Updated at 5.40pm with Mr Mizzi's comments

Guardian for Future Generations Maurice Mizzi resigned on Thursday, three weeks after sparking controversy with remarks about Muslims. 

In a letter to Environment Minister Jose Herrera, Mr Mizzi said that he was stepping aside to spare him trouble over the case. 

"I know you are facing a difficult decision," he wrote. 

Speaking to the Times of Malta, Mr Mizzi said that it was the second time he was resigning in 10 days. An initial offer to resign, he said, had not been accepted. 

Earlier this month, Minister Herrera had said that he would be considering Mr Mizzi's position, having heard him out following comments he made while being interviewed. 

In an interview with The Sunday Times of Malta last month, Mr Mizzi made several controversial comments about Muslim people, saying Malta was a Catholic country, and "when I die, I want to die in a Catholic country".

He had said there were "so many Muslims coming - they are all having nine babies, next to our two - and they will take over eventually".

“Muslims don’t change," he had added. 

His comments sparked multiple calls for his dismissal, with NGOs criticising his “racist discourse”. President George Vella also expressed outrage at his comments, saying they were absolutely appalling.

Environment Minister Jose Herrera had told Times of Malta he disagreed with the comments but stopped short of saying he should resign. Just a few weeks ago, he said he was still “considering his position”.

'I was honest' - Mizzi

In his resignation letter, Mr Mizzi reiterated his conviction that his comments were "in the best interests of our islands and of their present inhabitants".

"I also had in mind our children, grandchildren and those who have not yet been born," he added. 

His comments, he said, were personal and did not reflect the views of other members of the Guardian for Future Generations.

Noting that he employed many migrants at his company and cared for several more indirectly as the benefactor of the Spiro Mizzi Foundation, he said his comments were "only echoing what two politicians said without offering their resignation" and inspired by Cardinal Burke's views.

Earlier this year, US cardinal Raymond Burke had argued that “to resist large-scale Muslim immigration in my judgment is to be responsible" and called Muslim migrants "opportunists". 

Mr Mizzi said he had received "hundreds of emails and phone calls" backing him and his stance. Those who had criticised him were somewhat hypocritical, he suggested. 

"Not only do I believe that immigrants who are living in Malta should continue to live and work here but I am disillusioned by the way that they are being treated and given the lowest jobs with the worst pay," he wrote. 

"I wonder what those few people who criticised me are doing in order to help these immigrants". 

Ministry thanks Mizzi for his work

In a statement, the Environment Ministry said Dr Herrera thanked Mr Mizzi for the dedication shown in his work during his past two years of his tenure. He also thanked him for the valuable feedback given on various subjects related to sustainable development.