In a seminar on “Exploring integration of refugees in Malta”, organized by the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR in St.Paul’s Bay on the occasion of the World Refugee Day 2008, Arnold Cassola, Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika- The Green Party brought up the issue regarding the detention period.

Prof Cassola noted that the detention period of up to 18 months just agreed upon by the European parliament has nothing to do with the issue of boat people entering Malta and does not address the Maltese problem. In fact, the European parliament is referring, through this detention policy, to “regular” migrants who commit a criminal offense by overstaying their visa permit, after having entered a country with a regular visa. The boat people, instead, are “irregular” migrants who have not committed any criminal offence since they have entered our country to escape poverty, wars, natural disasters etc and are asking for refugee and asylum status.

“It is necessary for our government to have a clear policy on the detention period in these cases”, said Prof. Cassola. Arnold Cassola also commended the Maltese government on its decision to commence education programmes in the closed centres. “It is important that irregular migrants are involved as from day one -even in closed centres- in educational, recreational, sports and cultural activities and language courses,” said the AD chairperson.

Stephen Cachia, AD Deputy Chairperson and Spokesperson on Democracy and Civil Rights, stressed that the Maltese government policy on irregular migration should be based on two pillars: a humane approach to the issue as opposed to a repressive one and the respect of Maltese law. All irregular migrants, as all Maltese citizens, should be trained in the respect of Maltese legislation.