migrants.
@charles grixti: i clearly stated that I plan to have children, God willing, and repeat that it is none of your business, as your situation is none of mine. Consequently your hysterical comments are out of place. if at all, you should be feeling guilty for wishing to deprive these people the chance to improve their lives.

Emma Xerri

Feb 4th 2010, 13:07

@Sean Grima

I am not looking to judge a person by their skin colour either. And I do have Black friends also.

But that is different than advocating for mass migration from Africa into Malta. Only a fool would think this is feasible.

And yes, one is able to judge how any cultural or ethnic group will behave. There are studies for example to see how well the Portuguese or Italian or Irish immigrants did in North America, especially the second generation of immigrants and there are big differences even within this "White" group, which all come from a European background.

Call it 'profiling' or call it good sense, but unfortunately, the problems that have already been elucidated by many bloggers here are based on facts and empirical evidence. We do not need any immigrants here, particularly African Immigrants.

This is all part of a global, Cabal, a well organized plan to break down any nation which is still homogenous. Only a few nations, like Japan, have resisted this and do not take in 'refugees'. They will not be made into a nation of immigrants and take their national identity and unity very seriously.

Raymond Cachia

Feb 4th 2010, 12:42

@ Sean Grima


The only real and permanent solution to the immigration problem that nobody is talking about is to stop the unchecked human population growth that is eating up our planet.

And that is why even such noble, but ultimately misguided efforts by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for example, to eradicate child mortality through mass vaccination will have the opposite effect and create more hunger, poverty and suffering if not done in tandem with a serious programme of birth and population control.

So unless you are one of those ‘self-hating’ Maltese (selling out Malta and their culture) or have vested interest, such as being an organization or company that might benefit from mass migration (either through 'skimming' of direct funds or contracts for works allocated for these “immigrants” or to use as cheap labour), then you should be against immigration in this country.



Disposable humans –more ‘gun fodder” more “factory and construction site fodder”, an endless stream of work-horses to be devoured into the greedy belly of the Capitalist beast.



It kind of makes one wonder on which side of the rich/poor divide, organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others are really on.

Raymond Cachia

Feb 4th 2010, 12:37

@Sean Grima


From your comments to Louise Vella, it appears that you are in with the insatiable capitalists, who will exploit these ‘immigrants’ and pay them less than the minimum wage (sort of like some sub-humans). Does that not conflict with your equality theory?

Ironically, it is these subsistence wages which will guarantee a rightfully angry and exploited underclass. Are you willing to be a participant in this type of wholesale exploitation?

Furthermore, there is no such a thing as a job that the Maltese do not want. If the employers were willing to pay a fair and equitable wage, the Maltese are more than ready and willing to work. But of course, the employers will never do that now that they have a steady stream of illegal immigrants whose poverty they can exploit to further enrich themselves.

Charles Grixti

Feb 4th 2010, 12:34

@Sean Grima

I have news for you. It is your children who will become then new immigrants as they will be uprooted from their ancestral home by the newcomers you are so keen to welcome into Malta.

Of course it matters whether one plans to have children. If one plans to remain childless then one would have a different vision of the world. It would be just their own immediate needs that really count for them, whether these needs be to naively and subconsciously assuage their guilt for being born white and in a relatively prosperous nation, or even to secure a place in the heaven for themselves in the after world, etc. (their selfish reasons vary from person to person, albeit always disguised as altruism and charity) - and do not have to think about what the future will hold for their children and descendants.

And not all will be intermarrying either, so your plans to turn the Maltese into a coloured African nation is not what is going to pan out. What is going to pan out is social chaos and upheaval.

So yes, your child/ren status counts and is 'our business' when evaluating such opinions like yours.

sean grima

Feb 4th 2010, 08:53

@joe fenech: i am in my 30s, and have live abroad for some time (UK). you rightly say that marrying into an african community is still looked down upon by some people. however, that shows the ignorance of the people doing the looking down!
@TL Mizzi: i happen to know some nigerian people. what you point out is precisely the reason why they left the place - and they did so legally i.e. with a visa. you are wrong to assume that Ghanians did not come here with a visa. after all, scores of maltese go abroad to find a job with a better salary, though malta is a stable democracy with a very decent standard of living.
@emma xerri: my relationship is one of friendship. all i am pointing out is that one cannot judge a person simply by looking at their skin colour or ethnic origin.

Emma Xerri

Feb 3rd 2010, 23:24

@Sean Grima

Just because either yourself or someone from your acquaintance has a ‘relationship’ with one of these ‘immigrants”, well then good luck to you or to them.

This however, should not make you the “poster boy” for mass immigration (legal or illegal) from Africa or elsewhere.

Peter Shaw

Feb 3rd 2010, 16:08

With Frontex in Malta, building contractors will have more emigrants to exploit and employ illegally.And with ETC doing nothing about this illegality;on the other hand bona fide unemployed (Maltese) registering regularly are stopped for petty issues.SHAME!

