I agree with Cardinal Martino's statement (The Sunday Times, February 18) that: "The developed world, but Europe in particular, has a great debt with Africa".

It was the European powers, including Britain, France and Italy, which colonised Africa. There followed slavery and exploitation of Africans and their continent, which is so rich in raw materials. Present emigration from Africa can be described as "the Empire strikes back", as the inhabitants of former colonies seek a better life in the former colonial power - Nigerians in Britain, Senegalese in France, Somalis in Italy, and so on.

Malta never colonised or exploited Africa. That, besides its small size, is why Africans hardly ever seek to come to Malta. It is also a reason why we Maltese need not and do not have any debt with Africa. Of course, charity is a human virtue, but that is where our duty stops.

Cardinal Martino, who was our guest in Malta, overstepped the bounds of propriety when he "challenged the government's immigration detention policy". Several surveys have shown that the Maltese are most unhappy at what we perceive as an invasion of our island home by traffickers in human beings who deploy their criminal activities in North Africa and send boatloads of Africans in the direction of mainland Europe.

The victims used to be called refugees. Now that veil has become so thin that even their defenders say they leave in search of a better life; in other words they are economic emigrants trying to enter richer countries illegally.

As the Cardinal said: "Why these people are fleeing their country we need to be asking ourselves. We need to help Africa."

In the meantime, we Maltese have to help ourselves because charity begins at home. The detention policy is necessary, though unpleasant, and should be wound up when the present crisis of illegal immigration comes to an end. We Maltese are already paying a lot out of our taxes to deal with a problem which is not of our making.

If Cardinal Martino were a financial expert I would ask him by how many percentage points the government could reduce the electricity and water surcharge if it did not have to carry the burden of illegal immigration. As he is a theologian, I look forward to hearing his views on theology.