Last Wednesday Joseph Muscat struck a chord nationally by putting the illegal immigration issue on centre stage. It came on the same day when one of the largest ever number of landings of such immigrants took place, to add insult to injury with other irregular immigrants on shore almost looking like a welcome party.

The Prime Minister’s reaction was even more frustrating than the resultant situation in the illegal immigration sector. One moment claiming that the situation is worrying and can even get worse due to the worsening international economic climate only to go on to make the point that this does not warrant an urgent debate.

He tried to hammer home the fact that this issue is a challenge for our national values.

Agreed, but the Prime Minister should also realise that the absolute majority of the Maltese, including highly educated middle and upper class families, genuinely feel that their long cherished values and way of life are being threatened.

The strongest point Joseph made was that this government seems to have developed a penchant for expecting us to keep mum simply because we happen to have been briefed by its anchormen on any issue, regardless of how politically correct and cordial the briefing session might have been.

I have gone through this on climate issues as well as on the solid waste management strategy.

But the omertà continues to prevail.

We ask for energy policy documents and remain empty handed.

We request alternative strategy documents and the reply is zilch.

We ask for studies connected to the selection process leading up to the Sikka l-Bajda wind farm project and so far we have been kept yawning.

We come across government documents which refer to specific studies which are not tabled in the House when we make such a request.

We are told of studies made by government working groups and then remain in the dark as to who helped the government formulate its policies.

On the illegal immigration issue the situation becomes more irritable and frustrating.

It is our firm belief that the government has so far been too weak in its dealings with the EU and Joseph Muscat did well to promise that we will take a firmer stand in all the European fora where we are represented.

As time goes by the situation is becoming more alarming and critical.

Throughout 2007, fewer than 1,700 arrivals were recorded.

In the first eight months of 2008 we had already ‘welcomed’ 2,200 would-be illegal immigrants.

Deutsche Welle itself had stated on the 7 September 2008 that this is as if 45,000 people had landed in Germany. Quite frankly a gross underestimation, by any count!

I share Joseph Muscat’s concern that the government’s decision to try and keep this issue off the internal political agenda is fuelling xenophobia and racism further.

In fact even Deutsche Welle admitted that newspaper forums on the staunchly Catholic (!!) island suggest that sentiments of racism run high with many Maltese.

It would be a gratuitous and irresponsible stand to try and conclude that Joseph is merely riding the wave and trying to resort to cheap populism on this issue.

But on the other hand his failure to do so would render him an accomplice of the government’s policy of trying to quell the people’s anger by merely not talking about it... in spite of the fact that this happens to be one of the major topics of discussion and concern among practically all the families we meet in our political career, regardless of their social backgrounds.

We cannot afford to be or act in a coy manner on this issue.

We seem to be shutting ourselves to the following harsh truths:

· The apparent lack of political goodwill of other EU states who have responded tepidly to our request for the introduction of burden sharing which has now been watered down to our government’s acceptance of a merely voluntary scheme;

· Ironically the country which has supported us most is a major non-EU country – the United States of America;

· The perceived failure of the Frontex border patrols has increased Maltese scepticism of the EU’s anti-illegal immigration measures;

· Although most migrants want to leave Malta under the EU’s Dublin regulation they can only apply for refugee status in the first member state they enter;

· The commander of our Armed Forces has often gone on record claiming that the detention centres for illegal immigrants were at breaking point;

· The annual influx is well exceeding our official national annual birth rate.

But if you ask me the fundamental issue over which there is a strong sense of omertà is the fact that what we are talking of is not just a ‘humanitarian’ problem but of a massive criminal operation made up of an extensive network of criminal rackets.

To be fair, former Foreign Minister Michael Frendo used to emphasise this repeatedly but I get the feeling that without condoning such criminality, the government is tending to gloss over this crucial and determining factor.

It was wise of Joseph Muscat to suggest that the debate – when eventually held – will not be subject to a parliamentary vote. This way we will make sure that nobody should exit parliament with egg on his face.

But on the other hand this socio-economic challenge must be addressed for what it is, particularly since it has now also gained a stark demographic dimension too.

When we read of open centre inmates or people who have just moved out of open centres indulging in acts of criminality, such as cocaine trafficking, that strengthens the view that this crisis is not only straining our social fabric, but also our internal security and public order.

The international media have been commenting time and time again that Malta is alarmed by the migrant flux as well as that Maltese anger is mounting over rising illegal immigration.

The only problem is that although we need urgent action and that Malta needs help – now, the international community; particularly our closest neighbours have proved to be indifferent to our cause. It is time to change tack!

E-mail: [email protected]

Leo Brincat is the Main Opposition Spokesperson for the Environment, Sustainable Development & Climate Change.