Labour concerned over 'illegal immigration' as AFM continues search for dead bodies

The Labour Party has expressed "concern" over the latest arrival of migrants in a statement in which it said that "illegal immigration remains a worrying reality".

"While understanding the country's international legal obligations, the challenge and burden illegal migration places on the country cannot be denied," Labour MP Michael Falzaon said in a statement.

Falzon quoted recent unnamed studies which show that "not only does Malta have the highest rate of migrants per capita, but the Maltese are the most worried people about migration in the EU."

He added that Malta had one of the highest levels of protection to illegal migrants.

The former Labour deputy leader said it was essential that the government should not only remain prepared to face this challenge, "but it also needs to be more active in European and international fora in the country's best interest."

While noting that this was not being done, Falzon pointed out that the country had no home affairs minister, "a situation which reflected the poor state of the government."

The recent resignation of Carm Mifsud Bonnici as home affairs minister saw Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi take over the portfolio, which includes immigration and asylum policy, as well as the detention centres under the control of the Armed Forces of Malta.

Two Armed Forces patrol boats sailed into Haywharf Maritime Base this morning, bringing a total of 157 migrants to Malta, after being intercepted at sea on two different boats.

Two groups of migrants were brought in by the AFM in the early hours of this morning. The first group consisted of 90 migrants, including 11 women. The second group consisted of 67 migrants, including nine women.

It added that 2 dead bodies were also brought in by the AFM.

The ship - Victoria 6 - communicated to Malta's Rescue Coordination Centre, that a number of migrants, found to be drifting on a sinking dinghy were in a serious condition, and had two bodies on board. The captain accepted to take the migrants on board, but two reportedly fell into the water as they were being taken aboard. A subsequent search for them yielded no results.

Efforts continued today to locate the two bodies that were reported lost at sea during transfer. The migrant craft broke lose while it was being towed to shore by the MV Victoria. AFM aircraft conducted a search this morning while all vessels in the area were requested to keep a sharp lookout for the missing craft.

At 1:30pm this afternoon, the missing dinghy was located by local fishermen and an AFM patrol boat was immediately dispatched to the area to recover the missing bodies which are reportedly to be still on the rubber craft.

A second dinghy yesterday was intercepted by another AFM patrol boat, from which at least 20 of the migrants had to be referred to Mater Dei Hospital for medical care.

Today's migrant arrivals have bring the total of landings to 1,700 since the beginning of summer.