I would like to point out that the authorities should be aware that the recent hunting laws which were changed last March are not very clear to many.

Just last week I overheard a small number of people in a village square discussing their preparations for the hunting season opening “in weeks”. I thought that something should have changed, but reading the paper confirms that nothing did.

The ORNIS committee was just set up and discussions barely started. No decisions have yet been made when the hunting season will be allowed. It is now up to ORNIS to decide when and what should be hunted, so legally, there are no dates yet for the hunting season.

But yet again this morning, I met an old friend of mine who was enthusiastic that the hunting season will soon open. When I pointed out that there is no hunting season any more, not even in autumn, and explained how the laws have changed, he kept insisting that I was wrong and added that “no one said anything”. He was genuinely oblivious of the new laws. He also added that his friends were also ready to start their season on 1 September, as it was last year.

I know that the information was already published, but can the authorities send all the facts to whoever needs it because the issue seems to be vague to many? I’m sure that if no decisions are taken by ORNIS before 1 September, many hunters will think its open season. Everyone should be aware of the new laws because even sections of the general public are unaware.

Nyal Xuereb

Gharghur