The latest attack on the huge number of visas issued by Malta to Libyans and Algerians comes in an article on the influential L’Espresso, a magazine that is issued weekly in Italy, which speaks of United States suspicions that Malta is a “transit point or hiding place for terrorists”.
In an article written by Sara Lucaroni and published on 15 December, L’Espresso refers to the recent spate of arrests in Italy of people embarking on flights to Malta using fake documents, saying that the Brescia police are investigating the possibility that Malta is being used as a hub for extremists.
The article refers to the 74,858 residency permits issued to Libyans and the 7,000 visas issued to Algerians, officially for purposes related to the studying of English but with the holders just using Malta as a stepping stone into Europe.
The US State Department, the article continues, has issued a special alert indicating Malta as a “transit point or hiding place for terrorists”. The Maltese government, it adds, is excluding the radicalisation of the island and plays down the alarm.
L’Espresso also raises questions on how “only” 104 illegal immigrants landed in Malta in 2015, and speaks of an “informal agreement” between Italy and Malta for the former to accept all migrants saved at sea. “There are only 651 migrants in the open centres”, the article says.
This is happening in spite of Malta being right at the centre of the migration routes. But one can arrive in Malta also as a tourist, the article says. “Russians and Serbs instead of sub-Saharans. The Syrians (and often they are Turks and Iraqis) know about the flights from Istanbul, and then they settle in Hamrun and work in the building industry.”
The article also alleges that others arrived in Malta on boats that land near the abandoned Jerma Hotel in Marsascala (spelt Jerba in the article).
“Even Somalis know (about Malta) and come and go with the aim of forming part of the relocation exercise to the United States, and offer themselves as interpreters. But most of all (Malta is known) to the Libyans, who fly to Valletta from Egypt and Tunisia,” the report says.
L’Espresso speaks of attempts by Identity Malta to try to contain the situation by revoking residency permits, especially after the court case initiated against Joe Sammut, former Labour Party treasurer.
Under Gaddafi, Libyans arrived in Malta to do things they could not do at home. Today, rich Libyans are taking up residence in Pendergarten and Tigne Point, the article says.
The article goes on to speak about Libyan companies which set up shop in Mosta and students who come over to learn English in St Julian’s. When their tourist pass expires, the report says, Libyans turn to the Emigrants Commission for help.
Full article here