Lino Farrugia
An appeal to the Prime Minister
Lawrence Gonzi's hesitation in announcing the dates of a derogation to special license the hunting and trapping of turtle-doves and quails in April is isolating him from everybody, including his own party. Judging by the public and private opinion of Nationalist MPs and MEPs, his titillating position is evident. Even the bluest of blue-eyed boys, Austin Sammut, has publicly said that the opening of a limited spring season is a "window" that should be recognised and used.
The hunters' federation (FKNK) had successfully addressed all the objections raised within the Ornis Committee. On March 15, the Ornis chairman submitted all the relevant documents to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the Environment Protection directorate (EPD) and other interested parties.
The FKNK proposals and counter-proposals follow closely the requirements of the Birds Directive, and the EU Guidance Document for Sustainable Hunting. The FKNK figures are based on the data recorded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), BirdLife International, the EU Management Plan for the Turtle-Dove (2007-2009), the EU Management Plan for the Quail (2009-2011), and other scientific sources. All the FKNK data are scientifically drawn up, referenced and verifiable, and will stand scrutiny in any court of justice.
The FKNK proposals in their totality address fully and unequivocally all the concerns raised by the judges of the Court of Justice of the European Communities in C-76/08, namely, the duration of the derogation period, the "small numbers" principle, the "proportionality" issue, and the "strict control" condition. The FKNK documents anticipate any possible objections the EU Commission might raise, in the unlikely event that it questions the application of a limited hunting derogation. The FKNK papers expressly outline the system that needs to be implemented as regards the efficient enforcement of the derogation conditions. The onus lies squarely on the government to ensure that the necessary framework for the implementation of the derogation conditions is in place.
It is highly significant that nobody has invalidated the arguments propounded in the FKNK documents. The Environment Protection directorate has, in fact, expressed its agreement with the measures proposed by the FKNK, particularly those regarding enfor-cement.
Consequently, Dr Gonzi is not justified in delaying his decision any longer.
In a televised programme held last April, he expressed sympathy for the families of two hunters who ended their life tragically.
He had also expressed concern at being informed by a psychologist friend that hunters were seeking his services because they were suffering from depression owing to the hunting ban.
If Dr Gonzi's concern on TV was genuine, we now expect him to announce the derogation dates without further delay.
He is responsible for keeping the hunters and trappers in suspense, to the detriment of their health.
They have a right to plan their vacation, and the employed workers among them have a right to book their leave from work in time. Those among them who hunt in Gozo need to book their accommodation ahead.
Malta is a sovereign state within the EU and the head of that state must show he is not intimidated by anyone, least of all, the scare-mongering tactics of a birding organisation that refuses to accept the ECJ judgment.
Six months into the verdict, Malta's premier continues dragging his feet, saying he wants prior approval from Brussels. However, it is unrealistic to expect any guarantees from the EU Environment Commission for the simple reason that the Commission would first need to see how the derogation is being applied in practice before it can give its blessing.
Therefore, it is high time for the Prime Minister, as the minister responsible, to demonstrate his mastery of the situation, and to declare, without further delay, the opening and closing dates of the derogation period.
The Prime Minister has an ethical and moral duty to ensure that justice is done, and is seen to be done, by the thousands of Maltese and Gozitan hunters and trappers and their families, all anxiously awaiting his overdue decision.
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M. Borg
Mar 31st 2010, 21:17
@J Xerri
"As for your reference to alcoholics/drugies/gamblers, please not that no law is anacted to control abusers by discrininating against legal users."
Do you remember Heysel? Do you remember British hooliganism? What solved it? By British teams being BANNED from playing in Europe for years!!! Yes it affected genuine sports fans - much more than a hunting ban in Malta - but it was the only thing that opened the eyes of the country that excesses and anti-social behaviour that is a detriment to society as a whole (and believe me the wide spread slaughter that a significant proportion of hunters have indulged in over decades can only be described in this manner) was an outright ban
M. Borg
Mar 31st 2010, 21:12
@J Xerri
"By your deduction I can claim that work is an addiction since great sociologists deduced that during the great depression and the ongoing economic crisis people suffered from mental health problems because they lost their jobs. So are we addicted to work?"
Could you at least show a modicum of sense and to put it in Maltese: thallatx il-hass mal-.... Individuals get depressed if they lose work because they lose a key scope in their life, because they lose their self esteem and because above all lose the livelihood to support their well being. On the other hand if someone prefers to go to work above all else in life, neglects his family and all other interests and puts his work as the only thing that matters to the extent that all else becomes secondary and his whole existence focus just on it, then - yes - he or she is addicted to that too...
