I fully agree with your correspondent Carmel Camilleri that the instinct of most Maltese to resist the invasion of African boat people cannot be equated to racism. (TMIS, 22 October). We should also bear in mind that Malta has been very badly served by organisations whose duty it is to help us.

UNHCR, which describes itself as the United Nations’ refugee agency, has not helped us resettle the thousands of refugees, humanitarian cases and illegal immigrants at present in Malta, its excuse being that it cannot find a place for them in other European countries. But how about resettling them in other African countries, since Africa is where most of them came from?

UNHCR also overstepped its mandate during the Spanish trawler crisis last July when it pressed Malta to accept the illegal immigrants, supposedly for a temporary period only, even though they were picked up outside Malta’s search and rescue area. In a standoff between Malta and Spain, two member States of the United Nations, UNHCR tried to put pressure on Malta to weaken its negotiating position. Of course it failed, but only thanks to the firm stand taken by Foreign Minister Michael Frendo. We shall keep in mind UNHCR’s attitude on that occasion next time it tries to tell us what we should do.

Louise Vella

MOSTA