'Migration is opportunity, not threat' - Jesuit director

sean grima

Mar 5th 2010, 13:24

how you can connect the Gulf of Tonkin incident with African immigrants is beyond reasonable comprehension. yours is a geriatric opinion which is shared by numbers which are thankfully always diminishing.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Mar 1st 2010, 21:58

Grow up sean grima, what Mikiel Sciberras is saying is fact, go look it up your self.
for example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_Incident
You do have your head in the sand with your hind quarters for the taking as Mikiel says.
Maybe you enjoy that position, but others do not.

Guze Xerri

Mar 1st 2010, 21:45

To Sean Grima,
I would rather have Mr. Sciberras teach us history any day, as what he says is true and is proven. Better than your cartoon fairy tale version of history.
Step into the real world for a change Sean, you are fooling no one.

sean grima

Mar 1st 2010, 06:51

i guess mikiel sciberras will be teaching us history!! or maybe science fiction? reading your comments is like reading a dan brown novel!!

Raymond Cachia

Feb 28th 2010, 18:10

@D. Philips

I am a working man and know on which side my bread is buttered. My loyalties are with the Socialists, the true ones, not the fake ones we have in the EU right now.

I am able to separate the chafe from the wheat enough to know that “multiculturalism” is a fascist agenda and a Right-wing plot. Although the Right Wing pay lip service to being anti-immigrant, to lull the people into thinking that there is someone working for their interest, from the back door they and their friends let in immigrants as fast as they can. This will serve them well - to man with cheap labour their corporate friends' companies, destroy the working class's bargaining power and Unions and the decent wages and benefits won through hard struggles in the past, and last but not least to install a dictatorial fascist Police State when the inevitable civil unrest that they have planted starts to bear fruit.

The Daily Mail is exposing the duplicitous nature of our politicians and that yes, in fact they are involved in "Conspiracies' against their own citizens.

D Phillips

Feb 27th 2010, 22:12

@Raymond Cachia,
“Opinion Polls taken in Britain and other countries overwhelmingly show that the vast majority of people are against multiculturalism and the foreign immigrants and refugees that are hoisted on them without their consent”. The Daily Mail writes an article about having more control on immigration and you translate that into ”the majority are against multi-culturalism. Read what is written in the article Joe, rather than what you want to see. Of course you know what the Mails political leanings are don’t you? Or do you?
Credibility Raymond. Something that is sadly lacking in your ideas.

Mikiel Sciberras

Feb 27th 2010, 17:12

Sur D.Philips

If you do not believe in ‘Government Conspiracies’ then you do not know your history.

Governments have always been involved in secret ‘red flag’ operations against other nations and their own citizens to advance secret agendas, without their peoples' consent or knowledge: -

The purported bombing of the USS “Maine” by Spain (Spanish-American War)

The sinking of the passenger liner “Lusitania” (World War 1) purposely sent with passengers and ammunition in U-Boat infested waters.

“Surprise” Attack on Pearl Harbour – (World War 11) despite proven foreknowledge by U.S. intelligence.

The fabricated Gulf of Tonkin incident – (Vietnam War)

In more recent times, the Iran-Contra Scandal, Operation ‘Gladio and P2 (involving top government officials), numerous medical/biochemical experiments carried out on civilian populations (Tuskegee 1932-1972), WMD in Iraq and the list goes on. Thousands of civilians lost their lives in these “government-sponsored” incidents.

One can easily win an argument by the simple expedience of denying the truth. This the choice made by those that cannot face facts and have their cherished world views and beliefs challenged. However, not everyone chooses to behave like an ostrich and stick their heads in the sand, with their hind quarters up for the taking!

Raymond Cachia

Feb 27th 2010, 15:57

@DPhilips

“Conspiracy, normally government-orientated, round every corner.”

Daily Mail, UK. – 25-02-2010

“Mass-immigration into Britain part of secret government program to deliberately change ethnic composition of the country.

Of all the issues of concern to the public, immigration is possibly the most explosive - and the one about which the most lies are continuing to be told.

Mass immigration has simply changed the face of Britain. The total number of immigrants since 1997 is pushing three million.

Ministers claim that immigration policy is driven principally to help the economy.

Well, now we know for a certainty that this is not true. The Government embarked on a policy of mass immigration to change Britain into a multicultural society - and they kept this momentous aim secret from the people whose votes they sought.

Worse still, they did this knowing it ran directly counter to the wishes of those voters, whose concerns about immigration they dismissed as racist; and they further concealed official warnings that large-scale immigration would bring about significant increases in crime.

Ministers, however, went to great lengths to keep their real intentions secret from the public; - since they knew their core white working-class voters would react very badly.”

Charles Grixti

Feb 27th 2010, 15:53

@Sean Grima
You accuse those that are anti-immigration as also anti (Church, EU, PN), in other words anti-Establishment. You believe that the “Establishment” is working for the good of the common man and not for their own “Privileged Classes”?

There are no political parties left, just the same product packaged under different labels to give the illusion of a democratic choice. In reality, they all report to the same pay-masters. You will find that there are no meaningful policy differences between the PN and PL.

