This article by James Walston was written before the tragedy at Lampedusa where a boat with about 500 immigrants, most from Eritrea and Somalia, caught fire and sank. Over 111 bodies have been brought ashore, there are 150 survivors, the remainder are now feared dead. It was also written before another tragedy off the coast of Ragusa in Sicily where 13 young immigrants died when they were forced to jump overboard in rough seas and drowned in sight of the shore.

 The article was first published in the 2 October paper edition of Wanted in Rome

To say the least, the new cabinet post of minister for integration was always going to be challenging. But when Cécile Kyenge was appointed in April, she certainly understood the opportunities but probably did not fully realise the obstacles and insults which she would have to deal with. 

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