and is much better than developing countries. We should also be grateful to God that in this part of the world, at least in these 50 years or so, we are living peacefully and as such we do not need to migrate from here to other stable and safer countries. This is not the case in a number of African countries and that is one reason why a good number of people from these countries risk their lives to seek new pastures in other countries.
In this scenario, Malta is one of the European countries that are suffering most from this phenomenon of illegal migration. As human beings and as Christians we are obliged to do our utmost to help these desperate people that risk their lives to seek a better future in an unfamiliar country. However we do have our limits and as a small island state in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea we definitely need to have additional support and help.
Being members of the European Union should have been much easier for us to seek help and support from our partners. However experience shows that it is not the case. We as Maltese aired our views in the European institutions and with the respective member states’ governments. We cannot say that we achieved what we requested. In my opinion we achieved very little.
We, as Maltese, are asking the EU member states for burden sharing. Until now we experienced burden shifting since Malta to the south is at the border of the EU. If we are partners we should be partners in everything, even on this sensitive issue. The United States of America took a number of refugees. The number is more than all the EU states together. It seems that the US understands and tries to help much more than our partners in the EU.
Some time ago I was part of a Parliamentary delegation that visited Germany and of course the issue of irregular migration was on the top of our agenda. It seems that the federal government of Germany understands our position and in fact we were briefed about the way forward by a junior minister and their proposals to the EU. I hope that other EU member states do the same.
I also urge their ambassadors resident in Malta to explain and put pressure on their respective governments about the critical situation that Malta is facing. I also hope that the government of Libya tries to be more helpful in this regard and while acknowledging that Libya also has a problem, this nearby country should be more cooperative with Malta and the EU.
Il-Budaj
Two years passed from the death of Frans Baldacchino, better known as il-Budaj. He was known to be one of the best folk singers traditionally known as ghana. But he was also a poet and enjoyed reading and writing. Not only, but we can say that he gave his contribution in the field of the arts through painting and sculpture. Born in Zejtun in 1943, Frans also participated in a festival of Mediterranean folk in Paris after receiving an invitation by the French government.
On Saturday 21 June 2008, exactly two years from his departure, a group of promoters managed to put up a monument in his memory in a garden at Zejtun. The monument will help us all not to forget him but the best way to remember il-Budaj is to continue promoting the Maltese traditions, mainly ghana.
Mad challenge
A couple of days ago Daniel Abela, a marketing consultant, rowed from Pozzallo in Sicily to the Valletta Waterfront to give the terminally ill kids a ray of light. In fact the scope was to collect money to raise funds to send these children on a dream holiday with their parents.
Daniel is not new to similar activities especially those related with charity. We should do our part too and contribute to support this activity that Daniel so bravely did by sending money directly to him at 217/1, 21st September Avenue, Naxxar NXR 1013, or to an HSBC account number 085114437050. Well done, Daniel.
Unita` 2008
For the sixth consecutive year the parish of Marsascala organised the annual art exhibition by various artists at the St. Anne Centre in Marsascala. This is not only an occasion for the parish to raise some funds for the needs of the same parish, but also for various artists to display their works. Established artists and beginners mingle their works in this hall and the subjects of the paintings vary from portraits to sceneries and some sculptures. This became an annual event in the cultural calendar and another occasion for local artists to exhibit their talents. Keep up the good work.
Carmelo Abela is Deputy Speaker and Labour Member of Parliament
www.carmeloabela.org