In Britain, Labour was infiltrated and taken over by Blair, a known Opus Dei (a right wing secretive religious organization) supporter. A book recently came out that explains how Blair was recruited at a young age and groomed to take over the old Labour Party in Britain. This explains why Blair backed George W. Bush in his “War on Terror”, including the invasion of Iraq and whole-heartedly favoured the Chicago School of Economics policies or “Fundamentalist Capitalism”, all of which made hundreds of billions of dollars for the Cabal, and which eventually let to the global financial meltdown, and the creation of an impoverished underclass all over the world.

Raymond Cachia

Feb 27th 2010, 15:46

@D. Philips

If you cannot counter an argument with anything intelligent, you make fun of a person like he was insane and the butt of jokes. Well, the joke is on you and those like-minded!

The "old generation" have the experience to see that the dumbed-down, media controlled drones of today's generation have been brainwashed to believe everything that is told them by the Media, coupled with a psychological inability to connect the dots.

The recipe for manufacturing public consent, even for things that go blatantly against the public good, things that would ordinarily never be accepted by a thinking public, were written in a Machiavellian manual, (not for public consumption - but only for those in Power) by Edward Bernays, in his book "Propaganda". In it he acknowledges the debt owned to the Catholic Church as a pioneer in the art of mass mind control techniques. Beryays was adviser to American Presidents, World Leaders and CEO of conglomerates and multinational corporations right up to the time he died in 1995.

The world this generation will inherit is already spelled out - a stratified societal nightmare, a Police State run solely for the benefit of the ultra-wealthy few. Enjoy!

D Phillips

Feb 26th 2010, 19:32

@Raymond Cachia,
You see a conspiracy, normally government orientated, round every corner.
“Opinion Polls taken in Britain and other countries overwhelmingly show that the vast majority of people are against multiculturalism and the foreign immigrants and refugees that are hoisted on them without their consent” Please do enlighten us as too which opinion poll this would be, I assume you do have a specific source?
“And by the way a couple of months to Britain does not make one an expert in multiculturalism either. First spend at least 40 years seeing the wonders of so-called “multiculturalism” eat a society from within, then speak to me.” The problem with these kind of statements is there is always going to be someone with more experience of a particular scenario than you. Your ideas are those of a generation about to end, thankfully so.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 26th 2010, 19:27

@sean grima,

"what is funny to see is that the people pushing the anti immigrant agenda are also anti Church, anti PN, anti EU "

The connection with the PN and the EU is that they are all heavily connected to the roman church and do its bidding for its plan for unwarranted social engineering to benefit its self and the new world order elite. And do not for a moment think that this is PL vs PN, all major political parties are under the influence of the church, if they were not, they would not have gotten very far. It is always create two supposedly opposite sides for mass consumption , but control both of them.

sean grima

Feb 26th 2010, 17:50

@ray cachia: you views are equivalent to a james bond movie - you see conspiracies and plots in everything. the electorate could have voted for an anti immigrant party at the last election, but overwhemingly chose not to do so. your attempts to push an anti-immigrant agenda to the forefront has failed as none of the serious political parties has adopted such a stance.

Raymond Cachia

Feb 26th 2010, 15:08

There is also a growing body of evidence that the Omaha bomber, a US citizen, was part of another “Reichstag fire”, an inside job, planned by the Establishment Cabal.

And do not feel so ‘smug’ just because “Anti-Immigration” protests are not well attending, for this is misleading in the extreme.

Opinion Polls taken in Britain and other countries overwhelmingly show that the vast majority of people are against multiculturalism and the foreign immigrants and refugees that are hoisted on them without their consent, by an increasingly arrogant Political Class that has long ago ceased to represent them. Many quiet and decent people in Malta too are secretly seething with rage, at this gross betrayal of trust by their leaders.

And by the way a couple of months to Britain does not make one an expert in multiculturalism either. First spend at least 40 years seeing the wonders of so-called “multiculturalism” eat a society from within, then speak to me.

sean grima

Feb 25th 2010, 21:37

what is funny to see is that the people pushing the anti immigrant agenda are also anti Church, anti PN, anti EU - the "anti", negative people. the examples charles grixti mentions are the exception to the general rule that people do tend to blend in in spite of different cultural backgrounds. have you forgotten the omagh bomber who was a US citizen? you are a very stark minority, as demonstrated by the poor attendance at an anti-immigration rally held a few years ago.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 25th 2010, 19:51

@sean grima,
"african invasion plan"? do you really think that the africans here want to invade malta? they are only interested in improving their individual condition!"

A larger and wealthier nation called Italy seems to think it is an invasion.
That is why it sent boatloads back to Libya and passed laws to make illegal immigration a crime no matter what the Brussels/vatican/ UN syndicate says or does.
The italian police were not wielding roses to the monkeyshines happening at the Rosarno riot.
Africans have to improve their individual conditions in africa where they belong and not in europe by unwanted entry and sponging off the european taxpayer.

sean grima

Feb 25th 2010, 12:58

"african invasion plan"? do you really think that the africans here want to invade malta? they are only interested in improving their individual condition!

Charles Grixti

Feb 25th 2010, 01:37

@Sean Grima

I have noticed that you have brush aside every comment made to you by bloggers in this forum either as hysterical, scaremongers or racists or a combination of all three.

However, you have not answered intelligently to any of their questions or comments or provided one shred of evidence that multiculturalism and mass illegal immigration are of benefit to anyone (except maybe the top 1% of the population in any country who have vested interests).

