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The decision by Minister George Pullicino, with cabinet approval, to consider the banning of spring trapping and the reduction of shooting at sea is a step in the right direction.
There is no doubt in our minds that this would not have happened had the European Commission not applied pressure on the authorities to fall in line with the spirit of the Birds Directive. It would not have happened had Malta not been a full member of the European Union.
The decision to remove spring trapping in March brings backs memories of Stanley Zammit, the forgotten PN junior minister who had the gall to champion changes in hunting and trapping regulations.
He would later suffer at the polls, forgotten by his electorate and his party. Only last week, he was remembered by the Prime Minister for his sterling initiative. A much awaited comment by admirers of Zammit.
But Dr Zammit had gone even further by reducing the period for the hunting season in Spring. He did so in a climate where the hunting lobby was still revered and considered untouchable. It has changed the ambience of the Maltese countryside in innumerable ways.
His actions were met by illogical reactions from the pro-hunting lobby that turned into vile and unbearable actions. Apart from the violent clashes and the mayhem at traffic junctions and roundabouts, the temples of Hagar Qim, Mnajdra and Borg In-Nadur suffered irreparable physical damage apart from being daubed with paint.
Although the hunters’ representatives denied their followers had anything to do with it, the pattern and style pointed in one direction.
Minister Pullicino should be prepared for such negative reactions, and he should not underestimate how the anger and frustration of a small number of trappers and hunters can turn out to be violent and abusive.
We truly hope he has alerted Heritage Malta and the Police about this eventuality.
Pullicino has said, indeed in a comment to this newspaper, that he would like the Opposition to support him when he debates and takes action on the hunting and trapping situation.
That commitment, albeit shrouded in political discourse, did come this very week from Alfred Sant who said Malta would have to live up to its commitments with the European Union.
He did use the word negotiations and he added that the Maltese hunter had been deceived. Indeed it would be useful if Dr Sant takes a closer look at the negotiations on hunting and trapping and suggest what he would have done differently.
Which brings us back to Stanley Zammit’s days: there is the perception that the junior minister did not have the full backing of the cabinet or rather the much needed enthusiasm at the Office of the Prime Minister when he acted to curb hunting and trapping.
This time round, the story is rather different. Minister Pullicino may have made some miscalculations and hasty decisions, but he is definitely not one who acts without the full blessing of the Prime Minister.
His decision to take on spring trapping is a courageous one. It will mean that the countryside will be rid of over 4,500 trapping sites and become a delight for ramblers, naturalists and the public. It will mean that thousands of migrating birds heading north will be spared the trap and some may even attempt to re-colonise our maquis and garigue.
There will be many recriminations in the coming days. Minister Pullicino’s measures are commendable and welcome, and we applaud him for his actions. In his position he should call in Stanley Zammit and ask him to replay the events of eleven years ago when Malta breathed some fresh air only to see it crumble down with the electoral promises of the political parties in the election of 1996.
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