Referendum needed on hunting

Hunting has become a national issue. There are simply too many vested interests.

The non-hunter is suddenly realising that even s/he has a right to enjoy birds alive and has decided that things must change, that the selfish ‘thrill’ of shooting birds is unacceptable.

Tourism is suffering heavily too. The impact of scathing criticism of the islands on the social media should not be underestimated.

Times have changed.

What happens in Malta does not stay within the confines of Maltese shores any longer.

Hunters too have to understand this change.

Articles by journalists in both the UK and Germany, in particular, are rampant on the matter. Righteously so, let us be honest.

Both countries spend millions of euros each year on bird conservation, observation, counting, studying, monitoring and protecting bird life so that the species that has been so lovingly watched from the moment the egg is laid, hatched and then nestling could be enjoyed by all.

This cannot just be thrown away capriciously at the whim of a Maltese hobby hunter. The damage is immeasurable. This is a blow below the belt for the hard-working hotel and catering industry struggling against toughest competition to attract tourists.

The Maltese Government must understand that there is no way of avoiding an urgent referendum on the matter. It concerns us all and the opinion of the whole Maltese population must be sounded out.