Mark Mifsud Bonnici, Kaċċaturi San Ubertu, San Pawl tat-Tarġa
Hunting open season slashed as government chooses easy way out
The legal notice on the autumn hunting and trapping season stipulates that in order to protect birds of prey, between September 15 and September 30, hunting from land will not be allowed between 3 p.m. and two hours before dusk.
Rather than beefing up enforcement, enforcing regulations and using fines as a deterrent, the government has decided to disallow hunting during the afternoon of the last two weeks of September. This same government was responsible for the suspension of the spring hunting season due to its total mishandling of negotiations, its incompetent negotiator, and its total disregard for hunters. This notwithstanding that prior to EU accession the government had sent written promises to all hunters and trappers stating that hunting and trapping practices would remain unchanged. Through its actions it is now more than clear that at the time government was only after hunter's votes.
Advancing the clock one hour during the summer time period literally means no hunting in the mornings. Since most are at work less than an hour after sunrise, hunting in the afternoon is their only option. The hunting of turtle dove which government suspended during spring through its incompetence can now only be practised during the month of September as in all other EU states. Government by means of this legal notice is denying the hunters two full weeks of hunting, which is legally acceptable to the EU, for what it states is a way of protecting birds of prey. Strangely no other EU state has taken this anti-social measure to control hunting abuses far worse that those allegedly committed in Malta.
If indeed the protection of birds of prey is the reason behind this farce, the government knows that this is not a solution. Hunting laws stipulate a maximum fine of two years imprisonment and a fine of €14,000 for hunting infringements. This deterrent has never been utilised, not even after the purported spring 2007 birds of prey massacre that led to the closure of the 2007 spring season. Instead the government opts for the easy way out, namely that of stopping hunting. It is very obvious that choosing this alternative, apart from showing a total lack of confidence in the enforcers of our laws, clearly shows its anti-hunting agenda and its weakness in controlling anything illegal.
The government ignored numerous suggestions from the hunting federations to control illegal shooting, amongst which the setting up of an environment warden unit paid for from hunting license fees. It persists upon pleasing, believing and heeding the advice of the abolitionists namely Birdlife Malta. Its blatant support for anything related to Birdlife Malta's activities is an obvious indicator of this fact. Through its actions it is only worsening the situation for the hunters who after having been promised the earth are now down to an open season of four and a half months from the promised seven. And as for trappers the promised continuance of their hobby now results in its complete abolition. If indeed this is how government expects to achieve observance of regulations and credibility from Malta's hunters, it might realise that through its incompetence and by allowing itself to be led it is only making matters worse.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
7 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
J. Borg
Aug 7th 2008, 00:00
Mr. Mifsud Bonnici,
if there are hundreds of 'law abiding' hunters spread in the countryside - it should be easy for your federation, to identify those 'few' who are breaking the law.
Hopefully it is not the other way round.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Aug 6th 2008, 23:31
The persecution of birds of prey is not only a local problem as you have been led to believe by Birdlfie. Much worse incidents are reported regularly overseas. click on these sites for a bit of news.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7527359.stm
http://www.komitee.de/en/index.php?massacre_dueren
www.birdwatch.co.uk/website/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1561&Itemid=32 - 29k -
The only difference is that in countries where controlling such illegalities is practically an impossibility due to their immensity. The banning of all legal hunting was never even contemplated. Since the rights of the law abiding hunter as are those of all other members of societies are expected to be protected by the police, paid for from our own taxes.
Our suggestion that the fees collected from hunting licenses go towards an environment warden unit have been discarded by Government who instead decided to stop hunting to accommodate Birdlife's raptor camp.
This shows a total disregard for legal hunters who after a botched up promise of spring hunting were looking forward to a season legally acceptable to the EU but again botched up by this government. Apart from accommodating Birdlfie this government is showing a true weakness in controlling any form of illegality.
I await your comments.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Aug 6th 2008, 18:55
Just imagine the Government taking the following actions to PREVENT (as opposed to ENFORCING the law):-
- No cars to be out in the streets at night as a driver may be drunk and a fatality may occur
(ignore that there are responsible drivers);
- Marine crafts will be banned as some irresponsible drivers may come too near to shore
and swimmers might be injured (ignore again the responsible ones);
- Block off all roads leading to the countryside as some irresponsible individuals might
discard of unwanted bulky refuse in this area (ignoring the law-abiding citizen again);
The list is endless and the situation is comical!!
Chris Galea
Aug 6th 2008, 16:54
You do not tackle issues by simply slipping away from them,real enforcement and education I think are the proper tools.
At the end of the day always the law abiding citizens loose !
P Sultana
Aug 6th 2008, 13:58
Quite frankly, once hunting infringements are so widespread as to threaten birds of prey, I prefer to have a complete ban on hunting during critical periods than pay, through my taxes, for enforcement.
Christopher Ripard
Aug 6th 2008, 12:29
Dear Mark
perhaps the Hunting Lobby would attract more sympathy if it were to make enforcement easier by obeying the law? It is easy for you to simply cry "enforce" but the best discipline is self-discipline. It takes two to tango. Can we have just one hawk-slaughter-free season, to show us hunters follow laws?
I am in no way referring to you personally, of course, as I am certain you are a 100% legal hunter.
george azzopardi
Aug 6th 2008, 10:18
I think it`s payback time to the hunters and trappers for nearly losing the last election that what it is . at first the P.N. used them to get thier votes for the E.U. referendum and the election after and then he cheated them and deprived them of the written promise he and Simon Busuttil made to them like so many other promises he made before last election which now seems he[Gonzi] is not going to keep