The hunters and trappers’ federation (FKNK) yesterday gave Environment Minister George Pullicino until next Thursday to amend Legal Notice 79 to permit hunting and trapping in spring and threatened to take to the streets in protest if this request is not met.

Speaking during a press conference, FKNK secretary general Lino Farrugia said that after next Thursday, the hunters and trappers will either organise an event to celebrate or else organise protests and demonstrations in Malta and Gozo. Mr Farrugia said the federation had given the government important documents to substantiate this request.

He also said that the hunters and trappers have had enough of this uncertainty which is looming over the future of hunting and trapping in Malta.

He added that there exist a number of certificates to prove that hunters and trappers have been visiting doctors and psychiatrists because of this situation.

“The hunters and trappers cannot be treated like this any longer.

“We have a right to know where we stand. We cannot be treated like second-class citizens anymore. We urge Minister Pullicino to make the necessary changes according to our documents which contain proposals which are in line with and within the parameters of the European Union’s Birds Directive,” he said.

Mr Farrugia said the FKNK is prepared to do anything possible “to safeguard the socio-cultural tradition” of hunting and trapping in Malta. He said the federation expected the government to announce the traditional hunting seasons for trapping of song birds in March and for trapping and hunting between March and May. The federation also proposed a short season in March for hunting at sea.

The federation’s secretary general dedicated a good part of his speech to talk about Joe Sultana, who formed part of the Ornis Committee before tendering his resignation. He said Mr Sultana was instrumental in the drawing up of the infamous Legal Notice 79 of 2006 while he occupied the post of chairman of the Ornis Committee.

He said it was not true that Mr Sultana resigned because the police were not enforcing the regulations but because of “a malicious act against hunting and trapping”.

Mr Farrugia said Mr Sultana, like MaltaToday editor Saviour Balzan, is against hunting and trapping in Malta and added that the government cannot continue seeking advice from people who have this belief.

Mr Farrugia also spoke about the protest of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, a British organisation assisting Birdlife Malta in its case, and said that “…whenever we want, we are prepared to show Castille what a protest is.”

When asked about the threats posted on FKNK’s website addressed at Minister Pullicino, Mr Farrugia said the federation has contacted its web-hoster to ensure that such messages are filtered properly before being uploaded on the site. He said the federation was taking these comments seriously, like it did when the threats were directed at the federation. Replying to another question, Mr Farrugia said there are around 16,000 licensed hunters and trappers in Malta.

Earlier in yesterday’s press conference, FKNK’s public relations officer, Joseph Perici Calascione gave details about a meeting held in Brussels with the EU’s DG Environment on 17 January. He also said that hunters and trappers who welcomed FKNK’s representatives when they returned to Malta found their cars scratched and tyres punctured and said that the police are investigating this incident.