On Saturday 14 July, I came across the TV programme Realtà that was discussing illegal immigrants. From the little I heard it seems that most of these talk shows are missing the point.

I agree of course that the detention centre needs to be refurbished but it cannot be transformed into a welcoming centre as some have suggested because we have to remember that they arrived in Malta illegally! How can I compare those who pay to come here on a cruise liner to these people? It’s stupid to say the least. Having said that, the immigrants should not be separated from their families and should not be detained for more than six months.

However, the biggest problem is far from being the detention centre. What really rankles with a good 80 per of the Maltese is that most of these people are working without paying taxes, national insurance and then given more rights and benefits than Maltese citizens who need help. So yes, most Maltese feel betrayed by this system. We are not racists but want justice.

I, for one, have been stripped of various rights, degraded, humiliated and threatened by the present government for my political beliefs, then an illegal immigrant arrives and receives what’s rightfully mine the next day!! So I ask: is it the same government that made it illegal to make racist comments when it is being racist itself? Are the policies designed by authorities instigating racism?

Albert de Marco 

MRIEHEL