Malta tops asylum recognition rates

Ms D. Borg

Jun 20th 2012, 16:51

Should this piece of news make us happy? I don't think so. You are only advertising Malta as an easy destination. Malta is small with very limited resources and cannot take this influx and that's the plain truth no matter what anyone says.

Louise Vella

Jun 20th 2012, 16:16

Another quote from Nigerian Mr Lucky Okocha Achebe: “A total 46 per cent of the people granted positive decisions were Somalis, while 28.6 per cent were from Eritrea. That is why more than 90% of this years arrivals are from those countries.” In other words the more generous and complacent the refugee commissioner is, the more of them will come. See http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120619/local/asylum-granted-to-more-than-half-of-last-year-s-applicants.425055

A Galea

Jun 20th 2012, 13:06

From JRS website: "Under current government policy rejected asylum seekers and other irregular immigrants who have not been deported within 18 months are released to live in the community." Seriously? Can someone confirm this? If so, big round of applause to the government and a standing ovation to JRS.

Luciano Mule Stagno

Jun 20th 2012, 12:42

some people seem to have missed this line:
"According to EU officials, Malta’s high recognition rate is not linked to any “lenient” benchmarks by the local authorities but is due to where the asylum seekers are from."
that is - whether they arrive in Malta, Italy or any other country people from these countries are more likely to get asylum. This is simply a correct application of international laws, conventions and treaties.
We should continue doing the right thing. What we should be forcefully seeking is more cooperation from other EU countries - so they take up more immigrants - there would not be a problem if we were simply acting as a port of entry and then the immigrants would be efficiently distributed throughout Europe.

I don't blame the immigrants - its not their fault they were born in a war-zone and they are looking for a better life - I blame the EU for being unable to take action and act as one unit.

Charles W. Sammut

Jun 20th 2012, 12:34

What do you expect if certain people involved in the process have vested interests in seeing the number if immigrants increase. There is money to be made supplying them with everything from food to mattresses. Not to mention EU grants to NGOs. Money given to NGOs is considered good investment by the EU because iIt is in the interest of the EU that Malta be made as attractive as possible. With the Dublin II agreement. Malta is basically a huge concentration camp for us and for illegal immigrants. That way even if they stray north, they get sent back to us as the country where they first asked for asylum. It is betrayal on a wholesale scale from the EU, government and church.

Louise Vella

Jun 20th 2012, 12:18

Someone living in an ivory tower in Brussels has included Eritrea among the countries with wars and conflict. But Nigerian Mr Lucky Okocha Achebe wrote in www.timesofmalta.com: “It is not [only] that they came from a very peaceful country, but they also support their government unbelievably... It is impossible for me to believe thousands of people escape without the good will of their rulers... They are clearly sent by president Issayas because he fails to create jobs at home. So they reach Europe and send back 2% of what they earn. All of my Eritrean friends confirmed that to me. If the Maltese refugee commissioner granted them only temporary humanitarian protection no Eritrean will come Malta again. “ And Somali Mr Ahmed Mohammed wrote: “Stop comparing us with Eritreans. Our situations are not the same... They came from a country where the president walks from his office to his home. Here they are favoured because they are in laws with JRS”. See
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120531/local/migrants-boat+.422063

Francis Grech

Jun 20th 2012, 12:00

Mr Caruana.
You were bank on what you have said about these boat people that they are given priority over the locals but not only for travelling cheaper than us,I happen to be one of those thousands that had to leave Malta to emigrate to OZ in the 50's and when we holidays in Malta we spend a lot of money helping in a small way to the economy last year I had to go to hospital for a check up of some sort being 75 there is always some thing wrong with you and was told to wait my turn with another 20 or more different nationality's and wonder of all wanders in walked a bunch of these (imsiken) as they are called and walked straight in with out being asked about some identities and when some Maltese bloke asked why they went straight in he was told that they have priorities over every one and if he don't like it he can always go private,so there you are at least we can always go back where we came from.

S. Camilleri

Jun 20th 2012, 11:28

And we advertise this fact?

Guido Farrugia

Jun 20th 2012, 11:20

Tarax kemm ahna bravi.

Joe Caruana

Jun 20th 2012, 11:14

It would appear that Malta is very generous with with those who impose themselves on her people than to those "li Malta taghthom isimha". Last month I was in Malta from overseas. On Arriva, 6 African migrants were charged a concession fare while I was charged 2.60 euro because I did not have an identity card and my Maltese passport was not good enough. In other words, the "irregular migrants" were treated like "ta' gewwa" while I, born and bred in Malta, was treated as a foreigner. It seems Malta has forgotten the days (1950's & 60's) when 1000's of Maltese like me had to emigrate (LEGALLY) to support ourselves and our relatives in Malta. I all can say is Shame Malta Shame. You are prepared to insult your own while you go out of your way for those who foist themselves on you.

stephen koludrovic

Jun 20th 2012, 10:45

What's so heavy with the bureaucratic system?

It is just a question of taking a photograph of the persons in question, and then asking the respective embassy to issue a passport in the person's name.

FYI most ,if not all Sub Saharan countries have embassies in Tripoli.

E Bonnici

Jun 20th 2012, 10:40

What baffles me is the way are looking at the situation. We are continuously accepting to grant asylum recognition to these illegal immigrants, and then you see them lying around in Marsa and other areas, waiting to do something. Is this not evident enough that we have not only reached our limits but exceeded the amount that our country can support?
Being supportive is one thing, but being overly kind - in Maltese we say 'bahbuha' - is another.

What we have built as a nation thanks to our forefathers who suffered, fought and worked hard in order to obtain what we have today, let's not ruin it in just a couple of years.

Debbie Schembri

Jun 20th 2012, 10:24

Louise you always want to say stupid things about this people I don't know why

debbie schembri

Mr Karl Ciarlo'

Jun 20th 2012, 10:14

So much for all the statements that these people only want to reach Italy. So they are actually better off when landing in Malta. Nothing against the persons but there are fellow countrymen who desperately need the help bestowed on the boat people and yet have to make do without.

Evarist Saliba

Jun 20th 2012, 09:27

Let's hope that those who lose no opportunity to criticise government and Malta's "hypocritical Christianity", will have the decency to acknowledge our positive contribution which outshines that of other larger and richer states.

Louise Vella

Jun 20th 2012, 09:13

With this kind of publicity even more illegal immigrants will be coming to Malta. And who says that all of Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan are conflict zones? Most of these countries are at peace. But the inhabitants prefer to leave for Europe. And Malta is being used as a stepping stone to richer countries in Europe. In the meantime evidence is emerging that Malta's Refugee Commissioner has been over-generous in giving subsidiary humanitarian protection and that networks are developing including UNHCR, some NGOs, the Refugee Commissioner and some countries of origin.