Call for common front against hunting

Alternattiva Demokratika's spokesman on the environment, Mark Causon, has called on the other two political parties to stop signing pacts with hunters and to join AD in opposing the "arrogance" of the hunting lobby.

Referring to the recent slaughter of two spoonbills at the Ghadira Nature Reserve, Mr Causon said it was obvious that a number of "extremist" hunters were giving a bad name to Malta in other European countries and countries like Egypt, where Maltese hunters, he said, recently committed another outrage.

"It is useless for the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party to pontificate on the killing of spoonbills. The MLP and PN are only reaping what they have sown.

"Abuses committed by hunters are also having a negative impact on tourism and foreign investment. At a time when a number of hotels are closing down and jobs are being lost, the government should start tackling those things which have a negative impact on tourism."

AD is also preoccupied that Malta could be fined by the European Union if hunters shoot down protected species next spring.

"Malta will than have to pay the cost of the PN's compromise with the hunting lobby prior to the EU referendum," Mr Causon said.