Your editorial (TMID 29 December) assessing the failure of L-Istrina to reach its target of Lm1 million has not taken into account the impact of an anonymous email urging its readers not to

contribute to this charity event unless those donating money ensured that no funds were directed towards illegal immigrants.

Nasty as that email was, your newspaper and Peppi Azzopardi should not underestimate the

general resentment people have against illegal immigrants who are blamed for taking up resources normally allocated to our people.

Peppi Azzopardi is well known for his liberal views and has been quite vociferous on behalf of illegal immigrants.

Some people may have got the impression that L-Istrina was organised for their benefit while

others may not have been very happy that such a large amount was to be allocated for the immigrants or “irregulars” as some prefer to call them.

There is a strong undercurrent of prejudice against these people.

The more you take a moralistic approach against it, the bigger the resentment.

This may explain why L-Istrina did not reach its target.

Joe Borg

Xghajra