An irregular immigrant is complaining about being sentenced to a prison term for escaping from detention. There are several facts he may need to know.

We Maltese, both as Catholics and because we are subject to international obligations we have entered into, are fulfilling our part in looking after people like him at enormous cost to the economy. A period of detention is essential for persons who come from countries with a high incidence of diseases and for security reasons.

It is therefore a criminal offence to escape from secured custody for the reasons stated above. An escape involves the employment of scarce resources not to mention that some people might be anxious with desperate persons running loose on the island.

This unhappy escapee has to understand that he and fellow immigrants are being well looked after. They should also understand that they too have a part to play while they are here.

Some have expressed gratitude for the kindness and generosity of the Maltese nation but mere words are not good enough. In spite of the self-criticism we do in abundance we are a civilised nation that holds the rule of law as sacred in our democracy.

This irregular immigrant is indebted to the Maltese nation for feeding and sheltering him and looking after his health needs, among other things.

The least he can do is to obey our laws. He did not and that is why he is in prison.