[WATCH] Negative feelings on migration understandable in small society, Evarist Bartolo says

Education minister comment on spat with partriots

Evarist Bartolo has said that it is understandable that some Maltese people feel uncomfortable in the face of the reality in Malta where people with different cultures and nationalities are living together in a small society.

In light of this, he said he wasn’t surprised by the negative reaction he had received after making comments regarding migration on Facebook.

Bartolo had on Sunday written on his profile on the social media platform that while it was important that Malta stood firm so as to protect its national interest, the authorities had to act in such as way as to “remain human”. He also asked how anyone with a heart could allow people to drown.

This solicited a number of comments from critics of the government’s decision to participate in the redistribution of 450 migrants who disembarked in Italy.

Asked about the unsupportive response he had received, the Education Minister said he could see where many of those commenting where coming from, since, by nature, people prefer to live with others who are of the same skin colour, and who hold the same beliefs and world views.

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“We have to realise that we are different members of the same family,” Bartolo said, “But I can understand this is not easy to do.”

“It is more difficult to live together if there is diversity in society, but what is most important is that we are humane. If I think of someone as lesser than me, and less of a human, that in itself makes me less humane,” he said.

“We need to make an effort to help each other as much as we can,” he noted, “However, it’s important that the law applies to all, and that the people coming to Malta observe our laws and our Constitution.”

“It also has to be appreciated that we can only take a certain number of people, because of our size,” Bartolo acknowledged, saying that Malta had to share its responsibility with other countries.

He said he applauded the course of action the Prime Minister took in the situation of the NGO vessel Lifeline, since he had managed to get leaders of other countries to help.

Questioned further on whether he thought there was a problem of intolerance towards migrants in Malta, Bartolo said this wasn’t an issue only our country was dealing with.

“I’m not taken aback that there is some intolerance,” he said, “When you are used to a certain way of life and certain traditions, and someone with a different culture comes to your country, this creates societal challenges.”

“It’s necessary, in my view, to listen to the points made by those who caution us to be careful how many migrants we take in and to ensure our society can withstand the change.”

“But you shouldn’t spread hate, and say things like ‘why don’t we throw them into the sea?’”, he added, “That’s no way of speaking about a fellow human being. I want to believe that people who say such things would still try to save somebody’s life, if that person were drowning.”