The Parliamentary Secretary for Animal Rights, Roderick Galdes has placed two unelected members to the Animal Welfare Council’s two-member board, including the Labour Party’s official photographer, Joe Camenzuli, a known animal lover but who does not officially represent any animal society, instead of appointing the two NGO representatives nominated by the rest of the animal rights’ groups.

Marika Micallef was also appointed to the council’s board.

The present animal welfare council will remain in place for three years, opposed to the past when members held the position for a year.

Speaking to this newspaper, a string of animal rights’ organisation representatives said they are extremely concerned over the lack of NGO presence on the board this time around since both Lino Mintoff and Myriam Kirmond, who were nominated by animal NGOs to sit on the council, were not asked by the government to do so.

The reaction of the NGOs came a day after the White Paper was launched by Mr Galdes, comprising a list of proposed amendments to the Animal Welfare Act. At a news conference held at the Petting Farm, Mr Galdes explained that the aim of the White Paper is to address and implement part of the electoral manifesto pertaining to animal rights.

The president of the National Cat Society, Carmel Serracino Inglott, said that opposed to the practice adopted in the past, the PL government placed two members on the board but not the nominated ones, despite the fact that an election was held where Animal Rights’ Group chairperson Myriam Kirmond, and Lino Mintoff from Happy Paws Charity Organisation, were elected.

Mr Mintoff meanwhile told this newspaper that despite the fact that both he and Ms Kirmond were the ones chosen by animal NGOs to sit on the council’s board, they were not placed on the board by the government – a claim which was also confirmed with this newspaper by Ms Kirmond.

He explained that animal rights’ NGOs with full voting powers propose to the government of the day each year the names of the two chosen members to sit on the council following an election, as is the case with Ms Kirmond and Mr Mintoff.

“But despite this, the government has gone ahead appointing two persons of its choice to the council’s board,” Mr Serracino Inglott said, when asked to confirm whether there has been a sudden change of practice.

A spokesperson for Mr Galdes said that “the current law never specified that members representing the interest of animals had to form part of an NGO, nonetheless both members elected by the government are personally involved to promote the well-being of such animals in different fora pertaining to the latter”.

Contacted by this newspaper, Mr Camenzuli said that the fact he was appointed to the board is public knowledge but insisted that he was not appointed to the board simply because he has PL affiliations but because “I am an animal lover”. When asked why he was present during a number of news conferences held by Mr Galdes, he replied that until some time ago he was helping out the Animal Welfare Department on a voluntary basis, “as every individual has a right to do”.

The White Paper recommends that on first conviction, the minimum and maximum fine be doubled, hence from €1,000 to €55,000 and/or a term of imprisonment for a period of three years. On second conviction, the minimum fine (multa) has been upped by €1,000, and the maximum by €30,000. Therefore offenders shall be liable to a fine ranging between €5,000 and €80,000 and/or imprisonment to a term not exceeding three years.

Solely reacting to the proposed changes to the Animal Welfare Act, Moira Delia, who is an animal rights’ activist and TV personality, told this newspaper that as much as it is positive that the government intends making changes to the Animal Welfare Act to better safeguard animal rights, the Courts need to start implementing the law as should be and not simply let offenders get away with a suspended sentence.

She also pointed out that pending animal cruelty cases should be taken more seriously.

During the White Paper’s launch, Mr Galdes said that the aim is to make Malta more animal friendly by way of new laws, infrastructural investment and services.

Mr Galdes said that a commissioner for animal welfare will be appointed, while the role of the animal welfare council will be strengthened.