We will not be a jungle

I am not a hunter, or a conservationist (sic) for that matter. Never have been. I dislike hunting. But, I have good friends who have a passion for hunting. There is no other way to describe it. I remember, when I was an adventurous teenager, being persuaded by a young hunter friend of mine to join him on a number of his hunts. I agreed. On the occasions I joined the hunt I was very pleased to do the job of his dog. At least I was doing something, until I suddenly said to myself: "What the hell are you doing sitting under a tree at four o'clock in the morning in the middle of winter waiting for some bird that might just pass. Is not bed a better place?" And that was that.

But all this goes to show that hunting is truly a passion for these people who spend hours before work sitting out in the cold. Because I understood this passion I have been very tolerant about hunting and tried hard to understand those who practised the activity (I avoid the terms "sport" or "pastime" purposely). On the other hand, I am not tolerant about arrogant hunters taking over parts of our public land in the countryside and threatening those that go by, let alone enter their usurped domain. I am not tolerant about those hunters who destroy rubble walls and so much more. Very often it is not the hunting that so much bothers me but the fact that hunters in this country have been given a totally free hand for decades, if not centuries. No regulation, no enforcement, no effective sentencing. Now, it is very difficult to draw them in to comply with the laws that be.

In Valletta last week they threatened, they intimidated and they terrorised. They lost any understanding of their passion from people like me. They have been their own worst enemy. I do not think they realise how much harm they have caused to themselves. They have drawn the ire of a nation. They claim to be 7,000, but we are hundreds of thousands. Surely we have a right to our country at least as much as they do? We will not be a jungle! But what will the triumvirate of their leaders do? They shouldered the responsibility of organising last week's demonstration. They must have known what was likely to happen. It happened. Will they now continue to shoulder their responsibility and be men enough to resign? Will they first identify the culprits and expel them from membership of their organisation?

We have a committee called Ornis, which is meant to be made up of representatives of all interested parties. Ornis recommended, and the government confirmed, that spring hunting be allowed, albeit for a shorter period, and this contrary to the stand taken by the European Commission - I will not go into the politics, since much has been said already. Ornis then recommended that trapping and hunting at sea be disallowed. The hunters' representatives did not accept this and walked out of the meeting. Why is the decision of the majority now not accepted in the true spirit of democracy? Or have the hunters' representatives now put democracy on hold? Or is it because the slogan "Viva l-Labour, Viva l-Labour, hej, hej", chanted during the demonstration, has prevailed in the scenario leading up to local elections.

The government's stand has been clear. The Labour Party has, typically, sat on the fence. But hunters must not be drawn into believing that a Labour government can change things in any way. Things cannot change. As the MLP secretary general rightly said on a television discussion programme last week, his party will abide by all EU directives. Once Malta is a member of the European Union it has no choice. But asked whether a future Labour government would allow spring hunting indefinitely, he slipped and squirmed and totally avoided the direct question. If the MLP wants to be credible it must take a clear stand and not just practise the art of political expediency in order to attract the votes of hunters who, anyway, in their vast majority, are its supporters.

But on to another point. SmartCity has finally taken off. It will soon become a reality. It will create thousands of direct jobs. It will provide work for so many in the construction industry and related services. It will rehabilitate a dirty, largely derelict site and, very importantly, provide a boost for the south of the island.

We have also seen a call for tenders for the provision of commercial space for the establishment of a World Trade Centre. May I propose that this be also set up in the south? There is plenty of space and such a move will serve to further boost the area. The north has enough development in the commercial sector.