‘AD foursquare behind Birdlife’ – Briguglio

Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Michael Briguglio stressed that AD is 'foursquare' behind BirdLife Malta's proposals for hunting and trapping in Malta, while also slamming the agreement reached between the Labour Party and the Hunting and Trapping Federation (FKNK).

Briguglio was visiting the Simar BirdLife Malta nature reserve in Xemxija Bay, during which he answered a number of questions put to him by BirdLife Malta Executive Director Steve Micklewright.

Micklewright pointed out that Briguglio's visit was not scheduled specifically in the light of recent developments pertaining to hunting and trapping in Malta, but that it was part of previously-scheduled visits between BirdLife Malta and political parties in the run-up to the 9 March election.

He said that like BirdLife Malta was meeting with Labour's Joseph Muscat last week, it was meeting with AD's Michael Briguglio. He added that BLM had also made an invitation to the Nationalist Party and the Prime Minister, but said that no reply has been forthcoming to date.

Asked about AD's stance towards the establishment of a dedicated wildlife protection unit, Briguglio said that AD's own electoral programme stresses on the need for more enforcement in this regard.

"We agree with BirdLife that more enforcement is called for, so we agree with their proposal," Briguglio said.

Briguglio also expressed himself categorically in favour of BirdLife Malta's postion regarding the derogation that was applied to permit find trapping, while also distancing himself from the position adopted by the PL and the PN.

Briguglio also stressed that should AD manage to win a seat in parliament, it would in a position to bring about "a big difference" and work towards the abolishment of spring hunting while also supporting BirdLife's policies.

He also reiterated that AD would remain committed to its principles of environmental protection, animal rights, and sustainable development.

Both Micklewright and Briguglio slammed the contentious agreement that was reached by the Labour Party and the Hunting Federation, which was announced earlier this week.

However, Briguglio pointed out that despite its criticism of the agreement, the Nationalist Party is also "doing its utmost to also attract the hunting and trapping lobby."

Asked whether AD in parliament would fight to outlaw spring hunting, Briguglio simply insisted that AD would make sure that Malta "fully conforms to the Birds Directive."

Micklewright also said that despite the Nationalist party's silence on whether it would be interested in meeting with BirdLife Malta to discuss hunting and trapping related issues "the invitation is still open."

"However so far there has been no indication regarding whether they would be interested in visiting our reserve, or meet to talk about issues which are of concern to us," Micklewright said.

Micklewright also noted a number of adverts inserted into English-speaking newspapers by the Nationalist Party, which suggests that the PN is adopting a position against hunting and trapping.

Micklewright insisted however "there is still time for the Nationalist Party to be clear about what its own adverts mean. We need to know what the advert will mean, and what it is proposing to do about its current administration's shortcomings."

"We challenge the Nationalist Party to explain what its stand is," Micklewright insisted.

Commenting on the Labour/FKNK agreement, Micklewright noted that the agreement was reached after two years of meetings, and expressed disappointment at how that BirdLife Malta, including other environmental NGO's "did not have that sort of access to the Labour Party on the issue."