In its last appeal before Saturday’s referendum, the Spring Hunting Out (Shout) campaign said that more than 93 per cent of all voters had  a vote to cast in the referendum.

“Out there is a silent mass of people who are willing to vote and to vote No,” spokesman Mark Sultana said during a news conference in Bisazza street, Sliema.

“Since last Monday 3,358 voters have collected their referendum voting documents from the electoral commission in Naxxar, it appears that from 338,447 registered voters for the referendum, 315,739 are in possession of a voting document. 

“The signs are clear, Maltese and Gozitans will definitely be voting in this referendum.  This is a historic chance to change… Out there is a silent mass of people who are willing to vote and to vote NO.  They are silent, but they know what to do, because their message is our message.  Their conviction is our conviction.

“Our conviction that Malta and Gozo deserve better, deserve a spring without bird killing and with a countryside that belongs to everyone,” he said.