Hunters irked by BirdLife no-confidence motion in Ornis chairman

The Ornis Committee appears to be a standstill after conservationists BirdLife refused to withdraw a request calling for the resignation of Ornis chairman Louis Cilia.

The Maltese hunters' lobby has accused BirdLife of having used its influence to lead government by the nose, hinting at the prospect of a new administration that "puts right the discrimination against hunters and trappers."

FKNK secretary-general Lino Farrugia said a new administration should "end BirdLife's reign of favouritism", accusing the conservationists of having used their influence inside MEPA's Environment Protection Directorate (EPD), schools and other related government agencies.

Farrugia accused BirdLife of "hijacking" an Ornis meeting - the board on which both the FKNK and BirdLife sit to recommend the opening and closure of hunting seasons.

"Since March of last year, BirdLife asked for the resignation of the Ornis Committee chairman, citing a no-confidence vote... in protest they refused to participate at any of the committee's meetings since then.  At the first meeting of the committee that followed BirdLife's no-confidence vote, a unanimous vote of confidence in the chairman was tabled by the other committee members," Farrugia said.

Another hunters' association, the St Hubert Hunters, said BirdLife was also allowed to discuss their request for further changes to spring hunting laws in private with the MEPA environment protection department.

"Having had just under a year to put forward their proposals up for discussion in a democratic manner in the purposely set up committee, BirdLife, which has abandoned ORNIS since March 2012, have seen their arrogance rewarded by the same committee it shunned," Mark Mifsud Bonnici claimed.

"Apart from this proposal not being part of the agenda at the last meeting, BirdLife refused to rescind their no confidence vote. As a sign of protest considering the issue was still put up for discussion, our partners the FKNK and the government's appointed expert on hunting matters walked out of the meeting.

"We deplore the servile attitude of the remaining Ornis committee members and categorically state that we will not abide by any recommendation or decision taken by the MEPA Environment Protection Department outside the democratic process of the ORNIS committee."