Thursday, 16th July 2009
Hunters lambast 'delaying tactics'
The Federation for Hunting and Conservation has accused the government of using Ornis committee meetings as a smokescreen and employing delaying tactics to prolong its decision on bird trapping.
The outburst came after a meeting about the future of bird trapping was postponed.
The federation had recently submitted a report, which, it said, was based on principles of compensating for birds trapped by putting back others in the wild, a concept lauded by the EU and which was meant to be discussed in a meeting on Tuesday.
"However, by coincidence or otherwise, at the commencement of (the) meeting, the chairman informed the members present that the director of the environment had just called to say he could not make it and he did not send a substitute as he normally does.
It said two other government appointees also brought a last-minute excuse for not attending and the third government appointee had excused himself from attending the meeting way back on June 24. This meant the meeting could not make any decisions, the federation said.
The meeting was put off to July 28.
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Comments
20,000 is the total number of number of hunters and trappers put together. Mark is making up no fancy numbers. He would do so if he were a member of Birdlife, who seem to excel in shooting (excuse the pun) figures running into thouands or even millions !!!
Believe it or not the committee was meant to take a vote on the continuation of trapping
The EU commission in Malta says Malta, similar to any other EU country, can derogate for the trapping of songbirds. Yet because its members do not know whether they are coming or going they would rather not attend. Their taking any decision might not be in line with the plans of those in Government that appointed them. If there ever was a true definition of uselessness the Ornis Committee certainly spells it out.
How does DR. Gonzi ever expect to be credible. Considering hunting and trapping are part of MEPA's responsibilities does he intend to reform these too.
There are close to 20,000 hunters and trappers waiting to see some serious changes to the way they have been treated by the PN!!!
Does Dr. Gonzi want to wait for another election to evaluate how hunters and trappers feel! This decision is finally his.