Dear Joseph: I am not a (N)ationalist

Muscat wants an open society where foreigners can contribute to the national wealth. If he really believes this, he should immediately revamp citizenship laws to facilitate naturalisation for those people who have a real interest in Malta, but not €650,000 to spare.

James Debono 14 November 2013, 12:00am

3 min read

I agree with Joseph Muscat. Nationalism should not be invoked as an argument against the citizenship scheme, because it's inconsistent with Malta's history being forged from such a melting pot of cultures and our economic dependency on the world around us.

My greatest objection to the scheme is that it has created a two-tier system through which the rich who afford to pay €650,000 get their citizenship automatically; while foreign workers and migrants depend on the arbitrary whims of the Minister of Home Affairs who enjoys wide discretionary powers in awarding citizenship.

The Nationalist opposition rightly took a firm stand against this grotesque scheme, which has put a price tag on our citizenship and ultimately exposed us to global ridicule. The reaction of the global media to the news speaks volumes about the way Muscat is trying to brand our country.

But it also missed an opportunity by not presenting amendments to revamp existing citizenship laws, to establish a uniform inclusive and egalitarian access to Maltese citizenship.

I agree with the Opposition which proposed amendments that would allow the granting of citizenship to foreign investors who create jobs in Malta, after a period of residency. I insist on job creation because I am averse to granting residency to property speculators. Although I have serious doubts on awarding residency to people who buy property here, I have definitely no problem with giving it to people who open a factory, a shop or an office in Malta.

But in the same way that citizenship is granted to these people, it should also be granted to migrants who have worked and contributed to the Maltese economy after a fixed period of residency.

The ideal model to follow is that of Belgium, which grants citizenship to anyone who has been resident for three years. In parallel to this, Belgium grants residence to anyone setting up a company which employs people. Moreover any child brought up in Malta and who has attended a school cycle here should automatically qualify for citizenship.

While I am averse to nationalistic arguments, I have a sense of civic pride. Citizenship is the only definer of identity that is not based on anachronistic references to ethnicity or race. Therefore it has to be valued: turning it into a commercial transaction devalues this communal bond and indirectly reinforces nationalism based on racial or ethnic identity.

Instead I think we should actively promote a sense of national pride, based on inclusion and which celebrates Malta as a melting pot of cultures.

That's why I sincerely believe that anyone who wants to become a citizen has to be proficient in one of our two national languages and should also attend courses on Maltese history and culture. I would also give fast-track treatment to those who become proficient in the Maltese language.

Finally rather than refusing to divulge the names of its new citizens Malta should celebrate their integration in Maltese society through annual naturalisation ceremonies in which new citizens take their oath of allegiance to the their new country.

Unfortunately through his scheme Muscat has left no choice for people who are not nationalists (in every sense of the word) but are averse to a two-tier access to citizenship but to support calls for an abrogative referendum. For the only way to establish equality is by abrogating this law. As long as this law stands, discrimination will remain institutionalised.

James Debono is MaltaToday's chief reporter on environment, planning and land use issues, ...

More from James Debono

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@ABC356...nobody is arguing in favor of giving citizenship to asylum seekers or irregular migrants. The trust of my argument is that the new system creates a priority class of migrants. My argument is in favor of an inclusive citizenship system open to foreigners who contribute to wealth creation in the country, both through work and investment. In this sense citizenship should be granted to anyone who has been recognized as a resident for a period of time ex 5 years. Obviously asylum seekers whose request for protection has been rejected will not be eligible for residence but people whose status as foreign workers or people enjoying international has been recognised will be eligible. Obviously even in these cases there should be clear requirements including attendance in courses on Maltese culture and history. Currently we have people who have been working here for 17 years and are still denied citizenship. One may also see an argument for an investment scheme through which one gains residence if one fulfills certain conditions and thus become also eligible for citizenship. But obviously there must be clear conditions.

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As a rule I always agree with James Debono"s articles appearing on this portal. But I must admit that I do not agree almost in toto with the above article. Let's start with the Maltese language. What about those Maltese citizens who do not know a word in Maltese? Who prefer to speak and write in English instead of speaking and writing in Maltese? They will have their citizenship withdrawn? And how could citizenship be given to ILLEGAL migrants? The fact that they are 'illegal migrants' citizenship could not be granted. It would be against the constitution to give citizenship to persons who entered our Island illegally. If James Debono is in favour of giving Maltese citizenship to those who come to Malta, conveniently marry a Maltese citizen and goes to register for emplooyment or apply for social assistance? This is a scheme that can leave millions of euros in the Maltese economy and relieve the Maltese workers, especially the middle class, from the heavy burden of taxes that the PN had inflicted on us during the last years. James Debono can support the referendum as much as he likes. I am convinced that if the Maltese people will understand the scheme, the referendum, if held, would approve the it. After all we are not talking about thousands of people; we are talking about a few tens or hundreds. And then.....?

