Gonzi urges MPs to speak responsibly

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has urged his party's MPs to speak with "a high sense of responsibility" where irregular immigration is concerned, and to reflect the values and principles of their political beliefs.

The Prime Minister's comments are featured in an article in The Times today probing the apparant rise of xenophobia in Malta.

A number of surveys, the latest having been carried out by The Sunday Times, have shown that anti-immigration sentiment is rife, fuelled by the arrivals of hundreds of boat people from Africa.

Dr Gonzi was asked whether he felt that politicians were simply pandering to people's prejudices, especially after comments made by Parliamentary Secretary Tony Abela and backbencher Franco Galea, which were perceived by some to be taking a hard line on the migrant question.

"We have the difficult and delicate responsibility to lead people into making the right choices that will help us overcome our fears and face this challenge as a society that has enshrined its identity in human history," he said.

Speaking during a highly charged public dialogue last month, Dr Gonzi had urged those present to question their values, before condemning irregular immigrants.

"We're preoccupied about our horses under the scorching sun and we'll build places to shade them. But how many people are concerned about irregular immigrants?" he asked.