Busuttil encounters angry hunter during Paola visit
PN deputy leader reiterates call for anyone with information on the oil corruption scandal to come forward.
What should have been a courtesy visit around the shops in Paola for PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil, ended up in an uncomfortable argument with an angry hunter before the glaring eyes of the media.
Busuttil was today touring the shops in Paola when at one point he was stopped by a man. The man, a hunter, presented Busuttil with a 2008 letter that Maltese hunters had received before the last general election promising them that hunting would remain in its totality.
"You took us for a ride. Why didn't you honour your promise? I no longer believe in the PN," the hunter said as Busuttil tried to calm him down.
The MEP tried to explain that the European Union had wanted to ban spring hunting and that the Maltese government opened a case before the European Court of Justice. This, Busuttil said, has allowed hunters to practice their passion in spring and autum.
But the hunter rebutted the argument, saying that the license fee has been increased to €50, while hunting hours had been reduced.
Meanwhile, the hunting federation FKNK questioned which "past promises" the PN will honour.
"PN leader Dr Lawrence Gonzi and deputy leader Dr Simon Busuttil have been reported as stating they would be honouring and 'our past promises'," FKNK said.
FKNK said it "wondered" how far back the two leader were prepared to go.
"Will they finally honour any of the several, both official and political promises, made to the thousands of hunters and trappers, by both the PN and the Malta EU information centre?" FKNK said.
Addressing the press after the visit, Busuttil reiterated the Prime Minister's call for anyone with information about the oil corruption scandal revealed by MaltaToday to come forward.
Asked whether the PN knew of any details which have not yet been made public - given Lawrence Gonzi's insistence that were more details yet to emerge - Busuttil denied the PN knew anything.
"I urge anyone with any information to come forward and speak with the Police Commissioner. The Prime Minister has promised presidential pardon and also protection to whoever has any information," Busuttil said, extending his call to Labour leader Joseph Muscat.