Weeks ago, the images of Lamin Jaiteh lying on the pavement in the vicinity of Selmun shook the nation. It is unfathomable how his so called ‘boss’ dumped him there after having sustained arm and back injuries through a fall at a construction site, instead of rushing him to hospital!
His lack of a work permit was cited as an excuse for resorting to dumping Lamin onto the pavement. Doesn’t that echo the old time saying that two wrongs do not make a right?! Alas, it happened.
Viewing the images taken and listening to the story being retold time and time again, even as court proceedings are underway, immediately brings to mind the parable of the Good Samaritan mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. A quick reminder, the parable is about a traveller who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half-dead alongside the road. First a Jewish priest and then a Levite come by, but both avoid the man. Finally, a Samaritan happens upon the traveller. Samaritans and Jews despised each other, but the Samaritan helps the injured man. Nowadays, being a ‘Good Samaritan’ is considered to be a cultural shorthand for demonstrating kindness and assisting those who are less fortunate.
Yet, it might not be of such a surprise that such behaviour has occurred in our beloved Malta. Whilst commending that both mainstream political parties have condemned such an unspeakable act, there has been rhetoric in the past which has only contributed to spark a certain degree of racism. Moreover, the cultural changes in Maltese society which, when the need arises boasts of being fervently catholic, has also contributed to the indifference exercised by certain local entrepreneurs as they go on engaging such migrant workers.
When one considers the ordeal migrants such as Lamin endured in reaching our shores in the hope of securing a better way of life for them and their loved ones, being dumped on a pavement after suffering an injury at work is simply incomprehensible. It is tantamount to adding insult to injury! As coherently argued by another section of the local press in the English language ‘…the horse has bolted and only a change in narrative, the introduction of effective policies and education can extract us from the selfish and exploitative society we have become.’
Of all three the last is, in my humble opinion, of paramount importance. Just as we have meticulously ingrained into our younger generation to be environmentally friendly, we can also induce our younger ones to be migrant friendly. It is evident that the younger generation draw their parents’ attention as to what is environmentally right and wrong. Similarly, those responsible for our children’s education can bring them to express solidarity towards migrant workers.
Let’s be honest, our fellow migrant workers are now fulfilling a very important role as they go along doing the work we are reluctant to do – such as ensuring that our trash is collected on a daily basis! So, it is only fair and just that we show them respect.
Consequently, as a Maltese citizen I feel obliged to say thank you to all those who stood by Lamin until first responders arrived, to the paramedics who administered first aid to him, to the members of the police force who demonstrated compassion that such behaviour in a civilised country is simply not on and to all the medical staff at Mater Dei who were monitoring Lamin’s recovery with great professionalism and dedication. To all of you thank you for being the Good Samaritan! I am sure that your good deeds will not go by unnoticed.
Ivan Grixti is a senior lecturer in Financial Accounting at the University of Malta