BirdLife's guns blazing at voluntary wardens idea

Lino Farrugia

Nov 22nd 2009, 18:25

As expected the now norm negative BirdLife Malta approach.

Mr. Henry Fenech Azzopardi's idea is in no manner connected with FKNK's paid advert "Call for Applications for Hunting & Trapping Marshals".

Who has purposely mixed up matters? Where in FKNK's advert is it stated that 200 persons will be employed? And where is it stated that these have to be hunters? Maybe this assumption came about because when government issued a public call for bird migration observers, an independent study rubbished by BirdLife Malta, only hunters and trappers applied.

So for foreign lead BirdLife Malta, foreigners from their raptor camps and from their partners CABS, can carry out this necessary purpose, while local FKNK Marshals cannot.

Time and results will tell.

Secretary - FKNK

r sammut

Nov 21st 2009, 22:04

The Birdlife Malta picture the scenario about hunters; all having tails and pairs of horns spouting out of somewhere! Well the Birdlife people are certainly a class apart, shooting down whatever suggestion the FKNK comes up with! How come? Is it that Birdlife do not want to share the roost about the reporting and extrapolating of illegalities?

Is this similarly to the other objections by BLM against FKNK release of birds into the wild?

Antoine Grima

Nov 21st 2009, 19:34

BLM please note.We expect to be hunting in Spring , not because less illegalities will be reported , but because that we have proven that it's possible and also have been given the go ahead from the ECJ ruling last September.Remember that ruling ? The one that BLM keeps on insisting that it's a no go for Spring hunting ? We are sick and tired of hearing stories about all these millions of birds that are supposidly being caught in Malta .If you will not do the job honestly and properly , we will do it ourselves , and for your information , i will be the first to report any wrong doings.Remember the saying ''If you want something done properly , do it yourself''' ? That's exactly what we're going to do .

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Nov 21st 2009, 18:38

G Pisani, please face reality! Hunting may be practised within the parameters of the law. Therefore your abolitionist comments are useless - just useless! The ECJ has furthermore provided the tools for the Maltese Government to open the Spring Hunting Season. I know it might be a sour pill for you to swallow BUT you have no other choice. Your wishful thinking will remain just a dream!

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Nov 21st 2009, 18:15

YOU NEVER GET IT RIGHT WITH BLM!!!!! Well, the underlying problem with them is that they may see the Maltese hunters enjoying their deserved Spring Hunting Season! BLM are so adamant about Spring Hunting that they are even unable to welcome positive changes!

Mr Mangion is reported as stating that such action by FKNK: " would allow hunters take the law into their own hands". I feel it is opportune to ask, once again, this gentleman whether this is the case with CABS! Mr Mangion, I have consistently asked BLM officials, Mr David Conlin and others whether these CABS officials are 'clean' while roaming the countryside. Could this be a case of "L-ispizjar milli jkollu jaghtik"?!!

Henry Fenech Azzopardi

Nov 21st 2009, 17:17

Here we go again. Birdlife are high suspicious that because of the proposed wardens the hunters will take the law into their hands.
Mr Mangion went one step further and warned that hunters would under report all illegal activities in the hope of opening Spring Hunting.
No Mr Mangion there is no hope of Spring Hunting. You are dreaming. It is a reality Spring Hunting is definitely on. It is only a matter of, for how long. Why is it so bitter to digest? Yes all your inflated figures pressure from all angles half truths or no truths at all did not work. You have to try something else but believe me your credibility is on the way down and no matter what you come up with the judgemnent of the European Court Of is final. I am not hoping about Spring Hunting, I am only hoping that the wardens scheme will bear fruit so that we shall not have Birdlife calling for an early closure of the season. The result of the wardens will be guadged by the records given by the ALE. Theirs will be the official certficate to reintroduce the warden system for the autumn season.

David Borg Cardona

Nov 21st 2009, 12:53

@ BLM..

So, once again you shoot down another sensible proposal by FKNK. It seems that you are never open for any kind of suggestion by the Federation even if this means dealing a further blow to the few rogue poachers we have in our midst. I sometimes wonder when you lot at Abate Rigord Str will ever learn that the more you persist in building the proverbial brick wall between yourselves and the hunting lobby, the more your already frail reputation is being undermined.
Your refusal for this warden system gives reason for speculation that for all intents and purposes, you do not want poaching to stop.. I wonder why ?? Maybe if it had to be totally eradicated, then you wouldn't have all the juicy press releases you relish and you wouldn't have all the foreign lackeys come over to act as "wardens" themselves with all the sensationalism and over inflated figures that are part of their abolitionist baggage. But then of course.. what a fool I am... your exorbitant salaries must be justified somehow even if this means disagreeing to a system which would once and for all uncover your blatant lies on illegal hunting in Malta.

g. scerri

Nov 21st 2009, 12:09

What next? We enroll people with criminal records as police officers on the concept that it takes a thief to catch a thief?

G.Pisani

Nov 21st 2009, 12:02

Isn't this the same as a prison being guarded by prisoners? Just Ban hunting and anyone carrying a weapon should be arrested. Thats it. Don't look at other countries, we are very small and we just don't have enough land for hunting, so it should be banned. Majority always wins.

V Falzon

Nov 21st 2009, 10:37

Like putting wolves to guard the sheep was ever a good idea!

Anthony Formosa

Nov 21st 2009, 10:23

BirdLife is highly suspicious of the plan, however, saying it would allow hunters take the law into their own hands.

Dear Birdlife, The invitation is also open for your members, and the law can be taken into your own hands as usual.

Dear FKNK, My only worries are, that when this initiative is exercised Birdlife Malta will boost their finding of dead birds in the Maltese countryside to damage our reputation and shoot down this exercise.

Hunters, he warned, would under-report illegal hunting by being in control of law enforcement in the hope of re-opening spring hunting.

So Birdlife would over report to ban spring hunting is this what I mean?

Martin Abela

Nov 21st 2009, 10:07

Birdlife is always quick to shoot down any proposal made by the hunters, yet they are at least attempting to do something positive.
It is far better than what birdlife or some other pundits close to it did at mizieb by planting dead birds and claiming the massacre of the century.
Any right minded person would realise that it was all amassive PR exercise that went completely wrong.

J Oatmon

Nov 21st 2009, 09:31

This is a daft idea - self regulation always means misuse of the regulations, and with guns being in the hands of these so called wardens - the power of the gun and the fear factor of those without a gun, would easily overcome the law.

It is like leaving a fox to guard your hen house, or asking a convicted thief to to guard your home - just plain daft.