Johnny Xerri
Apr 1st 2010, 17:02
Dear Mr or Ms M Borg,
You are not likely to comprehend, but I was not mixing 'Hass' with anything.
You wrote that those who lost their job 'get depressed if they lose work because they lose a key scope in their life, because they lose their self esteem and because above all lose the livelihood to support their well being'.
Well are you aware that registered hunters (17,000) buy their products from shops?
What do you have to say about the shop owners who have lost a substaintial amount of income?
Are you aware that in a University disseration, hunting was estimated to generate an expenditure of lm 11 million?
Are you aware that people may have other scopes in life apart from jobs?
They may have a scope to legally practice hunting as other hunters all over the world practice hunting?
Apart from the fact that you are qouting a disaster in which people died, you are qouting a disater and action that took place in 1985. After which holiganilism still persisted and yet upto date English clubs have not been yet again banned.
Just goes to show that you cannot control the illegal by banning the legal
Anglu Xerri
Mar 31st 2010, 20:29
Why would any hunter in his right mind wants the Prime Minister to open the spring hunting season, just to bag two doves and two quails in one season is beyond me. During the spring a lot of birds build their nests, some on the ground and some in low vegetation and the hunters dogs molest many of these nests, sometimes even the hunter himself doesn't know what his dog is doing. Reading this sobbing letter I hope the Prime Minister does not open the spring season and hand Lino Farrugia a violin it goes good with his letter..
Manwel Borg
Mar 31st 2010, 19:44
Whether the likes of J Borg, M Borg and Edward Camilleri like it or not, Lawrence Gonzi will open a limited shooting season because he has the go-ahead of the E U Court of Justice. These commentators keep repeating the same nonsense, and they make their silly comments in every letter on hunting, no matter which particular topic is under discussion.
Their opinion is rubbished by their own people. David Conlin of CABS said in this newspaper that every time he visits Malta, he spends about 18 hours DAILY in the countryside DURING THE HUNTING SEASON. If Conlin can do so, why does J Borg find it impossible?
These commentators fail to come up with a single argument to disprove any of the points made by Lino Farrugia.
Dr Gonzi might take his time, but he will definitely apply the hunting derogation, if he wishes to prove he is genuinely seeking a just outcome to the hunting issue.
J. Borg
Mar 31st 2010, 17:58
@J.Xerri
Precisely because countryside is limited that we cannot afford that PUBLIC areas be taken over by hunters AND/or having hunters shooting from possibly their own land but posing a factual danger&nuisance to others on PUBLIC land.
FKNK has yet to propose that hunting be confined only within privately owned land – on the contrary, it has come out against proposals to confine hunting to a few designated areas…any plausible reason why?
My unsocial and uncultured education induce me to refrain from accusing you of spreading lies and ridiculous comments….however I humbly ask you whether you add lead to compost to promote more nutrient in the vegetables and fruit?
As regards tourists – MTA is striving to attract tourists during the shoulder months between Autumn and Spring – when the hours of sunshine and the blending of the colourful countryside and sea background cannot be enjoyed in Europe.
Obviously having thugs carrying and firing shotguns – apart from promoting themselves as a showcase of Maltese hospitality by their verbal and physical threats – is not the social and cultural (apart from natural) attractions that tourists seek here and/or positively comment about when they return home!
Anton Portelli
Mar 31st 2010, 17:55
@ M. Borg
I wonder what would be the reaction of the football fans if Instead of showering thousands of Euros on Clubs and Facilities Dr Gonzi issued a ban for the playing. watching and screening footbal matches. Similarly if the Marsa or the Gozo racing tracks were closed down.
Edward Camilleri
Mar 31st 2010, 17:36
Shedding crocodile tears will get you nowhere Mr. Lino Farrugia.
Yes agree with you, "the Prime Minister has an ethical and moral duty to ensure that justice is done", but this is to protect us common citizens from desperate individuals like those you mentioned in the article. Mentioning those "who ended their life tragically" and "suffering from depression owing to the hunting ban" further confirms that you & your members do not see beyond their nose, and should never be trusted with a weapon.
Johnny Xerri
Mar 31st 2010, 15:48
@ M Borg,
Simply and politly said, stop putting words in peoples mouths.
Lino never mentioned that hunting is an addiction full stop.
