A petition calling for a referendum to abolish spring hunting raised more than 10,000 signatures in two months.
The petition is still a third of the way towards its target but members of the Coalition for the Abolition of Spring Hunting were yesterday hopeful they would achieve their target.
We wonder if Malta was embarrassed about discussions on the illegal killing of birds
They were, however, reluctant to set a deadline for the collection of about 34,000 signatures – equivalent to 10 per cent of the electorate – required to force an abrogative referendum.
“One of the possibilities is to have the referendum on the same day as the MEP election in May next year,” a spokesman said.
Members of the coalition yesterday carried out a peaceful protest on the doorstep of the Excelsior Hotel, in Floriana, where Environment Minister Leo Brincat joined delegates from all over Europe for a conference on environmental legislation.
Around 40 people carried placards calling for the end of spring hunting. One of them read Stop The Slaughter and another said Dead Birds Can’t Breed.
A hotel manager objected to the protesters’ presence just outside the main door and after repeatedly asking them to move to the road, he called the police. Two officers arrived some time later when the protest was over.
Mr Brincat had arrived at the conference before the start of the protest and, in a statement later, denied he was early to avoid the protesters. A spokeswoman said the minister was early to welcome conference participants.
In a short statement outside the hotel, coalition spokesman Chris Debono said it was ironic that a workshop on the illegal shooting of birds that formed part of the conference was not included in the main event which Mr Brincat attended.
“We wonder if Malta was so embarrassed about discussions on the illegal killing of birds taking place that any serious talks had to take place in another room, away from the gaze of senior policymakers from other European countries,” Mr Debono said.
He said bird conservation group Birdlife Malta would present its spring derogation report to the European Commission’s environment director general. Mr Debono said the report showed rampant illegalities during the spring hunting season.
In his opening address at the conference, Mr Brincat made no mention of hunting but emphasised Malta’s commitment towards the implementation and enforcement of environment legislation.
“Malta recognises the importance of the protection of the environment and the social and economic implications that may result from a lack of proper environmental protection,” he said.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com