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 3rd 2010, 15:42

@sean grima,

" i do not move to lagos because these people are leaving the place!"
Ask yourself why they are leaving the place? It is the capital city of a very large and resource rich nation. Is it because of tribal violence along religious lines and the place is a chaotic mess like most of sub-saharan africa? What about Ghanaians , what is their reason for being in tiny Malta?
Ghana, a safe and rich nation known formerly as the Gold Coast, what is the problem there now?
Not too many free social services maybe? Sure seems alot of excuses for these illegals not to stay in their nation of birth and work hard to make their nations worth living in. And you Sean want to flood our tiny nation with these freeloaders and scammers. Yes, this tiny nation of your future children will be sure worth living in with this much imported genius, industriousness and tranquility, as can be seen in the countries these illegals came from.
Open your eyes for a change Sean.

Joe Fenech

Feb 3rd 2010, 13:59

Sean Grima:

I don't know how old you are, and in how many foreign countries you've lived and how many cultures you've lived with. Well, go to the big multicultural countries like France,UK , Germany...anyone native marrying into an African community is still looked down on.

Africa is a culture which won't change no matter how much efforts are made to help it evolve and get in touch with the 21st century.

Africa is a tribal continent, where sorcery, black magic and folk staff are still galore. People are racists in the sense that nothing else exists out of their tribe. They fight their neighbouring tribes let alone Westerners! In fact; go and see the problems their are with African gangs fighting against each other in the big cities!!! One needs to be worse that naive not to see it!!

Patrick Sacco

Feb 3rd 2010, 13:49

Repatriate them all. That is exactly what the absolute majority of us Maltese wants. As for me this is my motto for the coming General Election - No repatriation, No vote!

sean grima

Feb 3rd 2010, 12:41

@charles grixtI: you are a scaremongerer who is painting doomsday scenarios ("invasion!"). it is none of your business really but i am currently childless, though children are in my plans. and i would have no qualms if any of them were to fall in love with a person of a different ethnic/racial origin or skin colour. your talk of leaving malta "intact" proves it is you who are being naive!

Charles Grixti

Feb 3rd 2010, 04:24

@Sean Grima

Naive is the correct word to describe you.

I cannot fathom your reasoning or il(logic) to support such full scale invasion of your homeland. What do you think will happen in a few generations if these people are allowed to stay here? Do you think that your descendants will have a chance or will they be driven out by the new over-lords, that are coming in so meekly now? I think the latter scenario is a real and present danger and the one most likely to happen. But then it would be too late for you and your descendants, unless you are, and plan to remain, childless. In which case you have less right to speak for your fellow Maltese who would like to leave their country intact to their descendants.

Time will prove the wiser, but somehow I do not think it will be you Sean.

sean grima

Feb 2nd 2010, 22:49

@john azzopardi: who do you think you are calling me naive? i happen to pay taxes in the same way you do. wiser people than you wrote the refugee convention, since visas are not the most important thing in life - if someone needs protection, s/he should get it irrespective of the visa. i do not see how our fundamental human rights come into the picture - nobody is violating them.
@TL Mizzi: you fail to point out that the same report states that nother 5,677 were granted subsidiary and 17 temporary humanitarian protection, thus not making them economic migrants. i do not move to lagos because these people are leaving the place! otherwise, i can assure you that some of the nicest people i have to know are african!

Guze Xerri

Feb 2nd 2010, 22:25

To Sean Grima, You must be a complete foolish nave.
How dare you always go against your own countrymen and favour the illegal invader. Have you no love for your own land and its native born citizen.

S. Zahra

Feb 2nd 2010, 21:44

ic-cirasa fuq il-cake!

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 2nd 2010, 20:33

@sean grima,
The majority are economic illegal migrants and nothing more.
As reported in the Times of Jan 19th, 232 out of 10629 illegals were accepted as genuine refugees in 7 years !, See for yourself: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100119/local/few-migrants-accepted-as-refugees
122 sq. mile overcrowded Malta is not the place for immigrants of any kind.
Any honest government of any stripe can see that illegal migrants cannot keep coming here at infinitum. If you like to be surrounded by africans and/or their culture Sean, why not move to Lagos Nigeria, Mogadishu Somalia or Detroit Michigan and get your full dose.

Anthony Pace Gouder

Feb 2nd 2010, 19:23

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THESE REFUGEES TAKE SUCH A DANGEROUS VENTURE ,RISKING THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FAMILY'S , QUIT A "GOOD" JOB , AND TAKE A LEAP INTO THE UNKNOWN .