By your deduction I can claim that work is an addiction since great sociologists deduced that during the great depression and the ongoing economic crisis people suffered from mental health problems because they lost their jobs. So are we addicted to work?
By your deduction I can cliam that marrage is an addiction because when it fails, some spouses are so addicted with forming part of their ex-partner's life that end up depressed. Are some poeple addicted to living with their partner?
Grow up and stop being insultive by comapring an activity that takes place worldwide with addictions.
As for your reference to alcoholics/drugies/gamblers, please not that no law is anacted to control abusers by discrininating against legal users.
Did any counrty try to ban legal consumption of alcohol/tabacco in order to control drugs?NO
Did any country try to ban consensual sex in order to control rapes?NO
Did any counrty ban casinos, in order to contol illegal gambling?NO
Did any country try to ban legal hunting in order to control illegal hunting?OOPS yes Malta.
Johnny Xerri
Mar 31st 2010, 15:35
@ J Borg,
Limited countryside is just that LIMITED. Introducing a ban on hunting will not increase land supply, since most of the public land is already off limits. Most of the hunting takes place on private land.
Prior to the spring hunting ban if I found a person trepassing I would simply tell him politly to get out. Since the hunting ban of 2008 there is a sign at the entrance 'private property trespassers will be prosecuted' and another sign 'be aware of the dogs, they bite' The only zero tolerance I will have if the ban goes through is against trespassers.
As to your lead pollution please inform yourself before spreading lies and ridiculous comments. Lead from cartridges does not pollute otherwise hunters would have long been extinct through the consumption of game birds. The lead is firstly a small amount just as much as a teaspoon (not spoon). Secondly it does not pollute because it oxidises and does not melt.
As for the tourists enjoying the countryside, I hardly ever see a tourist in the countryside, but then marvel of all I see them at Bugiba,Sliema,++...
Promoting Malta for the counrtyside is like promoting alaska for sunbathing
M. Borg
Mar 31st 2010, 15:14
"He is responsible for keeping the hunters and trappers in suspense, to the detriment of their health"
By his very words, Lino Farrugia is admitting that hunting is an addiction that makes the victims unhealthy if they are stopped from doing it... just like alcohol, drugs or gambling.
Do we give a window of opportunity to addicts? Do we offer the alcoholic a window of opportunity to have few drinks, the drug addict to shot a dose or the gambler to spend a few hours in a casino? No we don't because we know that an addict will not be able to control himself.
Same goes for hunting - cut the bull, Lino. We know that if you are allowed in countryside all you will do is shoot whatever moves.
Johnny Xerri
Mar 31st 2010, 13:55
@ Laurence Schembri,
He who does not listen will not be listened to, he who listens will be listened.
Hadd wara Hadd jasal ta kullhadd, umbad naraw x'jamel 2013.
Will it be another Edward Demicoli / Alan Diedun success?
In 2007 he invented the honey buzzard slaughter that was never proven.
In 2008-2009, it was the interem measures.
Now 'its not that easy to apply a derogation' (when ironically according to PN and MIC it was officially negotiated - wow x'1st class negotiators)
You may fool some poeple some time, but you cannot fool all the poeple all the time.
PN will always be remembered as the party that stole its way its the EU at the detriment of the hunters, unless they do justice to the electorate and honour their democratic obligation within the parameters of the EU Bird Directive, no more no less.
J. Borg
Mar 31st 2010, 13:40
Appeal to Dr.Gonzi,
Hunters have run roughshod over the interest of the population for too many years.Thankfully EU-membership, may have induced government to finally tackle matters.
Government spends our taxes to promote our economy with tourism income and also our health with initiatives to enhance our quality of life.
Spending taxes to finance tourism initiatives and curing obesity, asthma and heart disease – and then sacrificing the countryside to appease an egoistic minority – erodes any politician’s credibility – especially when families are expected to make personal sacrifices.
Now having our limited countryside taken over by a few hundred hunters (at best out to satisfy their taste buds and at worse their sickening obsession with dead trophies), who litter the soil with lead and effectively prevent families and tourist alike from enjoying the countryside sustainably in peace and safety - does not promote any professed social and/or health development.
Likewise, taking gambles and risking paying hefty EU fines, is not something we can afford and/or believe to be the qualities of an honest PM.
Malta’s sheer population density and the scarce countryside – inherently does not afford the luxury to allow such egoistic deployment of such scarce resource!
laurence schembri
Mar 31st 2010, 13:05
He is not listening. Good.