Where has this immigration and multiculturalism worked, in France for example where riots flare up by the immigrant community on a regular basis, in Canada where even second generation immigrants were planning to bomb prominent landmarks, storm Parliament and behead the Prime Minister, the bankrupt cities that have to pay the cost in housing and welfare and increased surveillance and policing, the exploited immigrants themselves or the long-suffering citizens in each country who at the end of the day are the ones who have to pay all the costs, while being robbed of their lands and jobs with decent wages?

Statistical data from around the world proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that this ‘experiment’ is a colossal failure one every level.

Raymond Cachia

Feb 24th 2010, 22:01

@Sean Grima

Dictatorships and Tyrannies is what is being planned for Europe and most of the globe, culminating in One World Government. Illegal immigration is just one of the many tools at the disposal of this Cabal.

The last 3 decades has seen the erosion of workers' rights and dissolution of Workers' Unions all around the West. See the Police in riot gear bashing the heads of citizens fighting for their rights in Greece or wherever and whenever a G8/G20 summit is called. What have our ‘elected representatives and leaders" have to hide that they have to plan in secret? How they will cut up the world for themselves and their corporate masters?

Please do some decent reading - how about Naomi Klein's "Shock Doctrine - the rise of Disaster Capitalism". After reading this book, I am sure you will be better able to judge what is the truth about illegal immigration, the corporate agenda and globalisation, instead of labeling all who oppose immigration as either "hysterical scare-mongers or racists".

You are in dire need of an epiphany to come out of your dream state, for your are consciously or inadvertently helping to build your own chains and prisons.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 24th 2010, 22:00

@sean grima,
It is getting really funny and very laughable that when someone points out a very good and pertinent fact and with great intelligence and thoughtfulness I might add, like Ms Smith or Ray Cachia, your standard reply and accusation is always "hysterical scare-mongering".
You are dealing with thinking adults with true life experience and not 12 year olds sean.
People's genuine concerns are not going to be stoppered with such stock replies from your part. You think we are all going to be lulled to sleep while others pull off their Nation destroying plans without a peep or a whimper? Dream on.

Guze Xerri

Feb 24th 2010, 17:31

To Sean Grima,
Anything can happen, but if Italy sticks to it guns and other EU nations follow suit than it is game over for this african invasion plan. Europeans are waking up to the damage their culture is taking and the super high financial social service costs involved that are now generational.The more rioting africans and muslims incidents and more crime and grime that is attributed to them, the more nails in the illegal migrant invasion coffin will be hammered in. They will sabotage things themselves, it is practically guaranteed, it is in their nature. High unemployment rates in a bad economy for natives of Spain Italy or Greece will only add fuel to the raging fire.

sean grima

Feb 24th 2010, 16:45

@ray cachia: your views are inimical to the very roots of modern democracy: the independence of the judiciary. dissolution of the courts only takes places in dictatorships and tryrannies.

@mary smith: your views are simply hysterical scare-mongering. the genuinity of asylum seekers is not determined by photographs, but on a case by case basis by the Refugees Commission, after giving the immigrants the right to tell their own story - unlke you here who judge by your generic perceptions.

Mary Smith

Feb 24th 2010, 13:49

@Sean Grima

“Could be that it is harder for women and children to make the dangerous trip”

Or could it be that African males in general do not give a hoot about the welfare of their women and children?

That is the only thing that I can infer from the type of ‘immigrants/refugee” is that they are really just opportunist.

I defy you to find photos showing real, “bona-fede” genuine refugees, where you don’t see whole families, escaping together with their meager belongings.

Mary Smith

Feb 24th 2010, 13:24

@Sean Grima

World condemnation??!!

I would rather keep my country and have the world condemn me than lose it to foreigner invaders and have my children and descendants condemn me instead.

What the EU is proposing, turning Malta into a type of “Oil Platform” in the middle of the Mediterranean but instead of drilling for oil, we will be collecting illegal immigrants for Brussels, so they can come and chose when they are in the market for more cheap labour to undercut European workers. What Brussels is proposing is deeply insulting for Malta, which has borne the brunt of aggression to save Europe in the past. What the EU is saying in effect is that to us (Brussels) you are not a sovereign nation, but a piece of rock and a depot.

By the way world condemnation did not stop the US from invading Iraq under the pretence that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction.

All serious and truly autonomous countries will never act in a way that goes contrary to the collective and common good of their country first and foremost. Acting in any other way is treason.

Raymmond Cachia

Feb 24th 2010, 12:53

@Sean Grima

And the Courts are man-made creations too. And like anything man-made, they can be dissolved, replaced and rejected.

Do you still actually believe that there is such a thing as 'fundamental human rights? Then you are dreaming in technicolour big time. Where are these 'fundamental human rights' when it comes to the West's biggest business partners such as China, South America and the Middle East or Indonesia?

Kangaroo Courts on the other hand is what we actually have installed in Europe right now, the trial of Geert Wilders in the Netherlands is a prime example. The stifling of free speech and the muzzling of those that speak the truth is what is at stake here, yet this momentous show trial is not even being covered by the local media, although it has huge repercussion for the future of Europe - whether it will be progressive liberal society or a repressive Police State.

