Talks were started today between the government, Transport Malta and interested parties on the drafting of a legal notice to regulate horses on the roads.
The Commissioner for Animal Welfare, Manuel Buhagiar, said on TimesTalk this evening that the first meeting was held today. It was presided by Transport Minister Joe Mizzi.
Manuel BuhagiarThe meeting followed a spate of incidents involving horses, including two, in Attard and Gzira, which saw two cars extensively damaged and two horses injured and put down.
Mr Buhagiar said his office investigated all reported cases of animal cruelty but it was not easy to arraign the alleged culprits when people refused to testify, or when footage could not be authenticated.
He regretted that there was no legislation to regulate horses on the roads and said a balance needed to be struck between the needs of road users and those who took horses to the roads.
He said he had attended today's meeting. Also present were all interested parties including Roderick Galdes, parliamentary secretary responsible for animal welfare.
He stressed that the overriding need was to have education, but also enforcement.
In October 2013 Transport Malta official Audrey Testaferrata de Noto said on TimesTalk that TM was evaluating the impact of horses and heavy vehicles on rush-hour traffic.
She was questioned on what measures were being considered to reduce traffic jams and whether heavy vehicles and horses could be taken off the roads in peak times.
COMMISSIONER COMPLAINS ON MIDDAY STA MARIJA RACES
Mr Buhagiar also revealed that he has written to the Bishop of Gozo insisting that the traditional Sta Marija horse races on August 15 should not longer be held at mid-day - at the height of the summer heat.
It was pointed out that horse races for Mnarja and the feast of St George have been moved to the evening.