Migrating layers

There is a palpable increase in the worry, plus much worse, which quite a lot of people tend to feel over the arrival of boat people to swell the number who are already in Malta and have been here for quite a long time. The first layer of that worry is not related to little or much of a racial attitude. Rather, it reflects a growing doubt about how sustainable it is for us properly to house a substantial number of illegal immigrants.

The very fact that we are not, perhaps cannot, look after these uninvited guests as well as humanitarian considerations dictate fans this first layer of worry. Those of us who believe that people who land on our shores, invited or not, are our spiritual brothers and sisters cannot ignore the implications of the resulting presence. At times we try to apply economic considerations to the situation. We say that there are domestic openings which are not filled as they need to be, and that the pool of resident boat people can be tapped to fill the gap.

That is true to an extent. But the number of such immigrants who do work is nothing against that of those who, possibly through no choice of theirs, remain idle and thereby increasingly frustrated.

That reality held up to months ago, before the early signs of the global recession began to be seen and felt in our islands. It is all the more so now when job opportunities are becoming tight. Building contractors who used to say they cannot find enough human resources to fill their requirements, and who clamoured to be allowed to source labour from abroad, are not nearly as vociferous now. The construction sector, as those of tourism and manufacturing, is feeling the pinch of a growing slowdown.

There is still very visible and audible evidence of foreign workers active in those sectors. Some of them are in regular employment. An unquantified number are employed on the sly, probably at rates low enough to reflect that fact. It is a blot on our collective character that there are those who, as the going gets tough, find it more tempting to illegally employ expatriate workers at below market rates. Yet there you have it - notwithstanding the glaring evidence, official warnings and some inspections, the number of such workers is not evidently dropping.

Given a few more months as the recession grips those sectors, notwithstanding how many unrelated opportunities we might exploit in the rest of the services sector, resentment will grow.

That will bring a dangerous convergence with the second layer of those among us who are not only worried, but very unhappy at the presence of illegal immigrants. This layer includes a mix of outright racialists plus otherwise decent people who, especially when it comes to colour, see and express nothing but darkness.

In all seriousness, a sitting backbench Nationalist MP, in a blatant populist thrust, proposed that we give water and food to boat people who approach our shores, then tow them back into the open sea to fend for themselves. His was not among the worst proposals.

Aside from those who seek to exploit genuine concern with populist arguments, the problem is becoming more and more intractable. It will be interesting to see what the forthcoming parliamentary discussion of the issue at the request of the Labour opposition will produce in terms of innovative ideas. While waiting for some positive guiding light from our representatives, it seems to me that there is little we can do besides the following:

First, no matter what the growing tension in our innards, our soul must never forget that, even if we were not Christians who believe that we are cast in the image of a God of Love, we are humans, not animals. As such, we are in conscience obliged to provide shelter, food and other assistance to those who are less fortunate than us,

Second, in terms of our international commitments, we are obliged to take in those who are genuinely entitled to political asylum, which takes time to establish.

Third, where we establish that political asylum is not justified, we should attempt to repatriate as many as possible of the boat people who land on our shores or are rescued in our territorial waters. To this end diplomatic activity must not wear kid gloves.

Fourth, we have to strive to persuade other countries to take more illegal immigrants from us than they have done to date.

Fifth, we have to do our best to secure more aid from the European Union to help us care properly for illegal immigrants during their stay in Malta.

Sixth, we have to act to expose how boat people are being trafficked, and from where. There is a suspicion that feeder ships are leaving north African ports packed with would-be immigrants, and they then load them onto boats waiting in the middle of the Mediterranean. The racket should be exposed, by us in conjunction with other recipient countries, but if need be by us alone, in clear political language, no matter what the diplomatic implications will be.

This multiple approach, which surely can be added to, will not solve the problem overnight, nor will it remove it totally in the medium or long term - there are too many people fleeing their native country for political or economic reasons. Nevertheless the approach might to some extent control the unfolding situation, and perhaps ease it.

That will certainly not happen through wild talk or partisan political positioning.

If ever a considered common reasoned position was required, that is now.