And, my apologies to kangaroos everywhere. I know the world would be a far better place if left in your hands than the human twits with over-inflated egos that are presently making such a mess of this planet.

sean grima

Feb 24th 2010, 08:24

the fact that italy has passed such a law does not mean that it cannot be challenged and annulled. besides that italy's actions have received international condemnation.

Guze Xerri

Feb 23rd 2010, 18:16

To Sean Grima,

BTW, Italy's chamber of parliament passed a bill making it a crime to enter or stay in Italy illegally‚ and has sent back illegal immigrants back,so it can be done and it is being done.
Malta is playing a very good incarceration game of making Malta unattractive for these economic illegal immigrants, as it is the "isle of no return" for them. All want to get to Protestant northern Europe, as the jesuits and their NGOs would prefer them there. Where the welfare cheques are alot juicier and the social services are much better than anything on Malta and the women even fairer , but they cannot get there.So this frustrates them to no end. Their pals in Libya are warned of the situation and don't bother making the trip. Even when they leave Malta with fake papers, when caught are sent back to "prison isle" Malta . Beautiful.

sean grima

Feb 23rd 2010, 17:25

laws can only be amended if they respect fundamental human rights, including the right of all persons to apply for asylum. otherwise that law will be struck down by the courts. what guze xerri means by "address" is to repatriate all those africans who arrive without a visa. since this is illegal, of course, no serious political party will ever make such a proposal.

Guze Xerri

Feb 23rd 2010, 15:43

To D Phillips,
I am not "moaning" as you put it , but voicing an opinion as yourself and others do by blogging. I have that right as much as you do or anyone else for that matter. Laws can be amended and have been amended. Nothing is written in stone D Phillips.This present government will have to address the illegal immigration issue on its next election selling job as do all political parties when going out to garner the public's vote. The subject is a political hot potato that they all cannot ignore.

sean grima

Feb 23rd 2010, 08:33

@mary smith: the reason why most migrants are male and single (does that make them less human?) could be that it is harder for women and children to make the dangerous trip.

@ray cachia: if parliament were to pass a law which is in breach of fundamental human rights, it may be challenged, in and annulled by, the courts. you are grossly over misrepresenting the matter and blowing it way out of proportion.

Mary Smith

Feb 23rd 2010, 02:53

What clever usage of the “Madonna and Child” imagery with this article to tug at our Catholic heartstrings, althoug it is hardly representative of the immigrants, who in their vast majority are single and male.

Too bad some of us have studied Marketing and Mass Psychology.

Raymond Cachia

Feb 23rd 2010, 02:44

@Sean Grima

I agree totally with Guze Xerri, The current situation is suicidal, beyond the pale and grossly irresponsible. The law as it stands is an ass. Parliament has the moral obligation to change the law and opt out of any signed Agreements that are detrimental to the country and its citizens.

And to the JRS I say, Sell the Vatican – Feed the world.

@Keith Mullen

Right on Man! You too have noticed that it is always the Far-Right who squeaks the loudest against immigrants, blaming Liberals, Socialism and the Jews, but since the Far Right have traditional always stood for the business classes and captains of industry, they are the very ones who have the most to benefit from the exploitation of cheap immigrant labour.

sean grima

Feb 22nd 2010, 23:07

of course laws can be changed. but a law which is in breach of fundamental human rights may be challenged in court. in any case, the scenario you are conjuring is way beyond anything realistic.

D Phillips

Feb 22nd 2010, 21:51

@Guze Xerri
So, here’s an idea. Instead of moaning about it all the time, use your democratic rights to lobby the government on holding a referendum on the subject, to dispense with international law and have a a new Maltese law to supersede it, put to the test your theory that “most Maltese people…..”. Alternatively, at the next opportunity vote out the current government and elect a new one. Maybe, highly unlikely, but maybe they’ll follow your train of thought.
Or continue to moan.

Guze Xerri

Feb 22nd 2010, 20:54

To Sean Grima, " the rights of asylum seekers are protected under maltese and international law, which were not imposed upon malta, but form part of our legal system by our democratic choice " By democratic choice the Maltese nation then can amend these laws to meet the reality of what is happening at the present time. If for example a ship arrives from Libya with 4000 illegal migrants every month of the year for the next six years to Malta's shore then it would be long past due to get the laws changed because such acts would greatly upset the balance of life and safety of the citizens of the Maltese islands in a short time and that amount of illegal immigrants cannot be cared for. Maltese self interests should always prevail no matter what the Jesuits and their NGOS say or do or what international laws were agreed to by Malta in the past. The situation has changed so the laws have to meet that reality. The Maltese are in charge of their destiny.

sean grima

Feb 22nd 2010, 19:22

the rights of asylum seekers are protected under maltese and international law, which were not imposed upon malta, but form part of our legal system by our democratic choice -we are modern democratic nation and thus respect and observe human rights, including that of anyone who arrives here without a visa to apply for asylum, and to have his/her own case assessed on its own merits. of course, we are way past the stage where respect of fundamental human rights of all people who are in malta needs to form part of a party's electoral manifesto: it is a universally accepted state of fact.

Guze Xerri

Feb 22nd 2010, 18:10

To Sean Grima, There is a world of difference in having an opinion and having an un-elected policy played out in front of your eyes to the detriment of your culture, fellow citizens and future generations. Maybe you love to be ruled by a theocracy sean, but the majority still want the rule of democracy to prevail.The only fundamentalists and extremists are the ones pushing an undemocratic hidden agenda that no one voted for, under the guise of religiosity, including the coadjutors that cover up for them , and not the ones exposing them for what they truly are. Dr. Gonzi is elected to serve the interests of his nation and when he does not , every citizen has the right to call him up on it, whether you like it or not.

