If I were a refugee I’d go shop at Greens before escaping, says middle-class Maltese woman

A middle-class Maltese woman has said she would make sure to go shopping at Greens supermarket before fleeing the country on a boat.

Isabelle Zerafa Tanti, 38, from Pembroke, made the comments in the wake of several reports of migrant children dying in the Mediterranean in recent days.

“You see these stories of immigrants on boats dying from dehydration and exposure, and while this is tragic, they could have stocked up on provisions before they left,” Ms Zerafa Tanti said.

“What sort of a mother would I be if, in the event that I had to escape Malta with my children, I didn’t first go to Greens and pick up a few bottles of Newfoundland iceberg water before the trip?

“And obviously we’d need food too. It’s a good thing Greens cover all their fruit and veg in plastic so it would keep for a while, as would the caviar, Jamón ibérico and Snowdonia truffle cheese that we’d also take with us.

“Also we can’t forget the children’s toys. I’m surprised you never see photos of migrant children with iPads. They’re so useful for keeping the little ones occupied.”

Ms Zerafa Tanti noted that all the supplies would be heavy and so her family would need an extra pair of hands.

“The Filipina would have to come along too, provided we haven’t already used her as a human shield to protect us from armed gunmen.”