BirdLife Malta said it is the government that has been discriminatory – by hand-picking staff for the new Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU).

It was replying to a government answer to a news release it issued, saying that it considers that Joe Lia had too great a conflict of interest to be employed within the WBRU.

“This conflict of interest meant that BirdLife Malta could not remain at the Ornis Committee when proposals for the trapping of song thrush and golden plover were being discussed because Mr Lia was present as the government’s technical expert. BirdLife Malta considers that it was taking an ethical stance when it made its decision to withdraw from Ornis for this agenda item,” BirdLife said

It added that Mr Lia’s listing as the FKNK council member for live-bird trapping on the FKNK website was removed only after the publication of an article that drew attention to the conflict of interest between his role as an FKNK council member and his position as a technical officer at the WBRU.

There has yet to be an official statement by the FKNK and/or Mr Lia confirming his resignation or removal from the FKNK council, BirdLife added.

While BirdLife Malta “does not question Mr Lia’s right to remain a member of the FKNK while being employed by the government, there is a very big difference between being an ordinary member and someone who has had a position on their governing body,” it said.

Mr Lia’s role within the FKNK council was specifically linked to his special interest in live trapping. His role within the WBRU also involves him in working on trapping issues on behalf of the government. It is very difficult to conclude that he can act with impartiality in view of this.

BirdLife said there has been no open and transparent recruitment process for staff of the new WBRU. Staff have been appointed or seconded from elsewhere. While government secondments to NGOs involve a call for applications and a rigorous interviewing process, no such process has taken place in the creation of the WBRU.

“BirdLife Malta therefore argues that the government has been discriminatory in favour of the appointment of Mr Lia to his role in the WBRU and other suitable candidates have not even had the chance to apply for such a role,” BirdLife Malta said.