Raymond Sammut

Feb 22nd 2010, 10:30

@ Keith Mullen

I have issue with your point-2. Your accusation is unfounded. In Malta's case, the NA country is Libya.

Without immigration, Libya's economy would experience labour shortage. This is the economic situation in Libya; in existence since the removal of King Idris (1969).

Under normal economic conditions, Libya would attract labour from other African countries until labour supply meets labour demand. Unfortunately, however, economic conditions are anything but normal --thanks to EU policies. When supply exceeds demand, Africans do not stop entering Libya as would be expected by supply-demand economic theory. Instead, they go on to do the crossing to Malta/Lampedusa, thus encouraging more labour input into Libya. As a result, Libya's economy finds itself shackled with labour surplus, leading to smuggling activity (which leads to corruption, drownings, etc.). This unlawful situation shouldn't be described as: Tripoli turning "a blind eye".

The fault lies with Castille. When the Gonzi government subscribed to Frontex, it disabled the AFM from doing what is required of them; namely, border protection. There's nothing on record to show that Libyan officials ever prevented the AFM from returning people to Tripoli after these people had left Libya illegally.

sean grima

Feb 22nd 2010, 08:54

@guze xerri: don't the jesuits have a right to their opinion, as much as you do? i am sure dr gonzi (and any other serious politicians) will not listen to the opinion of fundamentalists and extremists.
@lgalea: my interpretation is the same one which the government gives, so that makes mine, not yours correct. may i remind you of the poor attendance at an anti-immigrant rally held a few years ago, and the disastrous performance of the extreme right party at the elections which count.
@ joe calleja- i happen to know maltese women, happily married to african men. their fathers and grandfathers do not need to worry about them.
@nathan young: your comments show that you know next to nothing about africa. the perception that people of different ethnicities hate each other is incorrect: they inter marry and socialise. it is when these ethicities are politicised that warring breaks out - on the same lines as what happened in the ex yugoslavia, so it is nothing to whhich europeans are immune.

Joseph Grech

Feb 21st 2010, 23:49

Finally, the local Jesuits are not hiding any longer behind the JRS logo!
Yet they keep on with their obstinate, distorted opinions and impractical ideals.
They preach... but do not shoulder the burdens illegal immigration is exacting on us all.
They ignore the serious problems illegal immigration is causing in Europe.

If the Jesuits wish their idealism to be taken seriously they should all go to Africa to help out the people there.

''Are we really experiencing a cataclysmic invasion by Africans in Malta today?'' Fr. Busuttil...do you really not have eyes to see? Oh, come on!
That a number of ''important persons have contributed'' to this upcoming best seller is to be expected.....
Rather than ''shedding a Christian and humanistic light on migration'' this book champions illegal migration against the inherent interests of Christianity.

Keith Mullen

Feb 21st 2010, 22:50

"Migration" may well be an opportunity but ILLEGAL MIGRATION is a separate issue.

The only opportunity I have seen from the increasing hoards who wish to enter Malta illegally under the guise of "refugees and political asylum seekers" over the last 5 years has been ...

1-People smugglers
2-The North African Countries who turn a blind eye and thus seem to encourage illegal immigration
3-The bureaucrats of the EU who have dithered & seem unperturbed at the attack on Malta's cultural identity
4-The Norman Lowells of this world & their far right who are ready to take the "opportunity" to exploit the invasion of illegals..

C. Farrugia

Feb 21st 2010, 22:28

It seems that Fr Busuttil does not read the newspapers and the news in general of the enormous problems that migration legal or not is causing in all major European cities. He has probably missed the riots of Milan just a few days ago where migrants of different nationalities clashed with the vicitims being the Milanese taxpayers. Fr Busuttil seems to be living in a world of his own when he thinks and says that migration is an opportunity, yes an opportunity for disaster. Vide Torino, Milan, Paris and certain subarbs of London, Birmingham and Manchester to see the problems being created by migration.

Guze Xerri

Feb 21st 2010, 21:58

Why are the Jesuits dictating Malta’s policy, and claim to know what is good for the Maltese and what they want and do not want. Who elected them to speak for us?

The last time I heard was that Malta was a democracy (in theory) so let the Jesuits run for election at the next General Election and let the Maltese public have a say in what goes on in their own country. The Jesuits implementing their policy by directing orders to Castile will not do. This is a sham and a theocracy. Are you listening Dr. Gonzi?

lgalea

Feb 21st 2010, 21:40

sean grima Since when have you become an expert in law profs sean, because you seem to be interpreting the law to suit you and not how it is and should be interpreted. If you think that we will never have power you are grossly mistaken sean. Just wait and see. Every country is turning against the ILLEGAL immigrants and they shall be EXPELLED back to their own countries.

Joseph Calleja

Feb 21st 2010, 21:32

Fr Busuttil I assume you do not have any daughters or grand daughters of your own to worry about. Ask the people of Birzebbuga and the people of Safi and Marsa about how they feel, Enough said. Call a spade a spade. If I was to get the thousands of euros to support the illegal immigrants like the Jesuits do, maybe I would share the same sentiments. To "grow out of a post-colonial mentality" and look at diversity as an enriching experience. For whom Father?

