Hunters, don't forget to vote - not that it matters

Hunters' federation claims 17,816 - vote membership

Today's The Times reports that "the hunters' federation, in a statement short of comment, has published a list claiming its members' vote strength is of 17,816.

The federation said that number did not include hunters' families and a further 4,000 trappers who were not given the chance to acquire a licence when the government stopped issuing licences for trapping in 2002.

In a district by district break-down of the votes held by hunters, the federation said Gozo was the biggest district with 3,000 votes, followed by 2,460 votes in the seventh district (which incudes Rabat and Dingli) and 1,304 votes in the 12th district (which includes Mellieha but does not, contrary to the hunters’ list, include Ghajnsielem)".

And yet, Lino (Carmelo) Farrugia got only 3,119 votes in June 2004's MEP elections. And thankfully, no matter which party is elected to government, the final say on spring hunting now rests on the European court. Gone are the days when the hunters' federation holds a government to ransom to obtain whatever it wants, regardless of the will of the majority of the Maltese population that is opposed to spring hunting (at the time of writing, The Times' poll stands at 90.5% opposed to spring hunting).

Hunters put in their place

Victor J. de Bono writes in today's The Times:

"I was over the moon when I read the news item Hunters' Federation Fumes Over EU Court Action. This federation and its activities are a huge disgrace to the Maltese Islands as a whole. I have on several occasions witnessed bird hunting and trapping in Malta, and I cringe at the very thought of it. Many a time, when my wife and I prepared to leave our villa in Madliena to go to church on a Sunday morning, we encountered a bird hunter crouching under the steps, with a fully loaded double-barrelled shotgun! This same individual was responsible for waking us up at 5.30 a.m. on a day when we looked forward to an extra hour in bed. This is not to be tolerated in a civilised country. It is more reminiscent of the Third World.

To this day the Maltese government has had its hands tied when it came to dealing with this barbaric practice, because of the large lobby this federation appears to have. It has taken the EU to finally put them in their place. They are naturally trying to put on a brave face by intimating that they intend to go to court to save their skins. I am quite confident that they have no chance of overruling an EU decision.

This has been one big plus of Malta's decision to join the EU. The stranglehold on the Maltese government has finally been loosened. Thank God for that!"

And Mary Kelly, also in The Times, writes:

"I was delighted on reading that the hunting of beautiful birds should be banned outright. Hunters should take up another hobby like clay shooting and leave God's creatures for people to enjoy. Well done, EU".

I only need to add that birds should be spared for their own sake, and not just for people to enjoy them. But in any case, yes, thankfully, soon enough thousands of birds will be spared when spring hunting is abolished once and for all.

Hunters replying to sense with nonsense

It's amazing how some people are apparently not capable of rational debate (understandable when one holds an indefensible position), and instead of debating the issue, attack the person making the argument instead of the argument itself.

A case in point are the replies submitted to my comments under a letter by Dr Simon Busuttil in The Times (online version).

My reply to Dr Simon Busuttil was:

"Simon Busuttil says that 'It is strange how, at one and the same time, I have been accused by some quarters of having betrayed hunters and by others, of having championed their cause. The hollowness of these accusations is borne out of their inherent contradiction'.

Interesting. I suppose, then, that if someone says that ice is hot, and another says that ice is cold, they must both be wrong. This conclusion would of course be borne out of both claims' inherent contradiction!

Incredible!".

After my comment, Sylvana Zarb Darmanin came in, writing:

"I feel that if the EU is having second thoughts about what was agreed upon during accession negotiations, then the organisation is a cheater! I hate to say that I am part of it. A package of negotiation is a package and involved parties are bound to stick to it. The caretaker government should attack the EU accordingly and not succumb by stating that it will abide by a ruling of the European Court. On the other hand, the Opposition should state that it will defend hunters, in line with the agreement reached. I wish to hear something from this political party's side".

Apparently, Ms Zarb Darmanin has not yet realized that the EU is not having second thoughts. The EU was always resolved to abolish spring hunting in Malta. If this is not the case, I have already challenged hunters to provide a document where it is made clear that the EU promised the Maltese government it would retain spring hunting.

In fact, my reply following Ms Zarb Darmanin's was:

"Has anyone ever produced a written guarantee from the EU that it will allow spring hunting? If yes, I would love to see it, dear Sylvana".

I'm still waiting.

After my sensible request, Anthony Formosa (a member in the hunters' federation) wrote:

"Dear Mr Cassar, When are you going to stop critizing those who have an opinion other than yours? This attitude reflects extremism. If you feel deceived by the EU, and the government, than you, and all those who have the same opinion should vote for AD, perhaps they can exceed the norm of four thousand votes, otherwise stop moaning about spring hunting because you're making people sick".

To which I of course replied:

"Dear Mr Formosa, when will I stop criticizing those whom I disagree with? Never. I live in a free democracy with freedom of speech, a right which you too are using by criticizing me.

If my attitude reflects extremism, so does yours, since you are doing the same thing.

Do I feel deceived by the EU? Of course not. I voted yes in the referendum partly for the abolition of spring hunting. And that precisely is what the EU will do.

Am I making you sick? Oh, I apologize, but you can always stop reading. Again – free country.

As for electing AD, it does not matter who gets elected. Any government will now have to abolish spring hunting. Get over it".

And that sums the whole issue. No matter who gets elected to parliament (or government), it is only a matter of time until spring hunting is abolished.

Do hunters have 17,816 voters? Who cares!