Maurice Mizzi, Bidnija
Non-existent enforcement of hunting regulations
Why do we bother to try to control Malta’s hunters? They are uncontrollable.
In the past they have always done what they wanted, are still doing exactly as they feel and in all probability will continue to do the same in the future.
Only 12 days after the closure of the hunting season, hunters were still shooting in Bidnija.
During the three-week hunting window I have never seen so much shooting in the part of Bidnija where I live. Every kind of bird which approached the area to drink was either shot down or wounded. Protected birds were not spared.
There was even a variation to this theme. During the spring hunting season protected birds were being shot at in the middle of the night while they were sleeping. Of course, the hunting lobby call this kind of hunting a sport. I call it a disease. And the sooner we find a remedy to it the better it will be for everybody.
One evening, dozens of honey buzzards decided to settle in the olive grove beneath my house. At 2 a.m. many shots were heard and next morning not one bird managed to fly away. They were all killed, taken home, probably stuffed and displayed in a showcase like rare pieces of Fabergé jewellery or Maltese silverware.
Enforcement is non-existent. By the time the police turn up the hunters hide their birds and their guns or move to a new area.
If we want to be serious, then during the hunting season one or two gamekeepers should be stationed permanently day and night in those areas where hunters normally shoot.
I am expecting the European Union to impose a huge fine which could run up to millions of euros. I hope that if this were to happen it will be paid only by the hunters and not by our taxes.
Those workers who live in the countryside are having their sleep disturbed. Sending them to work tired is not a good way to increase productivity.
Why do the authorities try every trick to appease the hunter?
Is being held to ransom by a small minority the way forward and a good example for the rest of us, ordinary, law abiding human beings?
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Ms Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
May 23rd 2011, 18:53
Evelyn Grech, have patience! I will continue to defend hunters immaterial as to whether you like it or not! BTW, who exactly are the "We"? On whose behalf are you commenting?! In any case, similar to having to accept that Spring Hunting is back, you have to likewise accept that I will continue writing on this blog!
Ms Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
May 23rd 2011, 10:48
Chris Xuereb, some substance pleaaasse! Is it so difficult for you to provide some factual comment on THIS blog?! Rest assured, I will let no-one dictate to me what I should do - the least of all YOU!!!
Mr James Galea
May 22nd 2011, 17:58
Fact is, my dear hunters, you have done whatever you liked for decades and have nurtured a culture that believed it could go on doing this for ever. You have known about it for decades and have privately sniggered about it over your thermos flasks. You created a monster that operates in your name and that you can no longer control. Forgive the pun, but your chickens have come home to roost. There is a groundswell reaction to your odious and largely lawless pastime and no number of petty overtures on your part will convince the populace otherwise. As an association, you are despised by the general populace. There is little you can now do about it.Your measly efforts to regulate the lawlessness you engendered for so many years are far too little, too late. In a few words, you lost all title to credibility a long, long time ago. In fewer words still, no one believes you anymore (bil-Malti, waqqajtu l-gebla .....)
Please do go on scrambling to regain some measure of credibility but it will take a lot more than a handful of showcase efforts to even begin to restore the image you sadly believe you enjoy. You have shot yourselves in the foot.
Ms Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
May 22nd 2011, 13:46
Maurice Mizzi's arrogance regarding the Maltese hunters is shameful indeed. One wonders what would happen had we to likewise place all businessmen in one basket and tarnish their reputation as all being tax-evaders, hence committing an illegal act!! Similarly, I can call this illegal act as "a disease. And the sooner we find a remedy to it the better it will be for" us workers whose taxes are ever high in order to compensate for the under-declaration of others!!
Maurice Mizzi, I believe you must have read BLM's report of some weeks ago as you seem to be parroting exactly what they had stated. Can you substantiate what you are stating here? I do not believe it is difficult for you to invest in some equipment to record your alleged illegalities!!
Your scaremongering about an EU fine further shows your non-factual statements in this hateful letter. Which EU fines may we refer to? Maybe fines for the dangerous emissions by cars?! Will YOU then pay these fines or are we all to pay them through our taxes? Similarly, I do not live in the countryside, I am a worker and my sleep is likewise disturbed by cars speeding through my street. This goes to show the baseless comment you wrote!
Finally, Maurice Mizzi, I suggest you take off your blinkers and maybe try to reason in a gentleman's manner. Law-abiding Maltese hunters are in the majority and they have every right to enjoy their traditional pastime, whether you decide to moan or not!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr Chris Xuereb
May 22nd 2011, 15:35
There's a more recent blog entitled 'Three Gozitans accused of illegal hunting' if you'd like to comment there.
Ms evelyn Grech
May 22nd 2011, 18:45
Mr.Mizzi is right . Sylvana! Why don't you give us all a break from your never ending excuses in favour of hunters. We are tired of your writing.
Mr Johnny Xerri
May 23rd 2011, 19:46
Dear Ms Evelyn galea.
Instead of simply responing to facts presented by someone, you choose to present an opinion that is not backed by any facts or else any logic...simply a personal attack...
Running out of facts...like the autumn alternative....or the migrating super highway...or the ficticious fines that the EU will impose?
Mr Anthony Formosa
May 22nd 2011, 12:52
Thanks Mr Mizzi for your lovely recycled letter. I hope the hoopoe came to visit your lovely garden again this year. In your letter you forget to mention that you called the police, at 2 am is more easier to catch the culprits, than during the day. In the village of Bidnija apart from few like you, they are all hunters, people like you with villas worth a fortune can afford to have a double glazing glass, so they can go to their office and run their business.
Mr Charles Gauci
May 22nd 2011, 12:07
And some self-labelled law-abiding hunters had laughed off the claim (by BLM) that protected birds were being systematically stalked and killed by night! It is useless pretending that these atrocities do not happen. The sooner these 'straight' hunters have the guts to expose those hunting illegally (which they call poachers) the better. The sad thing is that the very bad name that the Maltese hunting community has acquired around the globe is tarnishing the Maltese Islands' image in general.
Mr Joe Camilleri
May 22nd 2011, 11:52
Please spare us this fairy tale.
Mr Johnny Xerri
May 22nd 2011, 11:39
Dear Maurice Mizzi,
I ask you, is every self employeed and businessman reporting his income and conducting his business activity within all the parameters of the law?
I also ask you, who arrived first in the countryside, the hunter or the 'farmhouse' posh worker?
Moreover, are you implying that the police are such imbecils that illegal hunting is taking place at such frequency in your area, and yet they never monitor it? Moreover, that you witnessed such frequency and only spoke about it now when all is gone by and not when something could have been done? Furthermore, the productivity of workers is decreasing because of the gunshoots coming from one area on a frequent basis...and yet although incedents are happening in one area on a frequent enough basis to effect the productivity...nobody gets caught?
As for the fines, the EU can fine Malta only if the season was not inline with the Birds Directive, and not if the poacher took it in his agenda to break the law. Otherwise with all the poaching in the other EU member states...God Knows how the EU revnue would sustain unheard of growths.
As for the fines being paid by only the hunters, well if the fines are a result of EU membership, then I would gladly pay the fine and invoice the YES campaign group with an equal amount as a payment for my YES vote (thats the PN, MIC, Simon Busutill and all the other businessman and YES campaigners). After all spring hunting was guaranteed in black and white, so its only more than fair that we pay the fine...and we charge the same amount of money for the melicious lies we were fed. Deal or no deal Mr Mizzi?
As for the shots in Bidnija...are you sure they are hunters and not the clay shooters at the Bidnija range?