PN saying one thing, Gonzi saying another - hunters

Hunters' federation Kaccaturi San Ubertu (KSU) has called on the Nationalist Party to clarify its position on spring and autumn hunting before Saturday.

Kaccaturi San Ubertu was referring to the accusations and denials going back and forth between the hunters' federations and the PN.

"The PN must clarify its position about spring and autumn hunting before 9 March, even more so considering that the PN's electoral manifesto and political campaign omitted this sector of society entirely," the KSU said.

The hunters' federation added that it was only the PL that had provided a clear position.

It rebutted accusations by the PN that it was spreading false allegations over whether a Nationalist government would hold a referendum on hunting if reelected.

After the Prime Minister's participation in the debate organised by The Times, the PN denied that it wanted to abolish hunting and trapping through a referendum.

When asked whether he was ready to organise a referendum on spring hunting, the Prime Minister confirmed he was ready to hold a referendum if such need would arise.

Referring to the PN campaign spot revealing its intention of "keeping country and weekends free and peaceful and birds safe within European Law", KSU said this advert made no reference to spring hunting "but generalizes and as such is considered as a threat of imposing further restrictions on hunting in both spring and autumn".

"Hunting in autumn and spring hunting derogations applied by the PN, are within European law as affirmed by the PN and only weekend and hunting on feast days in spring was denied by the PN without any form of compromise being considered," KSU said.

"A referendum organized by Lawrence Gonzi would accommodate these PN intentions."