LIBYA RELIES HAVILY ON EXPATRIATE MANPOWER , AND THE COUNTRY , HAVING RICH OIL RESOURSES WITH VULNERABLE INSTALLATIONS CANNOT AFFORD CLANDESTINES RQAMING AROUND UNCHECKED !
LETS STOP KIDDING, THESE MIGRANTS LEGALLY ARRIVED IN LIBYA ON AT LEAST A MINIMAL ONE YEAR WORK CONTRACT,

AS THE HUNDREDS OF MALTESE WORKERS IN LIBYA CAN CONFIRM .

John Azzopardi

Feb 2nd 2010, 18:15

Sean Grima, you are a very naive man. Human rights begin at home. Where are our rights - that is the righs of the Maltese to allow only those that come in legally and not illegally. I ask you do you pay taxes. Hope you not some student out there and "so called peace loving person" to rarely contributes anything to the maltese tax regime.

sean grima

Feb 2nd 2010, 18:05

TL Mizzi's assertion is absurd and untrue. thousands of immigrants are granted refugee status or humanitarian protection, which does not make them economic migrants (and even if they were, it is no crime). the fact that other european states should assist more does not mean that we can send people who were lucky to survive a first boat trip back to the country from where they left!

A Abela

Feb 2nd 2010, 18:05

If this incident is not resolved, Malta should quite the European Union

Joe Fenech

Feb 2nd 2010, 17:40

Joss Galea: What do you mean by "prevent"?:

What do countries do when they get invaded?

Denis Catania

Feb 2nd 2010, 16:41

With these new rules, pulling out of Frontex is a must.

Mark-Anthony Fenech

Feb 2nd 2010, 15:35

@ sean grima: we are not responsible for the whole world, we must look to our own first...

Joss Galea

Feb 2nd 2010, 15:15

@Joe Fenech
What do you mean by "prevent"?

Joe Fenech

Feb 2nd 2010, 14:20

Do what Berlusconi (and even norman Lowell said before him): prevent them from coming into our waters. Problem solved!!!

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 2nd 2010, 14:17

Take them all back , by airplane or ship, what ever the cost.
These are all 98% economic illegal migrants who are pawns of the loyola society's plans of social engineering in european lands, all part of the continuing counter reformation agenda.
The maltese taxpayer has been taken for a ride for far too long.

Mike Magri

Feb 2nd 2010, 12:33

The most obvious answer is... PULL OUT OF FRONTEX

sean grima

Feb 2nd 2010, 10:32

@lgalea: who do you think you are, trying to shout down those who disagree with you? not only is it what i believe, but, more importantly, it is what the refugees commissioner believes! they can only leave malta out of their own free will, because the authorities will not succumb to the threats of extremists like you, and will act in accordance with international law! our fundamental human rights are not being violated because of the presence of migrants.

lgalea

Feb 2nd 2010, 09:28

sean grima Yes it does grima. DO you expect us to believe that there was not a single country through which they have been that was safe? Pull the other one sean, it's got bells on. So do you expect that we should continue lumping illegal immigrants? Keeping them here and not sending them back? NO WAY sean. They shall have to get OUT of Malta come what may. We also have OUR fundamental rights sean.

Lawrence Mifsud,Oscar Cassar,Mario Attard We need to pull out not only from AFFRONTEX but from the eu before it destroys us and Malta.

sean grima

Feb 2nd 2010, 08:33

@Chris Mifsud: the solution you are proposing is in violation of malta's international obligations. and there is a possibility that they may face death if they return, especially during the return boat trip - should we wait for proof of that i.e. for them to die? that is a callous suggestion.

@ louise - if immigrants are paid a lower wage, it is the maltese employers who offer that to them. they are mainly taking jobs which maltese do not want to do. the situation will not change if the party in government changes. thankfully the labout party has a more humane approach, as exemplified in this article. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100129/opinion/little-maltas-aid-to-africa

Anthony Pace Gouder

Feb 2nd 2010, 08:15

Bis -sahha ta' dawn l-immigranti hafna xoghol , l-aktar fll-kostruzzjoni , isir b'anqasspejjez u jigu frankati eluf ta'euro ! GHALLHEKK HAWN MINN QED JIEHU VANTAGG MIN DIN IS-SITWAZZJONI .Kemm f'Malta u pajjizi ohra fejn jirnexxilhom jaslu .

louise vella

Feb 2nd 2010, 07:07

Gonzi's weak government has invited this calamity.For years now he has been putting on his innocent look and making speeches indistinguishable from those of JRS. Not once has he reflected the anger and frustration of the common people of these islands at the creeping invasion of their country by illegal immigrants.

In the meantime another news item in timesofmalta.com tells us that the number of jobless Maltese has almost reached 12 000. Do we need illegal immigrants to compete for jobs with the 12 000 Maltese who are unemployed? Do we need illegal immigrants to undercut the wages and work conditions of the 12 000 Maltese who are looking for a job?

C.Zammit

Feb 2nd 2010, 00:47

We need a good party like Italy's lega nord. Sorry to mention then again as I like to do so when issues like these come up. http://www.leganord.org/
I like the way they tackle certain issues. In a town in Italy today they banned the burqa and other veils arabs wear, 500euro fine will be given to arabs who wear it.
OUR GOVERMENT HAS TO ACT!!!!!!!

