By Soller Shirley
Whichever side is emphasised will always limit the interest. The reasons some new arrivals are here is rarely the whole truth. Many recent arrivals are migrants. They have left economic disasters and war zones and found their way here. Some are refugees and many are asylum seekers. The reason many Russians have arrived is to get out of Russia. Many from the USA are moving here because they can’t live in the country the USA has become. This is a big question for this island. How truthful and observant of the big picture do you want to be?
As asylum seekers arrive here, by whatever means, they are often met by fellow countrymen and women who have done the same thing. My recent dealings with an Asylum solicitor in Palma introduced me to a whole new world. The queue in his office was out of the door and round the corner. Many transient people are amongst our neighbours in Mallorca. Living below the radar with no economic support other than from friends and family is a common experience for them.
We often talk of local people on basic salaries finding it hard to pay their rent and feed their families. Life is extremely tough for them as employed people. If you have no status and ‘technically’ do not exist, life can be very grim. The black economy, working where you can, risking exploitation and modern-day slavery because of desperation, are all issues, in Mallorca, for these friends.
As Mallorca empties of visitors towards the end of the season we see who is left and actually living here. This is often crisis time for those with nothing. Their problems are much more visible in the winter months. Social Services, Caritas and the Red Cross help those they know about.
On this affluent island of plenty, it is easy not to see the edge of society, and those living a marginalised life. There are wonderful volunteers who work hard for those with little. Their humanity is in a very good place. Others close their door on what is going on outside.
I met a Missionary yesterday working in Magaluf. I know Street Angels who spend their evenings caring for young people out of their depth, in Arenal. I am in awe of the selfless work which exists and stunned by the indifference of others.
As incomers we have decisions to make on what our contribution is going to be. You can’t just rock up in a new place and do nothing but spend your money. The
benefit of doing just that, is acceptable for the economy, but morally, is that all you are going to do?
These are important thoughts for a Monday in Mallorca.