J Farrugia

Feb 21st 2010, 21:28

Fr Edgar illegal immigration is as the same word implyy ILLEGAL. no beating about the bush. It IS an opportunity for your order, if they all agree with you, but it certainly is no opportunity for Malta's interests. I hate to say it but you are wrong. Illegal immigration is an opportunity for the building industry and for the waste industry to pay charity and peanuts to these illegal immigrants, but they are ruining the maltese workers' bargaining power. So this also is no opportunity for the honest maltese citizens. Besides it goes against Malta's interests if they continue coming. We already have 7000 such persons who are in Malta and Malta does not even have enough to give shelter to all its citizens. Dear Reverend, the maltese citizen has to beg to buy a house, has to work to purchase the furniture. And gets nothing for free. Yet these illegal immigrants get everything for free. So where are the opportunities for the Maltese people?

Nathan Young

Feb 21st 2010, 20:54

Integration is not really possible.Each African country contains different tribes within their population and 98% of them hate each other.
They do not stop warring and will not do so no matter where they are.
My sister-in-law,a social worker in the U.K. thinks that if we all inter-marry then we will all be the same colour and this will end racism. Unlike myself she has never been to Africa and seen how things work there.
Look at Zimbabwe(Rhodesia),The best leader was not Mugabe but he is a member of the largest tribe and no matter how bad he is,he will retain power. Like the other dictators in Africa and Asia,he is a left wing communist.

colin stanley

Feb 21st 2010, 20:49

@ Mr. Sean Grima.I am not saying that our culture is perfect,on the other hand I don't think we did too bad with our culture. still you didn't explain to me, what we have learned from these people, these last 10 years since they have been here, what benefits Malta gained from them, and in which countries, integration really worked. please tell us.

sean grima

Feb 21st 2010, 20:11

@lgalea: as usual you base your comments on sweeping statements, which cannot be taken seriously. your statements about illegality are unfounded at law. you may stamp your feet all you like and threaten that immigrants will be expelled, but you and your fellow anti immigrants do not have and will never have any power. thankfully - otherwise malta's reputation in the international community will be seriously at stake.

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 21st 2010, 20:10

The Maltese people are not that gullible Fr. Edgar, 122 sq. mile barren rock Malta with one of the highest population density in the world does not need immigrants, legal or illegal, We were exporting legal Maltese immigrants for many recent decades, so now we are in the business of importing illegal africans with a culture that is alien to our homogenous culture?
It sure smells like your order is serving the agenda of the new world order.

malcolm azzopardi

Feb 21st 2010, 20:08

Mr director...it s definitely not an opportunity 4 the maltese taxpayer !!!

M Buhagiar

Feb 21st 2010, 20:08

NIxtieq nara l-Ġiżwiti u l-ordnijiet kollha li jaħdmu ma dawn ir-refuġjati jiftħu l-iskejjel privati tagħhom u jilqgħu lil dawn ir-refuġjati u jgħatuhom l-edukazzjoni li għandhom bżonn bla ħlas mhux jippretendu kollox mill-gvern waħda mill-ewwel affarijiet li jistgħu jgħamlu. Oħra hi li joffrulhom il-postijiet li għandhom jingħataw għal akkomodazzjoni ta dawn ir-refuġjati biss biss ħafna kunventi għandhom bosta kmamar vojta għax il-vokazzjonijiet naqsu. Bejn kliem u fatti hemm baħar jaqsam. Fuq kollox iċ-ċittadin komuni diġa qegħed jgħin minn naħa tiegħu irid u ma jridx, permezz tat-taxxi u l-postijiet tax-xogħol li qegħed jittieħdu illegalment lil nies Maltin u jingħataw lil imigranti, suwed u mhumiex.

Grazzi

Mary Smith

Feb 21st 2010, 19:43

@Sean Grima

If you wanted to help people in need, there are plenty of them here in Malta, fellow Maltese.
However, if you prefer to help only the Africans as opposed to all others, it is your choice, but we suggest that you go to their countries and help them there and not bring them here into our country where they are not wanted and do not belong.

Raymond Cachia

Feb 21st 2010, 19:15

Long term, the war against the common man is won by creeping immigration. The face of a nation is indelibly changed for the worse by immigration and the cultural dilution and or clashes it brings. Examples of these can be seen in every country from France to Canada and beyond, in other words, wherever this multicultural agenda was/is being implemented.

It is clear that our leaders/authorities of all stripes have an agenda that is opposite to the interests of the Maltese. The lure of Euros and more temporal power has replaced the public good. The Maltese fought long and hard to obtain self-determination and obtain Independence from Britain only to be surreptitiously replaced by Brussels and Jesuit Directors.

The Maltese public is also to blame.
There has not been one peaceful, intelligent organized protest at Castille to express public displeasure at the shameful way Malta is being sold out by our authorities.

Ironically it is mostly ex-pats living in Malta who are raising the alarm bell and making intelligent comments on our blogs. Where are the peaceful but persistent protests at Castille against what is happening to our country? Where may I ask is the moral courage of our forefathers?

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Feb 21st 2010, 18:51

"The book, Opening Up - A Path Beyond Fear, proposes, in Fr Busuttil's words, a "serene reflection on a possible way forward into a world where cultures are more than ever on the move"."