Anthony Borg

Feb 1st 2010, 22:07

Our leaders (both political and religious) hide behind so called "christian values" when in reality our politicians are weak. I agree with Joe Camenzuli (We need a good strong statesman like Dom Mintoff): I do not have any sympathy for the antics of our former prime minister, but he was dauntless and unflinching when dealing with Lord Carrington...he WAS a leader - not afraid to make difficult decisions!

Joseph Brincat

Feb 1st 2010, 20:43

Come on, let's all pray for these poor human beings and GONZIPN.

joe camenzuli

Feb 1st 2010, 20:39

We need a good strong stateman like Dom Mintoff . Someone who can say to these illegals ' Don't get out of that boat, we will give you a supply of food , fuel, do not disembark but get on your way '. to hell with the rest of the world. Thats what Australia did and we should do like wise.

ray sacco

Feb 1st 2010, 19:23

all the misery that these poor desperate people are running away from is all europe's past empires fault. and now they want to put the burden on us, a little ex colonial island! britain, france, spain, italy and the rest raped africa for centuries. it's time for them to stand up to their obligations towards this continent instead of trying to brush off the blame for their dirty past blunders!

Jason Scerri

Feb 1st 2010, 19:15

@J Brincat I guess you have a good point there. I think this has much to do with last years problem between Malta and Italy, in which Malta had said that the immigrants should be taken at the nearest port. Well the nearest port was part of Italy in that case. I guess there is some politcal maneuvering going on. Our neighbour is a large country with a strong voice in Europe........ enough said!

a attard

Feb 1st 2010, 19:14

Frattini hard at work.............

Chris Mifsud

Feb 1st 2010, 17:43

@sean grima@ "the solution CAN NEVER be to send these people back to africa, facing possible death. any solution must respect their fundamental human rights, as rightly pointed out by tony borg" No! The ONLY solution is to send ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS back to the port they left from which in 99% of cases is Libya. I am sorry but there is no proof that they "face possible death" etc.. And even if so, they are NOT our responsibility and they should have thought of that before and not try and dump theirselves on us.

Rocco Camilleri

Feb 1st 2010, 17:31

Din jonqosna issa. Kienu jghidulna pajjiz tat-tielet dinja, u hekk se jgibuna jekk il-Gvern u l-opposizzjoni flimkien mhux se jiehduha bis-serjeta din il- problema. L-unjoni ewropeja qeda tqis l-interessi taghha biss. Jekk hemm bzonn nohorgu mill- Frontex.

A.Azzopardi

Feb 1st 2010, 17:24

CE LO ZAPPINO DI FRATTINI - ANZI NON CE DUBBIO. Pull out of Frontex and send the correct message. This is like Italy changed its view on the Tuna aspect - We must send a clear message to the EU, that if this is their brotherly support, than they can go to hell.

J.Pace

Feb 1st 2010, 16:38

Il-huta zghira qatt ma kielet il-kbira ... Mghandniex cans ingibhuha zewg ma L-Ewropa.. Mela jidhlu 1000 imigrant Malta u jihdu 50, imma laqwa li hadu ghax qed jghijnunha. Come on wake up !!!!!!!!!!

E. Azzopardi

Feb 1st 2010, 16:24

It is always possible to show them the way back after giving them food and water. Having said that, perhaps it is too late now. We should have acted convincingly years ago. We have been very weak.

Ernest Vella

Feb 1st 2010, 16:15

If these are the conditions, we must leave immediatly....let the countries who created this mess solve them now...they raped there countries and than left them...and now they want us to take over their mess...no way. We respect human dignity, but if they don't respect us why should we respect them...we are not afraid alhtough they are bigger countries...the big brothers are warned

sean grima

Feb 1st 2010, 16:08

@sander: we should not make these poor people pay for the sins of their governments. they are the people without a voice, we should not make them the scapegoats for the attitude which other european countries are showing towards malta. neither should we panic and renege on our international obligations which put us amongst the serious international states. we should not focus this 'anger' against these people who are seeking to improve their condition, but use it to stand firm and refute these proposed guidelines, by means of our able diplomats.

c. camilleri

Feb 1st 2010, 15:51

Malta should be tough and leave Frontex. WE should do what is best for Malta and return all the refugees back to their countries. We have been taken for a ride for too long. If necessary we should do it alone. We are fed up with all these strangers roaming in our towns and villages.

louise vella

Feb 1st 2010, 15:43

Gonzi's weak government has invited this calamity. For years now he has been putting on his innocent look and making speeches indistinguishable from those of JRS. Not once has he reflected the anger and frustration of the common people of these islands at the creeping invasion of their country by illegal African immigrants coming by boat from Libya. In the meantime another news item in timesofmalta.com tells us that the number of jobless Maltese has almost reached 12 000. Do we need illegal immigrants to compete for jobs with the 12 000 Maltese who are unemployed? Do we need illegal immigrants to undercut the wages and work conditions of the 12 000 Maltese who are looking for a job?

