Busuttil encounters angry hunter during Paola visit

PN deputy leader reiterates call for anyone with information on the oil corruption scandal to come forward.

Nationalist deputy leader Simon Busuttil
Nationalist deputy leader Simon Busuttil

What should have been a courtesy visit around the shops in Paola for PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil, ended up in an uncomfortable argument with an angry hunter before the glaring eyes of the media.

Busuttil was today touring the shops in Paola when at one point he was stopped by a man. The man, a hunter, presented Busuttil with a 2008 letter that Maltese hunters had received before the last general election promising them that hunting would remain in its totality.

"You took us for a ride. Why didn't you honour your promise? I no longer believe in the PN," the hunter said as Busuttil tried to calm him down.

The MEP tried to explain that the European Union had wanted to ban spring hunting and that the Maltese government opened a case before the European Court of Justice. This, Busuttil said, has allowed hunters to practice their passion in spring and autum.

But the hunter rebutted the argument, saying that the license fee has been increased to €50, while hunting hours had been reduced.

Meanwhile, the hunting federation FKNK questioned which "past promises" the PN will honour.

"PN leader Dr Lawrence Gonzi and deputy leader Dr Simon Busuttil have been reported as stating they would be honouring and 'our past promises'," FKNK said.

FKNK said it "wondered" how far back the two leader were prepared to go.

"Will they finally honour any of the several, both official and political promises, made to the thousands of hunters and trappers, by both the PN and the Malta EU information centre?" FKNK said.

Addressing the press after the visit, Busuttil reiterated the Prime Minister's call for anyone with information about the oil corruption scandal revealed by MaltaToday to come forward.

Asked whether the PN knew of any details which have not yet been made public - given Lawrence Gonzi's insistence that were more details yet to emerge - Busuttil denied the PN knew anything.

"I urge anyone with any information to come forward and speak with the Police Commissioner. The Prime Minister has promised presidential pardon and also protection to whoever has any information," Busuttil said, extending his call to Labour leader Joseph Muscat.

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Dear Nikos, I am sure that any a Maltese and Gozitan citizen have expressed their grieviances to those who listen. Anyone who has been treated poorly by GonziPN should become an active PL supporter and many have, so what are you so surprised about? It wasn't yesterday that people realised how they had been taken for a ride by GonziPN and hunters are only a small percentage of this group. GonziPN have treated almost every single Maltese and Gozitan abysmally. Only a select few have benefitted from their rule,and you know it.
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Paul Pandolfino
He was not just an angry hunter but also an active labour supporter. He should have gone to Joseph and ask him to implement his wishes in the electoral program.
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Dear il-mignun, are you trying to console Busuttil? Do you honestly think that Mr. Portelli saw through Busuttil and GonziPN's antics only yesterday morning?
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Busuttil started reacting as if this guy was a political opponent rather than a man who feels hurt and cheated. Some sensitivity Busuttil please instead of the usual arrogance!
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Dear Jurgen, Was there any libelous words in my comments? Or because it's not against the PN?
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Il-PN ma tilef l-ebda vot minghand is - sur Jeremy Portelli. Idhlu fuq facebook u taraw min hu Jeremy!
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If Gonzi really wants people comng with information about the oil scandal than hs should pass the Wisthle blowers Act as otherwise thise tnat come forward aill be at the mercy of Gonzi if they are given proclamtion or not, Nd who is so stupid to risk this?
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If Gonzi really wants people comng with information about the oil scandal than hs should pass the Wisthle blowers Act as otherwise thise tnat come forward aill be at the mercy of Gonzi if they are given proclamtion or not, Nd who is so stupid to risk this?
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Imma mbaghad ghaddielu kollox ta, ghax sid ta' hanut qaltlu li ratu 'ckejken'! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151290451606775
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Lawrence Covin
Nizzi hajr lil-Alla! Sa fl-ahhar beda l-heckling, jigifieri, li n-nies jghidu f'wicc il-kandidat, hu min hu, ex-Prim jew novizz, PN jew PL, dak li jahsbu. Ilna wisq in-naghag ta bendu, inhallu lill-haddiehor jilluppjana. F'Demokrazija vibranti huwa l-politiku li jibza mill-eletturi, mhux bil-kontra, kif konna sa issa.
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GonziPN he was coward when he open the spring hunting again.He did not acting so smart, he made people more angry than when the season was close.If he thinks he is going to win the election because he open the spring birds killing,I say he is off his calculation, because he lost lots of votes from the birds watchers.ex PN.
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GonziPN he was coward when he open the spring hunting again.He did not acting so smart, he made people more angry than when the season was close.If he thinks he is going to win the election because he open the spring birds killing,I say he is off his calculation, because he lost lots of votes from the birds watchers.ex PN.
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If Gonzi really wants people comng with information about the oil scandal than hs should pass the Wisthle blowers Act as otherwise thise tnat come forward aill be at the mercy of Gonzi if they are given proclamtion or not, Nd who is so stupid to risk this?
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Dan il-kaccatur, bhal hafna nies ohrajn jaf li l-weghdi ta GonziPN huma fierha u ma jiswewx il-karta li huma stampati fuqha. Zgur li ma tistax tafdhom.
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Paul Sammut
Watch Simon beating around the bush.
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kemm tista taqbad gamiem kull jum XMUN, b min trid tidhaq int. ma min rajtek xebbahtek
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So according to our GonzoBusPN, whoever has any information on the oil procurement must come forward and he will be offered protection...so suppose I was one of those who benefited all these years, shall I come forward and be protected and none of my assets will be frozen? That's good...thanks GonzoBUsPN...
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Dan hu dak li qed jispera li xi darba għad ikun il-Duputat Prim Ministru ? X'faqar ta' bniedem dan . Lill dan il-ġuvnott lanqas felaħ ikellmu u l-unika ħaġa li qallu kienet jekk kienx qiegħed ikellem lilu jew jagħajjat biex jisimgħuħ tal-kameras . Dan min meta Dr Simon Busuttil sar jibza mil-kameras ? Ma tantx nafuħ hekk . Aktar nafuħ jiġi jippoza u jiftaħar b'dak li jkun għamel fil-Parlament Ewropew . Jew issa spiċċa dak iz-zmien li jitmejjel bin-nies għax inkixfu kollha kemm huma giddiebin u ipokriti ? Ara titħajjarx li xi darba issir Prim Ministru wkoll ? Ikolna biex niftaħru bik .
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Dan hu l-iSTAR CANDIDATE tal-PN? Ikun ahjar kieku imur lura minn fejn gie. Xejn xejm hemmhekk (fil-Parlament Ewropew) ma jsibx kaccaturi inkazzati ghalijh ghax kien tnellah bihom!
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To me this quoted question is like that King in the story parading in the nude for all to see, with the court jester knowing the King is nude but yell: 'I urge anyone with any information to come forward and speak to the King if he disagree of the King's outfit' it had to be that little boy so the story goes who said that we have a stupid King if he do not realize he is nude and do not want to correct himself!