Three hunting incidents in September raise serious questions about public safety

Three separate reports in September of members of the public being placed at risk by hunting activities should be a serious wake-up call for the Government. 

In the space of just 3 weeks, there have been three reported incidents involving people enjoying Malta’s countryside. A woman walking her dogs near Fort Campbell was struck by three shotgun pellets. A cyclist at the Victoria Lines was hit by hot shotgun pellets, and in another incident at the Victoria Lines, a hunter was reported to have fired at a bird just metres from walkers.

People should not have to risk their lives simply to walk, cycle or enjoy Malta’s countryside.

Dr. Alastair Farrugia, executive member of Momentum, said, “Where is the enforcement? Where are the government rangers? Where are the officers responsible for ensuring that hunting regulations are being respected? How many inspections are being carried out in areas where hunters and members of the public are sharing the same spaces? And how many reports of dangerous or illegal hunting practices actually result in prosecutions?”

The countryside belongs to everyone. The government has a responsibility to ensure that people can use public countryside safely. A person walking a dog, a parent taking a walk, a cyclist or anyone else enjoying Malta’s rural areas should not have to worry about being struck by shotgun pellets.

What makes this situation even more disappointing is the political priority being given to the interests of the hunting lobby at a time when enforcement remains a concern.

Earlier this year, the government agreed with proposals put forward by the hunting lobby to reduce certain penalties and make it possible for some people who have received lifetime hunting bans to eventually regain their licences. 

Momentum also calls on the Opposition to clearly state where it stands on reducing hunting penalties and on the possibility of reversing lifetime bans, since there have been pro-hunting and pro-trapping commitments from PN too. 

Dr. Farrugia added, “We want stronger enforcement, proper monitoring of hunting areas and full accountability when hunting regulations are breached.”

Tliet inċidenti f’Settembru relatati mal-kaċċa jqajmu mistoqsijiet serji dwar is-sigurtà pubblika

Tliet rapporti separati f’Settembru dwar membri tal-pubbliku li tpoġġew f’riskju minħabba attivitajiet tal-kaċċa għandhom iservu ta’ twissija serja għall-Gvern. Fi spazju ta’ tliet ġimgħat biss, kien hemm tliet inċidenti rrappurtati li poġġew f’riskju nies li kienu qed igawdu l-kampanja Maltija. Mara li kienet qed timxi mal-klieb tagħha qrib Fort Campbell intlaqtet minn tliet gerbub taċ-ċomb (pellets) minn arma tan-nar. Ċiklist fil-Victoria Lines intlaqat minn gerbub sħan, u f’inċident ieħor fl-istess żona, kaċċatur allegatament spara lejn għasfur ftit metri biss ’il bogħod minn nies mexjin.

In-nies m’għandhomx ikollhom jirriskjaw ħajjithom sempliċiment biex jimxu, isuqu r-rota jew igawdu l-kampanja Maltija.

Dr Alastair Farrugia, membru eżekuttiv ta’ Momentum, qal: “Fejn hu l-infurzar? Fejn huma r-rangers tal-Gvern? Fejn huma l-uffiċjali responsabbli biex jiżguraw li r-regolamenti tal-kaċċa jiġu rispettati? Kemm qed isiru spezzjonijiet f’żoni fejn il-kaċċaturi u l-pubbliku jużaw l-istess spazji? U kemm-il rapport dwar prattiki tal-kaċċa perikolużi jew illegali fil-fatt iwassal għal prosekuzzjoni?”

Il-kampanja hija ta’ kulħadd. Il-Gvern għandu r-responsabbiltà li jiżgura li n-nies ikunu jistgħu jużaw il-kampanja pubblika b’mod sigur. Persuna timxi mal-kelb, ġenitur joħroġ għal mixja, ċiklist jew kwalunkwe persuna oħra li tkun qed tgawdi ż-żoni rurali ta’ Malta m’għandhomx ikollhom jinkwetaw li jistgħu jintlaqtu minn gerbub tal-kaċċa.

Hija diżappuntanti l-prijorità politika mogħtija lill-interessi tal-lobby tal-kaċċa fi żmien meta l-infurzar għadu dgħajjef.

Aktar kmieni din is-sena, il-Gvern qabel ma’ proposti mressqa mil-lobby tal-kaċċa biex jitnaqqsu ċerti pieni u biex xi nies li ngħataw projbizzjoni tal-kaċċa għal għomorhom eventwalment jistgħu jerġgħu jiksbu l-liċenzji tagħhom.

Momentum tappella wkoll lill-Oppożizzjoni biex tiddikjara b’mod ċar il-pożizzjoni tagħha dwar it-tnaqqis tal-pieni għall-kaċċa u dwar il-possibbiltà li jitneħħew projbizzjonijiet għal għomorhom, peress li l-Partit Nazzjonalista kien għamel xi wegħdiet favur il-kaċċa u l-insib.

Dr Farrugia żied jgħid: “Irridu infurzar aktar b’saħħtu, monitoraġġ xieraq taż-żoni tal-kaċċa u kontabilità sħiħa meta jinkisru r-regolamenti tal-kaċċa.”

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