The subject of immigration is persistently plagued by misconceptions, as evidenced by the comments people left below articles detailing the importance of integration, according to Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli.
“We need a lot of dialogue on this subject because there are many misconceptions. Just look at the comment boards whenever we speak of integration. There is a need for more education.”
Dr Dalli was opening a debate on racism organised by the English Speaking Union in collaboration with the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (Meusac).
“We need to get to the source of the scourge that is racism in our society... It’s good that these three students are debating such an important issue for Malta, especially in summer.”
Miriana Curmi, Hanien Alouzi and William Pettit – three 17-year-old students from St Martin’s College – argued that xenophobic fears inflamed by the arrival of immigrants are unfounded because trends show that while they have increased in number over the years, the unemployment rate has gone down,
By voting for far-right parties, Europeans – including Maltese people – supported racist agendas in the name of pseudo-nationalism, the articulate students said.
As part of the proposing team, they argued in favour of the motion that “this house believes that in light of the results of the European Parliament elections, a significant number of Europeans are racist”.
They reminded that one in 66 people in Malta voted for Norman Lowell’s Imperium Europa and that France’s far-right National Front notched up almost 25 per cent of the vote, winning about a third of the total number of French seats in the European Parliament. In the UK, some 4.3 million people voted for Ukip, led by Nigel Farage.
Mr Pettit drew a comparison with Adolf Hitler, noting he was voted into power following a period of financial turmoil in Germany. Similarly, a number of far-right parties were enjoying a surge of popularity following the financial crisis in Europe.
He mentioned the charisma of personalities like Mr Farage, who appealed to the “ill-informed [who] voted out of desperation”.
Nationalist MP Claudette Buttigieg also echoed the need for more dialogue and information.
“We fear the unknown. But I don’t think Europe is racist. If I want to protest against the political parties which dominate a country, I must hit them where it hurts and therefore by voting for a party they would never dream I’d vote for.”
She added that people needed to understand who an immigrant was.
“Not all are illegal and not all come to Malta on a boat. We need to get to know these people and understand why they’re fleeing their country to come to Europe.”
Meusac head Vanni Xuereb said he believed that many people wanted to send a message in May’s election which did not change the party in government.
“European elections are ‘safe’ to send a message. It’s a wake-up call for Europe.
“How have certain sentiments fomented in Malta? It’s because of the lack of solidarity shown by other EU countries.”
Labour MP Deborah Schembri said she did not believe the population was racist but, rather, concerned that immigration was not being distributed the way it should.
However, everybody’s perspective should be kept in mind, she stressed.
“When you realise what kind of life they’re running from, you can’t help but think: if I was in their position, would I do the same?”