The drama that has developed over the past few days, when 629 migrants aboard the Aquarius rescue ship were stranded at sea for almost two days, needs to be given due consideration. There are regulations and it is expected that all parties concerned abide by such rules.

Unfortunately, when Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini (picture) declared his country’s ports closed to migrants, he publicly proclaimed he would not follow international law. When Italy asked Malta to accept the migrants, the Prime Minister refused and insisted Malta was abiding by the rules.

What principle should guide us when facing a humanitarian crisis? Are our consciences at peace by simply stating we are abiding by the rules? Can’t we go a step further and make exceptions to the rules once human life is in jeopardy? Spain came to the rescue even though it was not obliged to.

When such problems crop up and we, as a nation, are involved, we have to prioritise and go beyond what is legal.

It is not enough to hear our Prime Minister say Malta played its part by providing food and water supplies. As a Maltese citizen and a Catholic, I would have been proud had we accepted the immigrants on our island.

Let us discuss the way forward but let there not be another golden opportunity where we fail to rise above all regulations and reach out to the destitute. After all, it is not economic well-being that should characterise us as a nation but the words of Jesus: “I was hungry and you fed Me; I was thirsty and you gave Me water; I was a stranger and you invited Me into your home; naked and you clothed Me; sick and in prison, and you visited Me” (Mat. 25: 35,36).