Talks with Libya on repatriation of illegal immigrants

Talks are in hand with the Libyan government over an agreement to repatriate all illegal immigrants arriving in Malta from Libya, Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said yesterday.

Speaking at a news conference to review the fourth year in office, Dr Borg said the agreement being discussed was similar to the one signed with Italy. Discussions at a political level have already been held and now a technical delegation is dealing with the issue.

The news conference was also addressed by Justice Minister Austin Gatt, Economic Services Minister Josef Bonnici and by Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

Dr Borg said the police force had been strengthened and there had been substantial investment in law and order. More than 20 police stations had been rebuilt and modernised.

A total of Lm2 million had been spent on a range of specialised equipment for the police. A focused coordinated effort against drug abuse by the security services, the National Drugs Intelligence Unit and the police had borne fruit.

Additionally, important legislation had been enacted giving rights to victims of crime while the Criminal Code was strengthened with the classification of new crimes.

Dr Borg said he could not understand how the opposition was speaking of a "demoralised force" when, globally, officers were earning Lm2 million more than they did under Labour.

Prof. Bonnici said investment in the first six months of the year was 70 per cent higher than in 1998, when Labour was in power.

Enactment of the Business Promotion Act had given a new lease of life to factories that had long been established in Malta and that were reconsidering their position.

Contrary to predictions by prophets of doom, the sectors where levies were removed saw an investment of over 60 per cent over 1998.

Prof. Bonnici said he was again extending an invitation to the MLP to discuss the set up of Malta Enterprise with a technical team.

Dr Gatt said reforms at the law courts showed tangible results. There had been a 20 per cent reduction in the number of pending cases while 60 per cent of new civil cases were decided within a year.

The backlog had increased by 33 per cent under Labour, he said.

The government gave more funds and powers to local councils and most government services would soon be available from local councils.

Dr Gonzi said statistics showed the number of gainfully occupied had increased by 3,500.