From Mr M. Frendo

The hunting controversy has done nothing more than create animosity and spark off more hot debates, now even involving the EU and other international bodies. We really have to place this issue once and for all in its real perspective. First of all, it shouldn't have been included in any political agenda whether we are, or aren't, EU members, or have allegiance to any conglomerate of nations.

Construction has taken a good chunk of land, it has been and still the motor of the island’s economy. Malta being the size it is cannot sustain this land development. Hunting simply cannot be indulged in any more on our islands; no two ways about it. What is left of our landscape has to be conserved and nurtured – mainly to leave some breathing space for nature and its inhabitants and secondly to exploit what is left of Maltese nature to attract tourists.

A reader recently pointed out in the media the fishing spree on a protected site. Do we realise what we are doing to our islands? Are our politicians too blind to understand that by winning a couple of thousands votes, they will be losing twice those votes from the real citizen, who has his heritage at heart?

I have nothing at all against hunting on fishing, but unfortunately Malta's size being what it is we simply cannot ignore such a stark fact.

Hunters, developers and other infrastructure bodies have to reconsider their position. What comes first, their ambitions or their national pride to safeguard our own small nation on a very national scale?

Martin Frendo

HAMRUN