The government’s position under the premiership of Lawrence Gonzi is unenviable and untenable, two hunters’ organisations said.
The Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) and the St Hubert Hunters (KSU) said in a statement that Dr Gonzi’s decisions undermined the public’s trust in the integrity of the Ornis Committee.
This recommended a spring hunting period of 21 days, a reduction of 66 per cent from the original season.
“Ignoring their reasonable recommendation that would have adequately addressed the Court’s concern and satisfied the satisfactory alternative principle, Dr Gonzi opted for the absurdity of a 95 per cent reduction, resulting in a hunting season of six half-days, equivalent to three days.
“The prime minister is limiting the special licence to 2,500 hunters, or just 25 per cent of the hunters, because the government priority is to have control over the season.”
The two organisations said that some time ago, Dr Gonzi had declared that the ALE were doing a great job and hunting was under control.
Now he wanted only 3,900 turtle doves and 3,600 quails to be hunted.
“This arbitrary number has absolutely no scientific basis. That is certain. These figures signify a reduction of 75 per cent of the numbers calculated by the Ornis Committee.
“It is also certain that these numbers are vastly smaller than the numbers taken in autumn.
“Therefore, Dr. Gonzi’s figures are a direct challenge to the European Court of Justice and its satisfactory alternative ruling.”
They said that the position of Dr Gonzi’s government had become untenable. The two things the Prime Minister excelled in were making promises he had no intention to keep, and groveling at the doors of the EU Commission.
The two organisations referred to a government statement yesterday which said that hunters’ latest media addresses were an insult.
“Nothing, we repeat nothing, can be more than an insult than what government has proposed as this year’s spring hunting season.
“Adding insult to injury the media release further declared that next year we may be granted three open season weeks.
“Dr Gonzi do you seriously believe that today anyone can come close to believing any of your personal and your party’s promises!”
The organisations reminded hunters and trappers to heed the FKNK’s directive not to apply for the special licence.
Application forms should be sent to the respective hunting organizations, which were to revoke the membership of hunters who applied and to name and shame any such individual.
“We will not allow anyone to jeopardise the right of thousands of other hunters and trappers to a satisfactory spring-hunting season,” the FKNK and KSU said.