It is clear from the number of letters you receive that the Maltese do not relish a further influx of illegal immigrants into Malta.
It is one message that appears to have no significance for Dr Tonio Borg and Dolores Cristina in so far as these two good people have not quite reached into the soul of the people who elected them.
Dr Borg boasts about the high percentage approval rate of applications for refugee status granted while Mrs Cristina spends taxpayers’ money to provide all mod cons including Muslim style toilets to the illegal immigrants in converted service barracks. Is that what the public wants to hear? It is not outside the range of possibility that another huge influx of illegal immigrants will swamp the nation. What then? Build more accommodation units?
The government policy on illegal immigrants is all wrong. Instead of going cap in hand begging the EU and Libya to help. it should act unilaterally. For years Malta has received no help at all from any nation and the EU to solve this massive problem we are facing. Malta, in the face of non-cooperation from any source, must have the courage to act for itself.
It should show the EU in particular that it cannot afford to allocate any more resources to look after illegal immigrants. It must first announce that it will not spend another penny on our unwanted guests. It should house these in tented cities in compounds similar to the Australian model. It must create special courts to ensure that all immigrants who land here unlawfully be subject to prosecution and punishment.
Let those meddling busybodies like the Jesuit Refugee Service, UNHCR and Amnesty International howl in protest at a tougher hard line policy. The deterrent factor should be evident. If any bleeding heart individual protests or if any of these above voice their disapproval, then let them spend their money to look after these people.
Talk is cheap. Why must we be so timid? Why must we, going through this crisis, always worry what other nations think of us? Have we lost our renowned courage to act when needs must?
The time for diplomatic approaches and acting the good guys is over because it has not benefited our nation in any way. It is time for Ministers Borg, Cristina and Frendo to think of this nation and its people first and foremost and not depend on others to provide because that will never happen.
They should have sussed that out by now.
Joe Borg
XGHAJRA