During the last week of October and first week of November 2004, my wife and I came on holiday to Malta. We had visited Malta previously some years ago.

Since our last visit we have retired and taken up bird-watching as a hobby.

All our holidays during the last l1 years have centred around bird-watching, mostly in Europe, and spending on average £1,700 per person per trip.

At this time of the year we would expect to see approximately 100 to 150 different species of birds. In Malta we saw only 22.

It amazes us that your government allows the continued slaughter of birds on such a massive scale.

The scenic beauty of cliff tops is destroyed by the gun emplacements looking more like a preparation for World War III.

The peaceful natural beauty of your country is being spoiled by the intimidation we felt from gunmen in bunkers watching every step a tourist makes.

On Dingli Cliffs, the only sound of bird life was from those in cages (which is against the law). I wonder what happened to these poor creatures when over three inches of rain fell, or when the heat of the sun continued all day. Could this be murder or manslaughter?

It is surely time for Malta to comply with the EU directives for birds and stop the slaughter of birds killed each year.

These birds do not belong to Malta. They are birds of the world that people enjoy hearing and watching throughout the changing seasons of the year.

Meeting the requirements of the directive would, I am sure, give a boost to tourism and would be of great benefit to the more rural areas of Malta.

From my observations in my two-week holiday, I shall never return to Malta until shooting and trapping is under control.

I will also do all that I can to persuade my friends to stay away as well.

Can Malta really afford to upset tourists?

Herbert Ogden

Manchester

England