In a reaction to this morning’s statement issued by the Federazzjoni Kaċċaturi Nassaba Konservazzjonisti (FKNK) and the attempt to hinder democracy, BirdLife Malta states that when a government chooses to ignore its own agency (Environment and Resources Authority, ERA) and introduce measures that will destroy wildlife and nature – which is national heritage – then it is only fair that as an NGO we think of the next level. Public consultation through a referendum is a democratic right.
The attempt to stifle this democratic tool is perhaps a small reflection of why in 2018 we still uphold practices which are banned from other modern societies. No measure of intimidation including the spate in social media attacks on BirdLife Malta officials will stop BirdLife Malta from pointing out that the Muscat Administration is not interested in wildlife protection.
As a point of clarification, the hunting referendum took place during the local council elections which is a cost incurred naturally in the country’s democratic process and furthermore the Finance Minister had then stated that the cost for the referendum was €4.6 million and not €6 million as quoted by the hunters’ representation. BirdLife Malta contends that the figure of €4.6 million is inflated but insists that come what may democracy does not have a price tag.
Read the Maltese version of the press release here and the report about our press conference held yesterday (to which FKNK reacted) here.