From Mr M. Megawer

As the electoral campaign progresses and the day of election draws nearer, the two main political parties are increasingly pitting their candidates head to head against each other. The will of the majority will determine who will shape the future of the nation for the next five years. Despite the fact that Malta is a rock in the Mediterranean, and despite its successful entry in to the EU and euro zone, the next government will have a huge responsibility because the challenges facing Malta in a fast moving globalised world demand a hands-on government with resolve.

The increase in oil prices, the instability of the world economy, climate change, poverty, energy, political turmoil and wars waged in the name of democracy, are all major threats that endanger the stability of any society and any country. Many countries in Europe are also facing an affordability crisis due to the explosion in the cost of living and families are struggling to survive on a daily basis in this increasingly globalised economy.

The most serious problem Malta faces at present and will carry on facing in the coming years is that of illegal immigration, a problem Malta cannot solve on its own. After the discovery of new oil fields in the African continent, the competition between the superpowers as to whom will control these natural resources has increased dramatically especially with countries like China, Canada, India, America and other key European countries who already have a foothold in Africa. In a democratic society where the majority of the people share language, religion and cultural identity, political debates and power struggles are fought out in the media, at times in a civilized manner and at other times in a not so civilized way. In a country ruled by a dictatorial regime and where the majority of the people share language, religion and cultural identity, political debates and power struggles are fought out in a different manner, at times by torture, detention and death. Try to imagine the situation in Africa now, where foreign powers having different agendas, cultures, religions and languages all struggle to compete as to whom will exploit best Africa’s natural resources.

The result will be chaos! Political instability, economic decline and social unrest will result in hundreds of thousands of displaced people who will try to flee tragedy, misery and death as is already happening now.

For all these displaced people the only destination will be the North African shores where criminals will cheat them, and they risk their lives because they have to sail across the Mediterranean Sea at all costs. Only a few lucky ones will survive this tragedy! The world is plagued by wars, natural catastrophes and the inability of humans to see and respect others as human beings, which makes the survival of life on the planet risky. These Africans are weak people simply looking for a safe and better life. Poor Malta is the other victim in this human tragedy as it’s one of the EU countries nearest to the North African shores. The problem of illegal immigration is not a political issue but a humanitarian one; these people have fundamental human rights including the right to shelter and protection and one should treat them with respect.

To come out with a proposal to close down the open centres and make these people homeless is simply inhuman and shows lack of compassion; coming up with a strategy and realistic solution to this growing problem would have been much better.

It’s an interesting fact that xenophobia is a direct result of ignorance and intolerance and the billboard in Balzan is everything that the Maltese people are not. The problem of illegal immigration must be solved at source back in the country of origin, but personally I fail to understand how. Perhaps in Malta one can tackle this problem by helping these immigrants to integrate and become economically productive. The Maltese government could import traditional African raw materials and open up small workshops where traditional African products can be made by these immigrants and then sold outside Malta at a profit. Community trade can be a good solution, because besides helping the communities back in Africa it would also help these immigrants in Malta and it could even make a contribution to the Maltese economy.

Oh you who will win the general election, what a burden rests on your shoulders; the future is full of challenges and huge responsibilities and the citizens will bear witness to your failed or kept promises.

Moustafa Megawer

QAWRA