Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning issued a stern warning to hunters, stating that he will close the hunting season if illegalities take place. He also told hunters that times have changed and they now have to look after their own hobby, reporting any fellow hunters who break the law.
Speaking at a press conference in the Auberge de Castille, Dr Muscat praised the high participation rate. The result is close but clear and should be respected, he said, adding that he was pleased to hear both sides say that they would respect the will of the majority.
A Legal Notice will be published today for the spring hunting season to open on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said the result showed that a small majority, including himself, were giving a chance, most probably the last one, to law-abiding hunters. Hunters and their families need to understand that the situation has completely changed - things will no longer be the same.
The time when illegalities were dismissed as the doings of a few is over. Law-abiding hunters are now closer than ever to losing spring hunting once and for all, the Prime Minister warned. Dr Muscat said he will not be afraid to close the season if illegalities take place."The last protest by the hunters was aimed at me personally for closing the season. I will not be afraid to do the same."
He said hunters now have a responsibility control their own and to report illegalities. Those who go out hunting today or tomorrow will be doing so illegally and will face justice. He gave instructions to the police that absolutely no form of illegality will be tolerated. Enforcement will be stepped up but Malta cannot become a police state, the Prime Minister said.
Hunters should make responsible choices, he said, noting that there were people who had lost jobs because of illegal hunting convictions. The penalties could be made harsher if they are deemed to be an ineffective deterrent.
Dr Muscat said that, despite a 4,000-vote majority, this was a clear result and people want to retain a controlled spring hunting season. The NO-vote had pushed the environmental agenda forward and this is a message that he will be taking on board.
Dr Muscat also said the referendum showed that the electorate is becoming more autonomous from politics - voters did not vote according to their party lines.
The result is also a message to the media, who took a stand against spring hunting. They should also accept the result, he said. The Prime Minister said he heard the same old "Punch and Judy" arguments this morning on TV - arguments that have been made for the past 30 years and which people had grown tired of. He appealed to both sides to discuss a way forward and find a way of dialogue.
Asked about claims that PL agents were urging people to vote yes Dr Muscat said this did not result to him. Replying to questions by The Malta Independent about hunters thanking him for "his help), Dr Muscat said he did not campaign for or against hunting but had only stated what he believed in. He said that if both he and the Opposition Leader had chosen to campaign in favour of hunting the Yes-vote would have won by a much wider margin but both he and Dr Busuttil had refrained from doing so.
Dr Muscat said that, as Labour Leaders he now looked forward to next Saturday's vote counting in the local council election.
Video:Paul Jones, photographs: Jonathan Borg