Hunters set ultimatum

The Hunters' Federation yesterday gave the government until the end of this week to publish amendments to the hunting regulations.

In the absence of such amendments being published the federation would resort to national protests to show its disapproval of the prevailing situation.

Committee members, led by federation president Joseph Buttigieg, said members were being subjected to unnecessary hassle because of unjust regulations that placed Maltese and Gozitans hunters and trappers at a disadvantage against their European counterparts.

During a press conference, the federation's public relations officer, Joe Calascione Perici, accused BirdLife Malta of seeking confrontation. The federation also accused BirdLife of instigating trouble for the police and the government.

The federation wants the reintroduction of the police memorandum instructing officers to book but not to immediately charge hunters who trap specific bird species or who hunt at sea on boats at a speed of over 18 kilometres an hour. The memo was retracted over the last few days and some hunters are to be arraigned shortly.

Mr Perici Calascione referred to Legal Notice 79/06 issued last March which, he said, was riddled with mistakes from the legal and technical aspects. The federation is insisting that the regulations went beyond the provisions of the Birds Directive. The federation had objected to the notice and technical meetings were carried out to effect the necessary amendments.

The federation was now expecting the amendments agreed upon to be confirmed by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Perici Calascione said. He added that the federation was insisting on the reinstatement of the police memo because it did not make sense for hunters to be booked for something that would then be changed when amendments are eventually made to the regulations.

Government sources told The Times the government is studying proposals on amending the hunting regulations with a view to issuing a completely new set of rules.

Hunters and trappers were last Sunday instructed by their federation to stand by in case street protests are announced.