Where have all the poultry gone?

I would like the Ministry of Rural Affairs and the Environment and the government vets concerned with the rounding up of ducks, peacocks and poultry from public places in an "effort to reduce the risk of the H5N1 bird flu virus reaching Malta" to explain to us the sudden disappearance of all our poultry!

The government promised that they would be kept temporarily inside a closed tent purposely set up at Fort Delimara. The site where the ducks were being kept was supposedly being constantly monitored by a roster of at least five watchmen.

I beg the government and vets concerned to explain the disappearance of all our poultry from a fortress guarded by watchmen round the clock?

When I saw that the poor ducks, and peacocks I daily visited on Manoel Island had gone during the night I was shattered because I knew in my heart of hearts that it was "goodbye" and that I would never see them again!

A government that does not care two hoots about the welfare of our stray dogs and cats was not going to protect or care about a few poultry.