A migrant child, an honorary citizen of Lampedusa, Maria was the first born on the island after 51 years

A yellow dress, colored braids and a hand reaching towards a scroll. Maria, the baby born in Lampedusa on 31 July 2021 after no births had been recorded on the largest of the Pelagie islands for 51 years, is an honorary citizen of the “rock” where she was born. Mayor Filippo Mannino, during […]

A yellow dress, colored braids and a hand reaching towards a scroll. Maria, the little girl born in Lampedusa on 31 July 2021 after no births had been recorded on the largest of the Pelagie islands for 51 years, she is an honorary citizen of the “rock” where she was born. Mayor Filippo Mannino, during the inauguration of the playground built in Via Roma with Fami funds from the Ministry of the Interior, read the motivation and made everyone present a little emotional. “Mary is the symbol of those who have made it, but above all of those who have not made it, of those who have the hope of achieving a better place to put down roots, where to live in complete freedom and legality, where the right to childhood is a priority. And this is why our community has the duty and right to recognize honorary citizenship, a recognition of life, solidarity, respect and protection of the human rights of all children who, like Maria, were born in Lampedusa. The force of life that breaks into a nightmare scenario, between sea and suffering”, said the mayor.

The little girl’s father also spoke and defined “Mary as a miracle from God”. The Ivorian demonstrated gratitude “towards the population and the mayor of Lampedusa, for their action of humanity towards all the migrants who arrive on this island”. During the inauguration of the playground, Mannino thanked the prefects Laura Lega and Maria Forte of the Civil Liberties department and the prefect of Agrigento Filippo Romano “who are always sensitive to everything that concerns Lampedusa”.