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Exactly how does speaking english make one maltese? .Crap article.

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Exactly how does speaking english make one maltese? .Crap article.

Abdi D •

Am I right in understanding that for you if a person comes to Malta and opens a stationary employing a shop assistant, he has more right in getting Maltese citizenship than someone who pays 650 000 euro? Even if he closes the shop after he gets it and goes to live in another EU country

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James with all due respect....I agree in saving migrant lives but we cannot open doors to everyone cos we simply cannot afford it. I believe that every migrant has to contribute to the economy. I don't want any foreigners(or even Maltese) that we have to subsidise.

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What sort of nationalism James believes in? Up to now, we only know for sure that he is in favour of the 23,000 unknown illegal immigrants that made it to Malta! But Malta is no USA! The US has granted access and asylum to thousands of Somali asylum seekers, knowing that, 78% of these make a fake and a false claim! I read this on this week's Guardian! The truth is that we live of crumbs-unless we fall deeper in debt! Simon knows that the 6800 citizenships were given ti aliens: without transparency of Parliament, without referendum, without anyone giving something back! 40 billion erus down the drain!

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you are against to offer it to someone with money that can provide us with wealth but you ar in favour of giving it for free to illegal immigrants and to those sirians, libians, egiptians, turks, etc who marry a maltese person? do you really think that it is going to open the doors of hell? so you are discriminating as well as you are portraying them as allbeing maliscious and have awfull intents! so in your opinion all those who currently do not pay to get our citizenship but simply marry one of your counter nationals are all saints? have you ever heared of men giving sums of money to maltese women to marry, or else they run away with the offsprings or else as it happens they commit homicide???? you are inded a Nationalist! however sir it seems that not even the EU gives a damn shit about this issue!

Gilbert Bartolo •

Just one other rather 'naitonalist' point: we do not have 2 national languages. Maltese is the national language, Maltese and English are the official languages.

Gilbert Bartolo •

pjg - ILLEGALLY??? what? Get your facts right before your hysterical rant... people have a RIGHT to enter a country and apply for asylum precisely because they have no other means of doing so through the normal channels...got it? There is also a commission set up according to the Geneva convention to examine asylum claims. And if you still haven't realised, there are children who only know one country and that is Malta, they are educated in Maltese schools and Maltese is practically their mother tongue. And remember that those granted asylum can and in fact do work and pay taxes/NI like everyone else. Got it?

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" I am not a Nationalist !". Le, tridtx tmur !!!

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The scheme was correctly called IIP which means an individual investment scheme. I think it is unfortunate that the gov allowed it to be labelled by the opposition as a citizenship for cash scheme. What is the difference between what many countries do i.e. grant citizenship for investment in industries if the money in the IIP scheme is invested in our future by creating a fund for childcare,tertiary education institutions, schools , research and new schools and other worthy causes which will benefit and better our future generations.

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Your bias is really in favour of illegal migrants and against investors. You agree that someone who comes here and invests in Malta in such projects as a factory, etc. should be granted citizenship after certain number of years. What you are missing is that if we make the number of years, for example, five than the IIP will yield what is equivalent to over 100,000 euros per annum in what is effectively tax revenues. Assuming that approximately 50,000 euros is needed to create a new job, then at least 10 jobs are guaranteed, without taking into consideration any spin-off effects. So the end result is basically the same, just the appearance and approach is different. Illegal migrants, on the other hand, are here because the PN foolishly signed the Dublin treaty without looking beyond its nose. Your precious abrogation referendum could never happen regarding the Dublin treaty because every subsequent administration, after Gonzi's, is legally bound to honour that treaty. These asylum applicants usually arrive with no documentation; just a claim of persecution which in the cases of Somalis and Eritreans is normally accepted. In this particular case you're quite cavalier with the granting of citizenship with the proviso that they speak Maltese after spending some time in Malta. This begs the question, why doesn't your liberal, egalitarian Belgium accept a portion of the migrants currently in Malta? There's nothing stopping them from doing so and granting them citizenship after three years.

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Mad**na James, I appreciate your arguments and points raised, but believe me, you have to understand that we are not all equal. Not even born equal. It would be fine were that to be; but it will never happen.

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So let me get this right. James Debono is against the citizenship by investment scheme. However he's in favour of granting it FOR FREE to migrants who reach our shores ILLEGALLY. Indeed James you are not a NATIONALIST.

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Q. If I get someone interested to buy a Maltese Cittadin certificate do I get a commission and how much ? Q. If I go to the bank can I put my 650000 Euro Cittadin status as Collateral? Q. If I find a cheaper Cittadin Status in another country, could I sell my Cittadin Certificate and buy an other Country Cittadin Status?