Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1031063
NEWS 10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 SEPTEMBER 2018 NATIONALIST Party (PN) leader Adrian Delia, during a Sunday speech claimed that the influx of foreigners is rob- bing Maltese nationals of their liberty, while also making older people feel scared in their own homes. Delia insisted that the lack of a proper migration policy is eroding our values, while caus- ing havoc with the Maltese identity. In an interview with Malta- Today, Marsa mayor Francis Debono said that the migration issue should be tackled on a na- tional scale. "Immigration is Marsa's big- gest problem, but I also believe that it's more of a national is- sue," Marsa mayor Francis Debono said. "The problem we have in my opinion is that we are blaming the lack of action done by the national authorities on the local council. There's only so much we can do," Debono said. Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants director, Ahmed Bugre, somewhat disa- greed with this statement. "In order for the community to solve the problem, it is vital to have everyone reaching out to each other," Bugre said. "The migrant community in Marsa is part of the Marsa com- munity, therefore the council must look to find solutions. I do agree that it is a national prob- lem, but the council can't brush one's shoulders to the situa- tion," Ahmed Bugre insisted. Debono also said that the problems instigated by the mi- nority are blamed on the ma- jority, with those individuals who are causing all the trouble putting a bad label on those that don't. Asked if the Marsa stigma is merited, Debono claimed that one has to analyse where and from whom the stigma is coming. "Who is creating the stigma? Do they have any political gain from the stigma created? I think one should see those factors first before asking if the stigma is merited or not," he said. Debono insisted that Marsa is part of a whole country, and therefore what is happening in Marsa can be seen all over Malta. "We need to stop giving local- ities a bad name, it's happened in the past with the Cottonera region and is happening today with Marsa and Hamrun," the mayor claimed. On policing, Debono said that the increase of police personnel has helped to control illicit and irregular activities. This contradicts a claim made by one of the locals interviewed by the newspaper, who said that police presence is only felt when a fight or some irregular activity hits the headlines, with the illegalities resuming when the issue dies down. "After a week or two the num- ber of police we see frequenting the area diminishes, and that's when the illegalities return to their normal ways," a woman frequenting the Marsa Band Club told the newspaper. Debono said that regular po- licing also keeps the locals at ease, as according to him mi- grants don't want to face law enforcement. Bugre agreed that proper law- enforcement is essential, but claimed that it does not solve the problem. "When we increase policing we only suppress the problem. What happens when you tell someone sleeping on the street to go away? He finds some- where else like a public garden or another neighbouring area," Policing was evident when MaltaToday went to Marsa, with regular Rapid Intervention Unit patrol cars seen scouring the streets. The only lack of police pres- ence was seen inside the police station, with only one individu- al taking care of the night shift. Asked whether this was the norm, the officer replied by saying that he was to be accom- panied by another police officer who had called in sick but was not replaced. When faced with the ques- tion of whether the police en- force loitering laws in Marsa, the police officer stationed for the night shift at the Marsa po- lice station said no, despite the mayor's claims of doing so. "We only enforce drinking by-laws, no loitering laws are enforced by us," the police of- ficer said. Faced with the police officer's response, Debono said that it was irresponsible of him to state such things. Debono said that the anti- loitering law was proposed by himself, in an effort to curb il- legalities like prostitution and drugs. The anti-loitering law was also pushed forward to prevent the illegal recruitment of migrant workers from the well-known Marsa roundabout according to the mayor. Earlier this month, PN MEP candidate Dione Borg, pub- lished an online video blog talk- ing about the migrant situation in Marsa, highlighting the fact that establishments that were run by Maltese nationals are now being run by migrants. Asked to comment, Bugre said that the comment was de- plorable. "All I have to say is that it was a cheap way at trying to attract voters back. It wasn't even a populist move and I won't give that statement the dignity of answering it," Bugre said. "When migrants are not working they complain. When migrants are working they complain. What do the Maltese want? Do they want migrants Migrants debate rages on with solution in sight for the near future As the immigration debate continues to escalate, politicians and pressure groups from both ends of the spectrum continue to voice their opinions. KARL AZZOPARDI took to the streets to experience first-hand the realities the Marsa community experiences on a daily basis No, we don't have a housing crisis. It is the responsibility of those sleeping in gardens and public spaces to stop doing so Francis Debono Marsa mayor