Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1400707
NEWS 6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 AUGUST 2021 FKNK files judicial protest against Lands Authority over 'gated' BirdLife bird reserves Express Trailers signs MoU with Malta's Customs EXPRESS Trailers has signed a Memorandum of Understand- ing with Malta Customs that will seek to establish a stronger work- ing relationship between the two parties, laying down better proce- dures to be followed in relation to specific circumstances to ensure the best possible, efficient, and effective cooperation and assis- tance. Through this MoU, Express Trailers and Malta Customs will cooperate and share resources re- lated to security, compliance exer- cises and newly introduced proce- dures to further facilitate business activity, alongside effective en- forcement measures. The agree- ment will also bind both sides to undertake simultaneous training particularly on the identification and handling of risks. The MoU was signed by Franco Azzopardi, CEO of Express Group and Customs' Director General Joseph A. Chetcuti during a visit at the company's premises. "Criminal activity is becoming more sophisticated, and crimi- nals increasingly look out for the weakest links. We simply do not want to be one of those weak links and therefore Express Trailers took the initiative to seek an MoU with Malta's Customs Depart- ment," Azzopardi said prior to the signing of this agreement. "This MoU not only shows the trust that Express Trailers enjoys with the highest authorities but also sends a clear and unequivo- cal message that our company will never compromise on its com- mitment towards good practice," he said. "Through this agreement with Malta's Customs, we contin- ue to set the bar in the industry while reaffirming our company's high levels of control, transparen- cy, and seriousness." Chetcuti said that customs au- thorities within the European Union recognise the Authorised Economic Operator programme as the epitome of partnership be- tween the main authority at the EU borders and trade. However, this does not preclude any initi- ative that supplements the pro- gramme. Customs has already signed an MoU with two other private com- panies, but this is the first with a logistics company, he said, com- mending Express Trailers for this initiative, following the acquisi- tion of an AEO status Chetcuti described this agree- ment as an important step for- ward in having the transport and logistics industry and Malta's Cus- toms present one front against abuse and crime. "Express Trailers, like all oth- er logistics operators, has gone through its fair share of events, took stock of what happened in the past and was determined to improve its standards. We are highly respectful of this compa- ny's commitment to quality in its push for a safer logistics sector against the threat of criminality," he said. Express Trailers is binding it- self to cooperate with Customs for further safeguarding the integrity of the supply chain, checking items that may need to be kept in 'quarantine', submit- ting a declaration of interest by employees and lists of any un- claimed goods left in temporary storage beyond the stipulated timeframe. The company will also allow the Department of Customs to in- spect any goods prior to release whereas the Department is com- mitting itself towards inspect- ing unclaimed intra-community goods that will remain in posses- sion of Express Trailers, prior to their disposal. It will also provide training for personnel of Express Trailers to be better prepared to prevent and detect any abuse in the transportation of goods. Customs' Director General Joseph A. Chetcuti (left) and Franco Azzopardi, CEO of Express Group signed the Memorandum of Understanding KURT SANSONE HUNTING organisation FKNK has called on the Lands Authority not to enter into new agreements with BirdLife Malta over the Għadira and Simar nature reserves. In a judicial protest filed on Tuesday, FKNK said its action was spurred by court cases filed by BirdLife and other NGOs challenging the procedure by which the authority granted manage- ment rights over the Miżieb and Aħrax woodlands to the hunting organisation. The Lands Authority granted the guardianship of the two woodlands to the FKNK in a deed secretly signed be- tween the government and the organ- isation in October last year. The two sprawling sites are traditional hunting grounds but also popular as recreation- al areas. The procedure is being challenged by BirdLife and other NGOs but FKNK is now claiming that the same mechanism used in its regard is the same one that will be adopted by the authority when it comes to renew agreements with the bird conservation group. BirdLife manages the reserves at Għadira and Simar in Xemxija. FKNK said public access to the Miżieb and Aħrax hunting reserves is guar- anteed in contrast to the two reserves managed by BirdLife, which are gated. The Court of Appeal last month ruled that a number of environmental NGOs led by BirdLife Malta have every right to challenge the Lands Authority's deci- sion to grant guardianship of the Miżieb and Aħrax woodlands to the FKNK. On 21 January this year, the Tribunal for Administrative Review had decided that BirdLife Malta, Moviment Graf- fitti, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar and Prof. Edward Mallia did not have juridical interest in the case, and as such they do not qualify as aggrieved parties with the right to challenge the decision or take legal action in court. Legal proceedings in this regard had been initiated at the end of October 2020, three days before the sit-down protest held in front of Castille over the signing of the FKNK deal. The Miżieb woodland is managed by the FKNK after a guardianship agreement was signed between the hunting organisation and government