The continuous arrival of irregular immigrants this summer has, once again, led to debate. The fact that, suddenly, we have had to cope with numbers that are just too much for us gives rise to some questions, to which we need immediate and long-term answers.
It is possible that today’s immigrants have different reasons for leaving their country, compared to the irregular immigrants who managed to escape from their homeland a decade ago, and went wherever the wind blew them.
Malta has been making its point on the immigration problem to the European Union and the outside world. Few have taken any notice, and Malta has recently stepped up its diplomatic efforts to get recognition of the crisis. We all hope that help will be forthcoming. However the next point is that, while help will be welcome, as it will surely assist Malta deal with the increasing number of immigrants who are making their way here, the international community must work harder to find a solution to the source of the problem.
The government, true to its social mind, has helped and will continue helping. But it must be said that irregular immigration is causing an immediate problem with regard to the number of arrivals, and will probably cause other difficulties in the future. A balance must be found, as our resources are what they are and the huge influx of people is putting pressure on our country.
Thinking of boats, and having recently seen the various small, man-made ports in Sicily, one must look at the potential that Malta and Gozo have for offering the right facilities for berthing yachts. We have many bays and inlets that are under-utilised. We can create smart ports, good quality facilities and attract the many French, Belgian and Spanish yachts that cruise in the southern Mediterranean and now stop over in Sicily.
This kind of tourism generates good income, leads to the creation of jobs, and is tourism of the middle-upper level. We must cater for the waiting list of berthing possibilities and create the “hotel recipe” for foreign boat berthing. It works and functions just 60 miles away.
They probably do things a bit faster than we do.
Again, summer months in Sicily means shops and town centres open seven days a week from morning till evening, thus creating not only the atmosphere a tourist and local wants, but creating another working shift for the owner who freely decides to open – thereby more jobs, sales and a feel-good factor. Our competitors are way ahead of us in this aspect. Malta does not offer much for when time on the beach is over. Even our museums close when the tourist wants to visit them without having to do so under the scorching sun.
When one thinks that Malta has better natural facilities, backdrops and a historical advantage, it is sad that we are surpassed by countries competing with us for tourism. These factors attract the middle-aged couples with a child or two, the kind of traffic that we losing and replacing with student traffic. That, of course, is welcome, but should have been an addition to the bread-and-butter traffic, rather than a replacement. Maybe the relevant authorities could work on such ideas and implement them fast. Nobody waits for us.
Robert Arrigo is a
Nationalist MP