anthea doughty

Feb 1st 2010, 15:42

The feelings and resentments you are experiencing are being felt all over Europe! From here in the UK, to France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands etc, indiginous peoples are totally disillusioned,, disheartened and fed up. I know of not one person who is for the EU!!!!! I do now know much about politics, would not pretend to, but treaties/conventions etc that were signed decades ago are not apt for the world we live in today. African governemnts are NEVER going to oblige. They are run by governments that are corrupt to the very core who embezzle millions out of their countries yet we are all expected to aid these nations decade after decade after decade. If I had my way all borders for all European countries would now be SHUT!!! This would also mean no freedom of movement within European countries either, we in Britain are inundated with Portuguese, Poles, Romanians, Lithuanians and on and on and on, taking up jobs and housing in our recession times. I hope Malta stays objected to the new Frontex rules, you have taken far more people already than you can even cope with. Close your borders now, defend them with all your might.

Louis Gialanze

Feb 1st 2010, 15:41

The chances are that the horizontally challenged swede has something to do with this. She will be stepping into Jacques Barrot's shoes and we can expect more of the same in time to come. Ghaddafi's coming visit to Malta ought to serve as a strong message to the EU commission. Malta has had enough and it is the ripe time to make our own arrangements for the repatriation of the illegal immigrants.

Jimmy Magro

Feb 1st 2010, 15:37

@Evarist Saliba "If not, our MEP's should ferret out this information so that we will know who are Malta's enemies." European UNION, and we still have enemies from the inside? What would happen if there was no union: would they come and colonise us again? Next time we will be talking about the axis of evil too.

Alexander Morana

Feb 1st 2010, 15:29

I wonder what LP and Joseph Muscat has to say about this? So far we only hear complete silence.

Mario Attard

Feb 1st 2010, 15:02

PULL OUT FROM FRONTEX NOW!

It is crystal clear that tiny Malta is being changed into one big concentration camp! All those who escape from here, are sent back and end up in prison. Wake up Malta.

Joseph Sammut

Feb 1st 2010, 14:59

not so good joining the union now Malta is to small we have to do what we are told,let`s hope the goverment stand up to European Parliament,and get out of frontex Now

Anthony Pace Gouder

Feb 1st 2010, 14:54

Why all this tumult , and needless worry about illegal immegration when the Berlusconi Government has consolidated a bilateral Agreement with Libya . Millions of Euro in Assistance along with a number of Patrol Boats and latest technology Radar Stations, were donated by the Italians for the sole purpose to this Problem . The Territorial Waters are incessantly PATROLLED by naval units of the two countries .
Besides , the Libyan Govt. will be investing One thousand three hundred million euro in Tanks and Aircraft to fortify terrestial and aerial survaillance . So Frontex is again rendered useless !

J Brincat

Feb 1st 2010, 14:22

Lo & behold we have frightened Frontex!!!!

Sometimes I have the ucanny feeling that we are so minute that we are taken for a ride.

Oscar Cassar

Feb 1st 2010, 14:16

Pull out of Frontex.

Mark Galea

Feb 1st 2010, 14:16

I agree with everybody saying that it is not right for FRONTEX to land immigrants to the country hosting FRONTEX. However, I ask a different question to those writing below trying to take political advantage - What is the postion of socialist international and PL on immigrants?

Kenneth Galea

Feb 1st 2010, 14:05

It is too late to show the anger now Dr Gonzi and Dr Carm!!! You are both responsible for this mess because you should have put down your foot right from the beginning. You should NOT have accepted the first boatload of illegals on our shores regardless of what the UNHCR says. Malta is now paying the price for the mistakes which our Government made. These illegals have NO right to leave Libya which is perfectly safe and stable.

Raymond Sammut

Feb 1st 2010, 13:50

"...should Malta host a Frontex mission, as it has done in the past two years..." Who in Malta had decided that Malta hosts the "Frontex mission" for two years? Who, presently, is hosting the "Frontex mission"?

What are the repercussions for Malta here once they build the Asylum Office in Marsa? Why Dr Gonzi is still sitting in Castille after thousands of illegal aliens kept entering Malta virtually with impunity over these two years while he kept hosting the "Frontex mission" -- which is headquartered in Poland?

No point in Gonzi making a big issue about the "nearest port" rule. This is an illegal activity, and thanks to his "christian values" he never made any effort to stem it. If the PN are not going to get themselves a new leader, this issue will continue to haunt them and they will have trouble retaining government.

