The arrival of spring means to Eddie Fenech Adami the relinquishment of his successful term as President of Malta. For hunters and trappers it marks the second year of being forced to relinquish their old and folkloristic practices which, during this time of the year, used to fill them with so much expectation, only to be lost to political indifference, dishonoured assurances, lack of consistency and confirmed deceit.
The pre-EU accession guarantee mailed to all hunters and trappers, signed by Dr Fenech Adami as Prime Minister brought peace of mind to all those that ever had any doubts or fears about the continuance of their practices. Without any hesitation, that letter assured that hunting and trapping would still be practised once Malta joins the EU. Dr Fenech Adami, as Prime Minster and leader of the PN at the time, was also inherently responsible for the publishing by the PN information office of an eight-page supplement in March 2003, entitled il-Kaċċa u l-Insib. This publication too was mailed to each hunter and trapper. Apart from assurances contradicting what the PN termed as lies by the Opposition at the time, this too guaranteed both spring hunting and trapping.
Another of Dr Fenech Adami's responsibilities was the setting up of the EU information centre (MIC). This body was specifically responsible to inform the Maltese on what to expect once Malta joined the EU. Apart from the unaltered continuance of both spring hunting and trapping being mentioned in several MIC publications, a purposely dedicated leaflet was published in October 2002 (Aġġornat, Nr13, Kaċċa u insib) assuring spring hunting and trapping after accession.
The hunter's vote seemed to be a priority at the time. No other sector of society was considered crucial enough to merit the importance of a personal letter, signed by no less than Malta's Prime Minister, guaranteeing that their hunting traditions would remain untouched and unaltered even after EU accession. Yet during the negotiating period, the PN promise that the hunters associations' consultancy was to be sought, was for reasons known to Dr Fenech Adami, altered by the appointment of Saviour Balzan, a known anti-hunter, as its hunting consultant. Mr Balzan had no fear in stating his betrayal of the trust shown in him by the PN. In the Malta Today of May 16, 2007, he unashamedly states: "Had it not been for me, we would not have reached the stage that hunting and trapping no longer takes place in Spring, I served Malta not the Nationalists."
Dr Fenech Adami is aware that a large section of his nationals have been deprived of what he personally guaranteed. He seems unperturbed that the appointed hunting consultant admits responsibility for the PN's guarantee failure and above all, that his successor as Prime Minister remains passive notwithstanding these facts and his own party's guarantees.
After such an active political prominence, Dr Fenech Adami's political career soon ends and we wish him well-merited years of good health on his retirement. He will be remembered for his political struggles in very hard times, his honesty, perseverance and sound principles, however, above all, he is respected for being a man of his word. Can Dr Fenech Adami end his tenure before correcting these wrongs? He might not realise that the injustices suffered by hunters and trappers will be carried to their grave. Is this how His Excellency wants to be remembered by all those he personally assured and that might also have contributed towards his successful political career?