And under what section in the book shop would I find this book?

Under the "Dangerous fairy tales come true" section.
or the "Unelected social engineering" section.

Or maybe it is found under both sections.

lgalea

Feb 21st 2010, 18:49

sean grima Go share your money with the ILLEGAL immigrants in their own countries because the vast majority of Maltese citizens do NOT want them here.

Malcolm Borg the do-gooder. NO Malcolm, we have nothing to enrich our culture with from the ILLEGAL immigrants. I want my tax money to be used on Maltese citizens not on the ILLEGAL immigrants who coem here to live like leeches on our taxes and ousting Maltese workers from their jobs. By IILLEGAL immigrants I mean anyone who has overstayed their visa. The only way is ti EXPEL them and either send them back from whence they came or to their own countries. This is OUR TINY country NOT theirs.

rashid R seems like you are one of the ILLEGAL immigrants living like leeches on OUR taxes,. but you can rest assured that whoever is here ILLEGALLY SHALL be expelled whether you and your ilk like it or not and that includes you if you are here illegally.

L. Petersen NONE of the ILLEGAL immigrants shall stay here. They SHALL be EXPELLED so they had better start packing and make other arrangements to LEAVE before they are EXPELLED.

Mark Borg

Feb 21st 2010, 17:29

All those that came from Libya must be repatriated immediately. THERE IS NO WAR in Libya so the 'asylum' excuse holds no water. If they are mistreated by Libyan authorities it is not up to us but up to Libyan authorities to fix or perhaps UN. All those attempting to come from there for a better life of free benefits must and will be stopped. We have a duty to protect our border from illegal invaders. Regarding legitimate immigrants who respect the law, those can obviously come like they have been for years and they are indeed beneficial to the maltese economy becuase most are skilled unlike those coming from the african continent.

sean grima if you are so alturistic and wish to share all your belongings you can go to Africa as a volonteer or as a missionary. Same goes to the all the others including the Jesuit director. I've had enough of people talking about others while they (perhaps conveniently) forget the maltese poor and unemployed like myself.

Muscat D

Feb 21st 2010, 17:19

@ Malcolm Borg

You do not seem to have seen the link A Ellul posted further down. Tell me, how has immigration enriched Ms Judith Popinski's culture and life? Read the article and draw your own conclusions.

When massive amounts of immigrants with different cultures arrive at the same time, chaos and strife reign.
In the 70's, after black september, Jordan expelled its Palestenains and most went to Lebanon. The result of this massive immigration, combined with a new alien culture was the Lebanese civil war. How did immigration enrich their society? Instead of Lebanon, you can change the name to Kosovo, Chechnya, etc. It may not happen to us, but going by what happened in other countries, sooner or later we will get riots or worse civil war . The choice to stop this is ours. For now.

Denis Catania

Feb 21st 2010, 17:04

Nothing is good about illegal activities and ILLEGAL immigrants is an illegal act. On the other hand immigration is a good thing when done right by the immigrant and the adopted country. ILLEGAL immigrants jump ahead of the family who wants to migrate the right way.

Lets hope that these children are safer than the Maltese children that were taken to Australia by the church for a so-called better life and instead were overworked and raped. (according to Maltese and international media)

Charles Grixti

Feb 21st 2010, 16:45

Yeah, Immigration is an opportunity alright.

An opportunity for these 'immigrants' to sponge off the Maltese taxpayers and an opportunity for Capitalists to find a never ending pool of cheap labour they can exploit.

L. Petersen

Feb 21st 2010, 16:29

There are really two separate discussions here:

1.The arrival of new illegal immigrants: This is a small country with limited resources, and Malta cannot continue to handle the numbers that have arrived during recent years. However, international conventions means that the options are very limited, so Malta should do what it can to convince others that it's necessary to "change the rules". It doesn't make sense to use vast resources to help a few lucky refugees/immigrants who have the money and contacts to get here illegally, when the same money could have helped at least ten times more people if it was used more wisely (i.e. to improve the conditions they fled from). If nothing changes, I'm afraid it will just lead to increased frustrations, tensions and racism.

2. How to treat immigrants already here: No, we can't just send them back in a boat, and it makes no sense to blame them. The system alone is to blame. They have done what they thought were best for them and their families, just like we do. Some of then are here to stay, and the sooner people accept that, the easier the integration process will become.

John Azzopardi

Feb 21st 2010, 16:22

Yes, migrants are an opportunity, but not when there is high unemployment across europe including Malta. Look at Spain, their unemployment is over 20% today and they also have a large migrant population. yes, migrants are an opportunity if they don't come in the thousands as is the case in Malta where we have almost 10,000 men and about 50% of them are from Somalia. What is lilttle malta with 122 sq miles and just over 400,000 people suppose to do. Don't the Jesuits realize that 10,000 extra people who don't contribute tax or monies to the Maltese economy are in fact a burden to the Maltese taxpaper, hospitals, social seervices, housing, etc. Let's get real If we had an incoming migrant population of say 200-250 people a year, then we may be able to sustain those migrants, but when you get 10,000 people or more in just 5 years, what are we suppose to do. The time has come for the Jesuits to stop playing this dangerous game because at the end the Maltese will suffer dearly. Those are facts and it's better to raise a red flag by all maltese now then when something happens.

fbonello

Feb 21st 2010, 16:17

@ rashid R

Of course you like this article. It give you and the illegals "opportunity" to get better at our expense!!!!!

