An MP's views on immigrants

I would like to congratulate MP Franco Galea for his parliamentary speech during the sitting of January 10. It seems the media has swept this speech under the carpet as I have seen no reference to it elsewhere. However, I am sure the case is not such in this newspaper, where I would like to highlight excerpts from this Nationalist MP's speech:

"...Today I shall again speak about the illegal immigration problem within our country, which is causing concern to quite a few of our people. Recently I went to a five star hotel, where an African porter opened the door for me. During the Christmas period I dined in another five star hotel, where I was served by a woman who I assume was of Eastern European origin. Two days later I was driving behind a domestic refuse collection truck, aboard which two African men were working.

"The country and I ask: Who of these possessed refugee status? Who of these was working in our country under the humanitarian protection clause? Who of these were actually illegal immigrants? One must not forget that these people, first and foremost, enter our country in an illegal manner, then, when caught or if caught, they try to do all possible things to legalise their situation. If there is no substantial proof that people like these are not eligible for refugee status they are supposed to be sent back to their place of origin.

"On a personal note, I have helped a lot, even the police force, to improve the conditions within the detention centres. I am no racist, but first and foremost in this Parliament my duty lies towards my country and its people, as I have taken an Oath of Loyalty towards them. Therefore I am obliged to relay here the feelings and the message of the patria.

"I wish to make an appeal to the NGOs to help all those who have a legal right to receive help but these people must conform to our country's regulations and the rules of present day government. We have the duty to listen to people's different opinions, however if detention is part of the process, everyone must respect this decision.

"I can personally assure everyone that all those members of the armed forces and the police force who are working in these detention centres are doing so at a great personal sacrifice and also at the sacrifice of their families and I point out that none of us should ever think that they are having a happy, easy, nice day out at work. One must also take the opportunity to thank them and their families for the work they are carrying out. Let us not ever think that the police, or any army officers, who are working in these centres do not have feelings towards these immigrants too.

"Some things are deeply disturbing the Maltese population. Such as the fact that some of these immigrants are costing the country about Lm80 a week per capita. Much more then, let us say, the average Maltese father earns to rear his children. These immigrants are finding all sorts of commodities for free without having to work for them when we have skilled Maltese workers whose skills we are not being put to use, such as in the case of a certain university professor and agricultural expert.

"The Maltese people have noticed that quite a few of these illegal immigrants carry mobile phones, luxuries which are not supposed to be affordable to them. My concern is that there are some Maltese people who are comparing themselves to these illegal immigrants. It could be because of employment reasons but in any case this should surely sound the alarm.

"We have to consider that these are human beings, especially in genuine cases where we are righteously obliged to help. On the other hand, as for those who are not of genuine nature, we have to remove them from our shores immediately. Is the employment question one where the Maltese are not willing to work or is it a question of it being cheaper to employ illegal immigrants?

"One thing that should surely worry us is the negative impact these people are causing on our economy, on our Maltese culture, on employment and on social benefits. Are we checking these people's backgrounds? Are we running DNA tests on these people's children when adults claim parenthood with the sole intention of staying here? These are serious matters which can alter the Maltese race.

"We ask why is it that while there exists an agreement between Italy and Libya, whereby Italy sends back illegal immigrants to Libya, Malta is not included in this agreement? Our country is a small country. Don't you ever think that our only problem is with the detained immigrants. The larger problem lies in the fact that most of them are not caught and are running free in our country. Thousands of overstayers who are working here in all kinds of forms, be it in prostitution, catering, building sites, etc. Some also go so far as pretending to be students or some other thing - they're taking us all for a ride without us realising it.

"The problem is a long-term one; the main problem, as I've said, being not those who are in the detention centres but those who are still free among us.

"Our country needs a crystal clear immigration policy and we know that next month there is a general conference which will address the issue. We must present a clear policy and make sure that we send out a clear message which arrives where it should be heard most - in these people's countries of origin.

"I hope that there will be a good turnout, in Malta's interest, or else we are heading straight towards disaster. Thank you."