With the appointment of Saviour Balzan in the position of vice-president, BirdLife Malta (BLM) now confirmed their hunting and trapping abolitionists’ stand, the Hunters’ Federation said.  To add insult to injury, “jack-of-all-trades Balzan will also represent BLM on the hunting and trapping consultative regulating body, the Malta Ornis Committee.”

"During the Malta/EU membership negotiations Balzan was given a clear brief by government to secure a package that should have ensured the continuation of the socio-cultural traditional passions of hunting and trapping on the Maltese islands.  A brief he evidently betrayed.  A betrayal he later boasted about and which mission must have cost the Maltese taxpayer hundreds of thousands of euro," the federation said in a statement.

Balzan, now a journalist and a tabloid co-owner, at present also hosts a TV discussion programme on the national channel, the FKNK said.  “In his lurid paper he has often manifestly demonstrated his hatred and abolitionist intentions towards hunting and trapping.  Is it therefore, possibly legal, that someone can occupy such controversial positions and publicly uphold these abolitionist beliefs to such an extremist degree, and furthermore be appointed by government to serve on one of its governing bodies?”

Thus, the Federation for Hunting & Conservation – Malta’ (FKNK) firmly believes that since Balzan lacks both integrity and credibility, then his appointment on the Malta Ornis Committee is untenable.  Notwithstanding, the FKNK representatives on the Committee will more vigorously continue to promote the socio-cultural traditional passions of hunting and trapping on behalf of all Maltese hunters and trappers at this level.

The FKNK is the only entity, representing hunters and trappers locally and internationally, with the necessary credentials for representation on the Malta Ornis Committee.