From Mr C. Debono

The illegal immigration season has opened once again. Valuable time has been wasted by our government due to its passive attitude. No repatriation agreement has been reached and the Europe we are so proud of has shut its ears to our pleas.

In my lifetime, I have seen Malta change from a rural to an urban society. Through the years we have endured political and other turmoil but have always managed to sort things out because we were a closed society. Not any more.

In the last couple of years, we have seen an ever increasing number of illegal immigrants making it to our shores, be it through chance, intention or forced landings brought about by our political masters in Rome. As if it’s not enough that they turn up on our shores, we are also obliged to send our armed forces 70 miles out at sea in order to ensure their safe passage to Malta. Next thing we’ll be organising Air Malta charter flights direct from Tripoli.

I am inflamed with anger whenever an immigrant makes it to our country because I know that he or she will not be going back. These people are stealing our identity, culture, the jobs of our children with the creation of cheap labour and a further burden on our inadequate income and debt-ridden economy. Our established political parties seem incapable of realising the grave danger they are putting our society in for years to come. These people don’t come from a cultured society. Most of them come from a violent culture where lawlessness rules supreme. Others are far better off than they pretend to be, which is clearly evident by the mobiles and gold chains they sport. Others yet are arrogant and don’t be fooled into believing otherwise; once their numbers grow, they will impose their will on us by force if necessary. Do not expect other nations to come to our aid.

Government and opposition seem to be more intent on lessening the detention period and creating more open centres instead of finding ways to send them back. Malta cannot afford to be passive any longer. It is up to its citizens to act now.

I call on our government to place the rights of the Maltese citizens first and foremost and stop sucking up to Brussels and other human rights organisations. Other nations are tightening their immigration control while they criticise our country for not being more open to these immigrants. How low are we going to stoop? This government has sold our dignity just to appease every Tom, Dick and Harry.

Far from becoming a European nation, Malta is fast becoming a North African suburb and the dustbin of Europe. Is this the ‘New Spring’ we were promised to join Europe? Far better had we not joined, for in our isolation lies our survival.

Our government does not have the will or the power to make Libya take these people back. Minister Tonio Borg should seek an agreement with our Italian friends to repatriate our immigrants through Italy at the expense of the Maltese government. Perhaps in this way he can make amends for the humiliation of the repatriation agreement the Italians imposed on him and of which he is so proud. Italy has a repatriation agreement with Libya (and Malta) and is applying it in full force, irrespective of UNHCR and other human rights organisations.

I call on the younger generation to make their voices heard, as it is their future that is mostly at risk.

I fear the government has already lost control of the situation as there never was or will be a plan to stem the influx of these immigrants. Malta will now become their primary target since Italy has closed its doors. If this situation remains unchecked, I predict that in the next general election, the main political parties will lose votes to the strong emerging right wing movements, should they decide to contest the election.

I sincerely hope they do.

For those misguided readers who will call my article racist, I call it nationalist. It is the sacred duty of every Maltese citizen to preserve his nation’s identity for his own sake and future generations.

Charles Debono

MARSA