From Ms L. Vella

The Malta Independent on Sunday (11 February), like its sister newspaper The Malta Independent (7 February), carried a report on a meeting on the integration of third country nationals but emphasised different points. May I comment on some of them?

Dr Katrine Camilleri of the Jesuit Refugee Service was quoted as saying: “I know of people who have been living in Malta for four years yet still feel the need to settle elsewhere to set up home.” May I ask Dr Camilleri whether JRS has been making any efforts at repatriating those illegal immigrants who have not qualified for refugee status? It seems that JRS and UNHCR try to humour these immigrants when they express the wish to go to some developed country (the USA, Germany, Sweden…) and when they are refused they try to make them stay in Malta. Has JRS become the Jesuit Immigration Service?

Dr Camilleri also said: “We need to adopt policies and laws that are in line with EU laws”. As she knows, most African countries have signed a readmission clause obliging them to take back their own nationals, as part of their Agreements with the EU. Is JRS advocating that these readmission clauses be implemented? Dr Camilleri objects to illegal immigrants being taken to hospital in handcuffs. She must know that many of them have escaped while on their way to hospital and tried to enter Sicily illegally by boat. It is therefore necessary for them to be restrained to avoid such incidents and negative repercussions in our relations with other European countries.

The report further states that an Albanian, Tim Peco, complained that he is not recognised as a Maltese citizen. But no third country national has a right to Maltese citizenship. Can any Maltese claim Albanian or US or Italian citizenship just because he goes to a country and wants to be officially recognised as a citizen?

Finally, Mario Friggieri of Appogg is quoted as saying that “many of the immigrants who said they were working were not happy with what they are paid”. I assure him that I am not happy with what I am paid either; indeed, I know few people who are.

Louise Vella

MOSTA