The Maltese colonised Africa too, you know: Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt.

Learn your history.

I mean illegal as in having entered Maltese territory illegally. Yes, I know about the nuances of the law which kind of makes the entry legal once it is established that the person has the right to be on the territory, but I think it’s best not to be clear about it. Call them boat people if you will.

@Chris M

People who have residency papers, or who have applied for or are granted humanitarian protection or asylum, are not in Malta illegally.

It may be news to you, but the proper channel for seeking asylum is to enter a safe haven with or without documentation and to then apply for asylum.

Political correctness has nothing to do with the matter. These are facts, but you can’t rely on Norman Lowell for that sort of information. The man is not right in the head, and nor are you if you can’t see that.

@Chris M Tourists do not all bring wealth to a country. Some create more damage and disturbance than they’re worth. Tourism may inject cash into an economy but it depletes resources in other ways. Tourists are more likely to overuse or waste our very expensively produced tap water, for instance.
4000 migrants create less pressure on our infrastructure than do 1.5 million tourists.

When you factor in the low wages paid to immigrants who work in agriculture, tourism, and general public maintenance, you could say that migration is actually useful for Malta’s tourism industry. But that is not the point, is it?

Here’s the bit that racists and xenophobes never bother with: Malta doesn’t cover most of the costs involved in immigration. Other European countries do.

@Chris M Xenophobia is intrinsic, as is any other type of phobia. Agoraphobes do not cease to be so because they are indoors. What would you suggest there? Building up every available open space just so agoraphobes can relax and feel they’re normal? What would you do about the claustrophobes, then?

The solution to xenophobia is to deal with the xenophobe and not with the focus of the xenophobe’s fixation.

We have problems with other foreigners besides those coming from Africa or is it the colour of the skin that is really bothering you?

I see you are one of those wearing shoes now, only you have them on the wrong foot.

The lunatics have taken over the asylum.

[Daphne – Not very bright are you. Any immigrant with an ID card and the right to live and work in Malta is by definition not illegal. As for criminals, let’s not go there, shall we? Cyrus Engerer might be upset.]

Neil Falzon and Aditus are talking about all non-EU migrants residing in Malta, not just illegal ones. That would include the 30,000 registered Russians (of which about 5000 are residents), the 5000 Serbians, the Libyans and the uncounted Chinese.

Where did you think the crowds came that greeted the Huangshan and Hengshan at the quayside with little red flags?

No one rails against them.

[Daphne – Neil Falzon and Aditus are not talking about illegal immigrants at all, H. P. Migrants who have an ID card and freedom of movement in Malta are by definition not illegal.]

That’s exactly what I’m saying, Chris M.

Malta is tiny and overcrowded, and yet we seek to attract even more tourists, and congratulate ourselves on the 1.5 million tourists a year.

4000 is a mere fraction of 1.5 million.

Please make up your mind. Is Malta tiny for everyone or not?

Eve, been there, done that.

And Muscat will be after the African immigrant vote 2 years before the next general election. What does he care where his votes come from?