From Mrs A. M. Chaplin

I refer to the initiative recently taken by the Green Party (Alternattiva Demokratika) – Ghawdex (Gozo) Regional Committee and others on the Ta’Cenc cliff area.

I am writing as an ordinary citizen of the European Union who is most concerned about what is happening in Malta. I have never visited your island, always hoped to but it is now completely off limits to me. Also, I work for a very large organisation and am going to place a copy of the information provided by Proact on our notice board, which I know will have the effect of putting more people off the idea of visiting Malta

I am sorry to learn that there still are barbarians living in Malta. I would have thought you would be proud of your heritage and the important part a bird such as the Peregrine Falcon had in your history, as it was honoured and revered by your citizens throughout your history (even I know about that). I love history, especially European history.

To me it shows that nothing matters to your citizens, you have lost the pride you once had in your nation otherwise you would want to keep your heritage and history alive.

After all it is history that created the European Union we have today and now you are part of it we expect you to abide by its rules.

Also, many tourists visit Malta because of its history, not just to sit on beaches but to “re-live” history. I had friends who came there many years ago for just that reason; they enjoyed the friendliness of the people and the atmosphere so much, they took a coach party the year after and have been several times since, but will not be doing so again while the hunting continues and sites like Ta’Cenc Cliff Area Malta remain unprotected.

Thanks to the initiative of the Green Party (Alternattiva Demokratika), – there is now a chance that Ta’Cenc will be granted Special Protected Area Status by the European Union.”

Malta has one of the most unique bird habitats in the Mediterranean and I know there are companies organising tours to Malta providing a much-needed source of revenue. The killing of birds will of course mean these tours will cease to operate.

I also find it ironic that in England we are providing round the clock protection for the beautiful rare black legged stilts that may be breeding here while the same rare birds are being murdered by the citizens of Malta as are bee-eaters, blue rock thrush, Cory’s shearwater, Yelkouan shearwater, orioles, hoopoes and so on.

All birds I would love to have the chance of seeing in the wild. However, I have just turned down a holiday in Malta as I for one will not visit until the “killing” stops and the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Obviously, loss of tourism means nothing to the Maltese. After all now you are in the European Union you expect to be able to live on handouts. What a terrible thing to happen to a once proud nation.

Mrs A. M. Chaplin

Penwortham

Preston

Lancs

ENGLAND