Evarist Saliba

Feb 1st 2010, 13:38

To those who miss no opportunity to criticise government, please note that Malta has not accepted, and has shown no readiness to accept, the proposal that Frontex should take migrants picked up at sea to the country where Frontex is based, if they cannot be taken to the country from which they started the sea journey. I am sure that Maltese MEP need no encouragement to take the same position.

The responsibility for this guideline must not be hidden behind an anonymous European Council. It must rest with the indivdual officers who made the proposal and others who agreed with it. They shouldhave the courage to identify themselves and justify their proposal. If not, our MEP's should ferret out this information so that we will know who are Malta's enemies. It needs no Solomon to arrive at the conclusion that someone wants Malta to pay dearly for hosting Frontex. Frontex is an EU body and its accountability is to the EU and not to the member state from which it operates.

Carmel Cilia

Feb 1st 2010, 13:02

To hell with international obligations to the letter if this means flooding our island with illigal immigrants. I think the government is threading on the edge of a razor blade. The authorities ought to know that the vast majority of the Maltese are against this influx of Africans coming into the island as if it were their back yard. I am sure the maltese people will say enough is enough and to hell with our politicians. Malta is for the Maltese.

Sander Depasquale

Feb 1st 2010, 12:45

@Sean Grima
You are reasoning like an extreme leftist! The European governments have been trying for ages to push the African governments to do their job for ages. But the African governments are not going to oblige, on the contrary they see it as intrusion in the internal political affairs of their countries.

Furthermore the African governments encourage immigrants to leave their country because they see these people as a source of income from the west. The majority of african coming to our countries are male and they send their money home to the afrtican banks. The government help himself by taxing this money and source corruption and their personal perks while leaving the people in poverty.

The best way to force the african governments to move is by sending the immigrants back so that they will force the government to change his ways! Problems should be tackled by the african people themselves not by westerners. Yes send the financial immigrants back!

louise vella

Feb 1st 2010, 12:41

In vino veritas. Frattini must have been drunk when he said that Malta and Cyprus should become large detention centres for African illegal immigrants coming from Libya. It was the only time a European politician ever told us what was truthfully in his mind.

In the meantime all Dr Gonzi's sermons about Christian values have landed Malta into ever greater trouble. He did not convince the Maltese and he convinced the EU even less. It's time Dr Gonzi showed some leadership and assured the common people of this country that he will put Malta's national interest before all considerations - including the interests of his beloved NGOs.

louise vella

Feb 1st 2010, 12:29

Frontex should have the mission to push back the boats to where they came from. It should not be a ferry service for illegal immigrants from the Libyan coast to Europe. Those do-gooder countries wanting to take illegal immigrants should go and pick them up directly from Libya, or perhaps start by taking some of our unwanted immigrants.

Joe Micallef

Feb 1st 2010, 12:20

I suppose everybody knows the saying NO BODY GIVE YOU ANYTHING FOR NOTHING if anybody thought that the EU gives you money for nothing it"s about time the people of Malta wake up to the EU tricks and if anybody think that the EU is going to bother what Malta say what this tiny Island can do on it:s own so they throw any think they want especially with a week government unless the people start showing the EU by protesting this is something which all the community should get involved it does not matter what government is running the country it is something that every body is going to suffer because they are taking the country from under their feet.

Lawrence Mifsud

Feb 1st 2010, 12:14

PULL OUT OF FRONTEX, before EU countries drive us out of our homeland. We can still lend a helping hand, BUT AND ONLY, on our terms.

Andrew Calleja

Feb 1st 2010, 12:13

@all complaining and the government

Wake up and smell the coffee guys . . . this is an opportunity that shouldn't be missed! It's really the solution to all our problems!!

Let another country host the Frontex mission and burden itself with the new regulations being proposed. I quote "The guidelines say that if it is not possible to return migrants picked up by Frontex vessels to the country they left from, they must be sent to the country hosting the Frontex mission."

We can sit back and when the boats arrive send them over to the Frontex host bases!!!

Everyone must be blind not to see the opportunity here . . . I always wonder if there's any gray matter in our leaders heads!!!

fbonello

Feb 1st 2010, 12:10

Where is our government and our MEP's?

Etienne Bonanno

Feb 1st 2010, 11:58

Ehm...hello? Refuse to host any more Frontex missions. Problem solved. What's the big deal? This may be the best piece of news for us if we can exploit the new regulations.

M.Caruana

Feb 1st 2010, 11:57

The EU is telling malta, join Frontex and lump it with all immigrants now coming to malta or get out of Frontex but dont come knocking on our door complaining about illegal immigrants.

Perfect catch 22 - Thank you EU - Thankfully we do having voting power on other things.

MBorg

Feb 1st 2010, 11:45

The rules changed . pull out now before it is too late. Malta must not host the Frontex mission, nothing good for Malta will ever come out of it.

