On Monday Malta’s Parliament will debate and vote on the motion tabled by Partit Demokratiku’s MP Godfrey Farrugia against the extended Majjistral Park hunting and trapping hours. In view of this BirdLife Malta calls on all members of parliament to bear in mind that extending hunting and trapping hours in such a site goes against the very concept of a national park where many go to enjoy the beauty of nature.
One must not forget that the Majjistral Heritage Parks Federation which is made up of the three NGOs Din l-Art Ħelwa, Gaia Foundation and Nature Rust Malta objected to this unilateral decision which was taken by the Government and also questioned the legality of the Legal Notice which extended the hunting and trapping hours since it was issued without the mandatory period of public consultation.
In view of the fact that on Monday Parliament will debate the motion which was presented on the 23rd of November for this decision to be revoked, one expects all the political parties to support this motion whilst bearing in mind that this extension was imposed against the advice of the same board which manages the park whose members were appointed by the Government itself.
It is disturbing to note that according to media reports, the PN Opposition is putting in doubt this motion and could even declare a position against it. More so when it is a known fact that the Majjistral Nature & History Park was created by a PN Government back in 2007 as a project with the aim to protect the landscape and biodiversity in the area.
As Monday’s important decision looms, BirdLife Malta states that today more than ever before Malta’s members of parliament must prove that they have the courage to put the national interest before that of their party.
Read the Maltese version of the press release here.