The Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, Dolores Cristina along with the members of the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs visited the immigrants’ detention centre.
The members of the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs were appalled at the conditions these immigrants are made to live in.
Italian MEP Giusto Catania said he was horrified by the general degredation and the atrocious conditions at the centres and stated that human rights were being abused whilst Mr Gaubert said he was surprised to hear government officials speak in favour of the conditions in the detention centres when his visit confirmed otherwise.
Minister Cristina explained that her Ministry had become responsible for the welfare of immigrants some 18 months ago and that the first concern then had been that of finding accommodation for the large numbers of immigrants who were being released from detention centres. With the invaluable help of the Church and various voluntary organisations the Ministry was successful in the setting up of three open centres. The Ministry now finances or partly subsidises 5 centres and is negotiating an agreement with a sixth centre.
The Minister went on to express her main concerns regarding open centres. First of all, one of the main difficulties faced is that people do not move on from the centres. Therefore, a policy will shortly be introduced whereby immigrants who are employed will first have to contribute towards their upkeep and, furthermore, will be encouraged to find alternative accommodation.
Hon. Cristina urged the delegation to remember that, unlike many European countries which have years of experience in dealing with the problem of immigration, Malta was a newcomer on the scene.
The aim is now, to set-up an integration forum where all the stakeholders, namely the Ministry for Education, Youth and Employment, the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs, and the Ministry for Health, and other persons can get together to discuss and plan the way forward.
The Minister made an appeal for information to be more forthcoming from the immigrants’ side as she said this would facilitate the work. On the Government’s part, an information leaflet is being prepared for circulation inside closed and open centres for immigrants to have a better understanding of the situation.
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