One world R.

Feb 21st 2010, 15:04

yes its big opportunity I like this article , I can't wait to get a copy of that book this is the value of humanity , together we can change . yes we can

Malcolm Borg

Feb 21st 2010, 15:00

@IGalea (the 'do-badder').. I do not earn millions from the migrants but I still think that these people can provide us with a very good opportunity to enrich our culture...because you can never say 'this is my culture' and leave it at that because it is continuously changing. We are the product of a mixture of cultures....and we will continue enriching our culture by making contact with more and more different people.

anthea douoghty

Feb 21st 2010, 14:31

PS - also in response to reading Fr Bussitil's comments.......

I don't remember Jesus ever wanting the Romans to govern the Jews. This inter-racial diversity is pie in the sky. It will never work because we have too many differences to work.

anthea doughty

Feb 21st 2010, 14:27

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WHAT EXACTLY!!!!!!???? An opportunity to -
""grow out of a post-colonial mentality" and look at diversity as an enriching experience !!!???

I have never heard such a policitally correct (morally wrong) load argument! Enrich your/our communities? They have NOTHING to offer us and are only after what we can offer them! This article has made me madder than anything I have read so far on your immigration issue. Fr Bussitil - sorry but your views are WRONG!

sean grima

Feb 21st 2010, 14:27

@louise vella: i have no problem in my taxes being used to help these people who are in need. fundamental human rights are not put to public vote, simply because the fact that the majority want something does not make it right. should we have asked the EU to put malta's membership to the vote in a referendum? or the british to vote on whether they want maltese to compete for their jobs?
@colin stanley: you seem to have a very good opinion of yourself and a perception that our culture is perfect or somewhat superior to african cultures. needless to say, such a view is necessarily flawed.

lgalea

Feb 21st 2010, 14:21

Fr Edgar Busuttil, I agree it is an opportunity, but not for us but you and your do-gooders who are getting hundreds of thousands of euros not to say millions to spend??? on the ILLEGAL immigrants. If you think it is such a good opportunity then YOU and your do-gooders emigrate to the ILLEGAL immigrants own countries and help them there while taking this "golden opportunity" because the vast majority of Maltese citizens do NOT want then here and shall not rest until every single ILLEGAL immigrant is EXPELLED from Malta.

a ellul

Feb 21st 2010, 13:10

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/sweden/7278532/Jews-leave-Swedish-city-after-sharp-rise-in-anti-Semitic-hate-crimes.html

Paul Barrett

Feb 21st 2010, 12:47

Quote: migration is an opportunity rather than a threat Unquote.
The illegal immigrants arrive, we can't ship them back, we can't ship them on so they have to stay. We however have freedom of movement over the whole EU so the only opportunity for us is to move out - yes thanks a lot - similar opportunity offered by the cuckoo in the nest.

colin stanley

Feb 21st 2010, 12:32

migration is not a threat,first of all ,can you please tell me ,how we are going to enrich our culture with all these immigrants amongst us ,what can they teach us ,and what do we benefit from them, and secondly, can you tell me where in europe, the people are happy to have all these immigrants in their country, and in which country , multiculturalism (REALLY)works.

Mark Borg

Feb 21st 2010, 11:19

Yes an opportunity indeed. But not for us. For the illegal immigrants to get free social benefits. For us it is a threat and a strain. An economic threat. A social threat. A crime threat. I am currently unemployed becuase employers prefer paying peanuts to illegal immigrants than employ me, a maltese. And I don't blame them (immigrants or employers), everyone loves money. I blame the government for not repatriating them and blocking their entry and defending our borders which is its duty bound to protect. An unnationalistic approach from a nationalist government. Very ironic.

colin stanley

Feb 21st 2010, 11:12

migration is not a threat,first of all ,can you please tell me ,how we are going to enrich our culture with all these immigrants amongst us ,what can they teach us ,and what do we benefit from them, and secondly, can you tell me where in europe, the people are happy to have all these immigrants in their country, and in which country , multiculturalism (REALLY)works.

louise vella

Feb 21st 2010, 10:46

If migration is such an opportunity, why don't all Jesuits migrate to Africa to enrich African countries with their presence and their wisdom?

louise vella

Feb 21st 2010, 10:41

Malta is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. More than 1000 inhabitants per square kilometre. We have no space for immigrants, legal or illegal. If anything, we may need a few immigrants who contribute to Malta's welfare, not those who are a burden on our society - a burden on our taxes,our hospitals, our social security, our health care and education systems etc.

In addition unemployment in Malta is high and rising. Illegal immigrants compete with Maltese workers for the shrinking number of jobs. They undercut the wages of Maltese workers by accepting lower pay. They undermine the conditions of Maltese workers, won after years of struggle, by accepting to work longer hours in conditions that are unacceptable for Maltese workers.

Jesuits can preach but they never propose that the problem of illegal immigration be put to the vote of the Maltese people in a referendum. A referendum would show us what the common people of Malta think about illegal immigrants. The head in the clouds do-gooders are only a small minority of the Maltese.

Christian zeal may be commendable. Nothing stops the Jesuits from practising it in the African countries where they have their missions.