The promise that became a guarantee

While addressing a PN activity at which an FKNK official was present, Simon Busuttil said that the PN government was sustaining its promise made to hunters and trappers before the referendum.

Sorry Dr Busuttil. The promise was made before negotiations had started with the EU on the question of hunting and trapping.

Once the negotiations had ended, that "promise" became a guarantee in writing, sent to each hunter and trapper individually and signed by then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami.

Even Dr Busuttil's MIC had reassured hunters and trappers that they would be able to continue hunting and trapping in spring as normal.

As did the ministry responsible for the environment led by George Pullicino.

When EU commissioner Gunther Verheugen was in Malta recently, he emphatically denied that the EU had given any derogation to the government on spring hunting.

And yet, Dr Busuttil, in 2007, is on record saying that the spring hunting season would open in 2008. Instead, both in 2008 and in 2009, the spring hunting season remained closed and for trapping too.

How right was Saviour Balzan - who was directly involved in the negotiations on hunting and trapping - when, on May 7, 2007, he wrote thus: "I could remind Simon (Busuttil) that there were countless untruths about Europe that were presented to the public so as to give the impression that Europe was a bed of roses".

The chickens have come home to roost. Further comment would be superfluous.