Polls have closed in a general election on the Mediterranean islandofMalta with opinion polls suggesting a change of government after more than 15 years.
Plenty of space for the people smugglers to bring the migrants down here by cover of night, launch them off in those small wooden boats and head them towards the Italian islandof Lampedusa, or sometimes to Malta.
Sea-kayaks are the most versatile means of exploring the shores of the main island (also called Malta), its smaller partner Gozo and baby Comino, which sits in between.
But in Malta he will be preaching to the converted -- nearly 98 percent of the island's population are baptised Roman Catholic and identity with the faith is strong.