Joanne Micallef

Feb 1st 2010, 11:45

For very obvious reasons Italy wants to limit it’s arrivals to only those who manage to make it there on their own. I hope that the government will not give in and if it comes to it PULL OUT OF FRONTEX.
By proposing this we have yet another confirmation how no country is really interested in the faith of this tiny island, as no one who has any common sense would propose to burden further this already over populated rock .

I. Vella

Feb 1st 2010, 11:21

@d.borg - I always read with interest and agree with you 100%. please do take care of oli.

T Pace

Feb 1st 2010, 11:18

It appears that some wise guy wants to play a fast one and stab Malta in the back. The government must show that we are wiser and immediately put the hosting of the Frontex mission on hold.

All Maltese except some quislings stand four square behind the government.

C.ZARB

Feb 1st 2010, 11:14

Well done Simon Busuttil and his frontex idea. What's next? Should we sent ferry boats to act as 'deterrent' for illegal immigration?

John Micallef

Feb 1st 2010, 10:46

@ john Pisani.
Mela mhux bhal ma qalu in Net u l-PBS habib!!

Ramon Casha

Feb 1st 2010, 10:41

Protesting is not enough. Malta's armed forces should be prepared to physically prevent the approach of any vessels that have brought immigrants in from the vicinity of any other country. Make it clear that the new guidelines have been rejected... that "this is not a request". We will do our share - accepting any boats taken nearest to Malta, but not everybody from Spain to Turkey.

Ilian Cilia

Feb 1st 2010, 10:22

I hope the Government will step up to the game this time and stop paying lip service to the successful burden sharing thanks to Frontex.

Charles Caligari Conti

Feb 1st 2010, 10:19

I wonder what the reaction would be if (say) Italy was hosting Frontex... I wonder. What I say is just play the game >> Europe is leaving us no alternative but not to host the Frontex mission.

m azzopardi

Feb 1st 2010, 10:02

mhux hekk nibqaw.... we take all the migrants in because we are hosting the frontex!!!! u HALLUNA!!!

sean grima

Feb 1st 2010, 09:53

@lgalea. nowhere does the convention oblige anyone to seek asylum in the first country they reach. reason being that even that country may be unsafe!

i reiterate that whilst it is unfair for malta to have to take all immigrants, the solution CAN NEVER be to send these people back to africa, facing possible death. any solution must respect their fundamental human rights, as rightly pointed out by tony borg

d. borg

Feb 1st 2010, 09:46

Our govt better wake up before spring comes. Pull out of Frontex fast and let EU know that we are not accepting any forced landing of immigrants. We do not want any immigrants and the Maltese people should organise protests and make their voices heard so that our EU 'FRIENDS' will know that we are not accepting being taken for anymore rides.

john micallef

Feb 1st 2010, 09:44

does the EU really want to solve this issue? or does it want to create a greater one? can someone tell me / us with frontex is doing? is it a deterrant to illegal migrant or is it a water taxi service to malta / eu?

D. Scerri

Feb 1st 2010, 09:40

This is EU Solidarity at its utmost. Malta should pull out of this arrangement as otherwise it will mean these poor souls will end up stranded here increasing the burden on our country. The government should take a firm stand.

J Theuma

Feb 1st 2010, 09:36

Summary: We never had and will never get any help from the EU. Malta will alway struggle on its own.

Lawrence

Feb 1st 2010, 09:35

hello Malta why are you complaining so much did you really belived that europe where going to help Malta this is the only nation that belives in harry potter no wonder how the nationalist party allways fooled you now you have to deal on what you wanted to join europe for and this is part of it to now deal with it Malta is not for maltese only anymore no matter what you say or do to decide on certain things in your own country now you need to consult with others and if they agree it's there chioce so good luck for the future

Paul Barrett

Feb 1st 2010, 09:32

With this sort of attitude, Frontex is a total farce, waste of money and resources.
We are not dealing with migration, we are dealing with invasion. Wake up Europe and smell the coffee.

John Pisani

Feb 1st 2010, 09:25

@ John Micallef
Bhala gurnalist li ilhi nsegwi l-operazzjonjiet tal-Frontex, mill-bidunett kont ghidt li l-Frontex mhi xejn hlief FJASK U FARSA u qeghda hemm biss biex isservi ta' Agenzija tal-ivvjagar ghal uhud mill-fizzjali fl-UE. Araw din il-url http://johnpisani.net/kronaka/?p=835 li jien kont ktibt fit-22 ta' Gunju 2008 u anke ohrajn.
Imsieken is-suldati Maltin u l-poplu Malti

P Grech

Feb 1st 2010, 09:13

@Joe Grima
Sirt qisek is-Super One. With the slightest hint of bad news for the Govt you are here commenting - when they turn it around or announce good news you are nowhere to be seen.

