The hunters' federation (FKNK) has accused the government of using the Ornis Committee as a smokescreen and for delaying decisions on hunting.

The charges were made after a committee meeting yesterday lacked a quorum after the government-appointed members pulled out for various reasons.

The FKNK said the meeting's date had been set on June 24. The meeting was meant to take decisions on a report it had submitted on solutions for the retention of sustainable trapping in Malta. The report was based on principles of compensation and putting birds back into the wild.

"The FKNK's representatives on the committee were all set for this very important meeting and the expected vital decision that would propose to the Prime Minister the opening of the traditional trapping seasons for both huntable species and finches," the FKNK said.

"However, by coincidence or otherwise, at the commencement of yesterday's meeting, the chairman informed the members present that the Director of the Environment had just called to say that he could not make it, and he did not send a substitute as he normally does. Furthermore two other government appointees also brought a last minute excuse for not attending, while the third government appointee had excused himself from this meeting's attendance since 24th June."

These absences meant that the meeting could not take any decisions because of the lack of quorum.

Also just before yesterday's meeting, the members received a report from BirdLife Malta regarding FKNK's report. The federation said BirdLife's report was very negative and contained inaccuracies, misquotes and misinterpretation of material facts as well as being full of scaremongering.

The federation said the committee is now due to meet on July 28 and it would then inform its members of the situation.

"Government has to stop using the Ornis Committee as a smokescreen, and such delay tactics have to stop because in a democratic society the people have a right to know where they stand," the federation said.