Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1055420
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 NOVEMBER 2018 NEWS MATTHEW VELLA TERRY Gosden is one of the few great people I met as a young reporter. I met him briefly and spoke to him on the phone frequently for work purposes. And only now that he is gone, I remem- ber his self-effacing dedication having instilled in me the im- portance of human solidarity and how crucial the mission of social workers and trade un- ionists was in our lives – even for those who think they 'will never be left behind'. I just wish I had spoken to him a bit more while not on duty. Just a week since his passing at the age of 62, I can be thank- ful for having met Gosden at a time in my life when my heart had not been hardened by the cynicism of political reporting. In 2002 or thereabouts, Univer- sity of Malta visiting lecturer Gary Armstrong – whose work dealt with criminology and football – introduced us to the portly Gosden, a former trade unionist and social worker at a men's shelter, with a hangdog expression which however ex- uded friendliness and patience. Gosden was an enlightened connoisseur of diversity and precarity who in 2004 started running the Marsa open centre at a time when migrant rescues prompted far-right demonstra- tions out in the Maltese streets. He was then one of the first people on the ground dealing with Malta's new migration phenomenon. "How we treat people reflects on us as humans and generations to come" was a gentle affirmation of his that I still remember to this day. To- day I think of that intonation as a simply prayer rather than some lofty quote. Gosden was surely a man dedicated to those left out on the margins of life and society. In 2004, Gosden moved from the Gzira homeless shelter Dar Leopoldo that was managed by Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem, to manage the Marsa centre, also run by the same founda- tion. "His management style and attitude were remarkable," said Graffitti activist Andre Callus, who got to know Gosden at the Marsa open centre while visit- ing friends who were seeking asylum. "He treated everyone as equal, a humble person with no power trips." Callus says that even in the prevailing climate of treat- ing migration as a national 'problem', Gosden struck out by taking a democratic and participatory-based approach to management. "The centre was 'open' in all senses, to resi- dents, their friends and organi- sations working in the field," he says, pointing to the fact that Gosden wanted migrants to contribute to the running of the centre itself. "His management was one of constant dialogue and em- powerment; not a top-down approach of 'control', but one that recognised the residents' belonging to the place and their potential in creating a positive space that made their difficult lives in Malta more bearable." Callus mentions as an exam- ple Gosden's encouragement for migrants to open small businesses within the centre. "These varied from restaurants and internet cafes, to bike-re- pair, barbers and tailors. Clear- ly, there were also many chal- lenges. The centre's structure was dilapidated and managing a small place with hundreds of people from different countries was no easy task. However, although the place was often reviled in the media as a hub of problems, in reality it was a vibrant hub of empowerment, solidarity and friendship. This was thanks to Terry Gosden and his genuine belief in the values of equality and human solidarity." He left Marsa in 2008, resign- ing abruptly after being sub- ordinated by a board decision that wanted to introduce new management. But he reappeared at the un- likeliest of places, as a special- ist on third country nationals for the General Workers Un- ion, just as the left-wing union was being accused of adopting a sceptic and at times, abrasive line on irregular immigration and asylum. Notoriously, in 2008 GWU secretary-general Tony Zarb presented a policy document outlining principals on equal treatment for third country na- tionals, where he said that im- migrant workers had become "a national scourge for our country". In the same breath, Zarb pledged he would train his section secretaries on how best to handle Malta's immi- gration issues. Which is where Gosden came in. "We are now recognising that there is a new generation of people making up a new work- ing class in Malta, who – be- cause of their precarious posi- tion – are more in danger of being exploited and therefore require protection," Gosden had said, underlying why the GWU had to look out for this unregulated workforce. Gosden was a critic of the alarmist and right-wing dis- course against migrants, often saying it was exaggerated to speak of a 'crisis' or 'invasion' in Malta. "I think some people are calling the current situation an invasion because they have the wrong information. I think we are failing to inform the public in a simple and logical format." Gosden knew that the Mal- tese public had a right to good information on asylum and migration, and had realised that the world had caught up with 'welcoming and friendly' Malta. "It's in our generation's hands now. What we do today will reflect on how future gen- erations in Malta will live to- morrow." He embodied the values of trade unionism, by looking at asylum seekers not as a mere 'identity' section of society, but as part of the universal work- force itself. "It becomes auto- matic that a forward-thinking, progressive union protects workers regardless of their age, identity, skin colour, sexual orientation, religious belief or disability. These are the tradi- tional pillars of the trade un- ion movement, and I am very pleased that the GWU stands by this ideal." Today Gosden would walk down St Joseph High Street in Hamrun to see his own predic- tion having come true. "I think that integration in Malta is be- ing led by the migrants them- selves," he had said. "They live in communities and even by purchasing everyday goods, they become consumers and get in contact with people, neighbourhoods and commu- nities. They take part in com- munity activities in churches or mosques, and therefore, cre- ate for themselves a network within the Maltese community. This way, they are judged on their abilities, honesty and in- tegrity. This is how integration occurs." And he saw asylum seekers as survivors of events that would have brought people like him to his knees. "The answer is not in Malta, it's in Africa. What we do, and how we treat peo- ple, will reflect not only on us as human beings, but also on generations to come who are relying on us to make the right choices. I see no crisis, but a challenge." Terry Gosden died in Corn- wall on 9 November, 2018. A memorial for Terry Gosden is being held today at 11am at Malta Microfinance, 212, Old Bakery Street, Valletta First man on the ground I met the late Terry Gosden (1956-2018) as a young reporter. But as I re-read our newspaper archives, I only just realise now the quiet revolution of solidarity he had sown in our hearts Terry Gosden in 2009, interviewed at MaltaToday's offices. Gosden was a reference point as an interlocutor for migrant communities "He treated everyone as equal, a humble person with no power trips"