Muscat. Pat

Feb 1st 2010, 09:12

PN apologists preach to us,( lesser mortals with unrefined and undiplomatic minds) that "stomping your feet" as Joseph Muscat is doing, would not get Malta any results ! But the truth is that Dr Gonzi's lack of leadership (both at home and abroad) is breaking Malta's back.
The EU knows that Dr Gonzi is a weak leader, and therefore it is changing the goal posts in the middle of the game. The EU knows that Gonzi will accept anything that it will throw at him. He is in no position to bargain, the deficit is out of control and he needs EU "extension help. Dr Gonzi's failure to grapple as fast and as single-mindedly with the "illegal immigrants " saga, is going to cost Malta dear.
Yes, Malta needs its dignity back, and as Maltese history has shown,a "yes" man, like Dr Gonzi, will not, am afraid, retrieve it back to us.

lgalea

Feb 1st 2010, 09:04

sean grima
For your information international law is changed by states disobeying it and we need to do whatever is necessary to stop the illegal immigrants invasion whether you and your ilk like it or not. I also suggest tat you read the Refugee Convention and see what it says sean. First of all it the Maltese government should put back the reservations that Dr Gorg Borg Olivier had made when he signed the Convention which the eu petty dictators made the lackey EFA repeal and then prevent any illegal immigrants from landing in Malta and tow them back to Libyan waters. For your information, no one can claim asylum or any other protection except in the first country he arrives in after leavign his own country. So don't try to make us believe that the illegal immigrants who have crossed several countries did not apply and only apply in Malta. This also shows that not only the eu petty dictators made the Government repeal the reservations, but wants to turn Malta into an open illegal immigrants centre as had been stated by Frattini. With friends like these who needs enemies.

Anthony Borg

Feb 1st 2010, 08:59

Quote: "Malta has always insisted that migrants rescued on the high-seas should be taken to the nearest port." Bless their silly hearts! And where are these "nearest ports" in the Mediterranean?
Lampedusa, Malta and Sicily!

Instead if these silly guidelines, the European Council should put forward draft legislation that all EU countries should share in this burden, whether they have a "port in the Mediterranean" or not.

P.S. May I suggest to fellow commentators to use the English language: “The Times” is read by many abroad and your comments will be much more appreciated if they are read and understood.

J Farrugia

Feb 1st 2010, 08:56

Throw Frontex out of our country. We dont need Frontex. This agency is working against our national interests. So we dont need it.

Charles Zammit

Feb 1st 2010, 08:48

@ Joe Grima

You said it all.

What happened to the much vaunted voluntary burden sharing of illegal immigrants? Is Malta the dump site of Europe in the eyes of our Eurofriends!!!??? Is this what Europe means by solidarity?

Richard Galea

Feb 1st 2010, 08:46

But we should have preferential treatment from the rest of Europeans......after all our moral values are higher than any other European country.......we are the real goodies!!!

Paul Xuereb

Feb 1st 2010, 08:41

First the asylum agency, now this and next 100 Million worth of EU funds to develop Malta in a gigantic detention center. Get up guys we're slowly being turned into a penal colony!

Anthony Borg

Feb 1st 2010, 08:39

What a shambles the EU is! I no longer laugh at those that opposed our membership in the EU.
This single problem of Illegal Immigration (Oh, stop calling it by any other name!) is enough for us to pull out.

Of course this will never happen, and we must kowtow to the whims of the bigger states in the EU. How much have other EU States helped us shoulder this problem? They take a few 100’s and make headlines of it.

I don’t see anything positive in this flow of immigrants to our small habitat. We must put a stop to it now. Show some guts will you Mr. Govern-ment! Stop tackling issues as they hit us...tackle them beforehand.

tony abela

Feb 1st 2010, 08:38

While I admit that a solution to illegal immigrants should be found as early as possible, I am puzzled with the fact that it appears that EU is going against the UN and its own Resolutions regarding human rights and those of refugees by opting first and foremost to return all immigrants to their country they left from.

What's the use to sign different Charters and do not abide by them.

Mario Micallef

Feb 1st 2010, 08:35

Another prediction made in the past by Mr Norman Lowell which will become reality! Well Done!

e busuttil

Feb 1st 2010, 08:35

Burden Sharing my foot!!!!!!!!
Better adopt the same policy as the Italians have done.
At least it has shown to be effective.

sean grima

Feb 1st 2010, 08:27

According to international law, one cannot return such people to the port of origin unless it is safe. HOWEVER, it would be unfair for one country to take all the 'burden', consequently, Malta should insist on the nearest port of call rule. Hopefully, Maltese MEPs, representing the country which is closest to Africa, will use this situation to put further pressure on the EU to be less egocentric, and use it economic power to help the African peoples, by pushing their governments to do their job.

john Micallef

Feb 1st 2010, 08:25

ma nifhimx jien! smajna tant fl-ahbarijiet li Frontex kienet succes enormi. Jista xi hadd jiluminana liema verzjoni nemmnu jekk joghgobkom?


Grazzi

Joe Grima

Feb 1st 2010, 08:19

With Eurofriends like these who needs enemies? M'humiex egoisti ukoll!