Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/281887
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 23 MARCH 2014 26 Letters The feature published 15 March ('Malta's spring raises fear of Britain's wildlife loss') makes refer- ence to the article by the Times of London wildlife columnist Simon Barnes. This article, in which he states, "the overwhelming majority of the Maltese people find spring hunting an act of barbarism unjusti- fiable in the 21st century" is indeed laughable. What he fails to mention in his tirade against Malta's derogation for spring hunting is that the UK permits far more in spring than a derogation for the hunting of 15,000 birds as in the case of Malta and yet he fails to even mention it let alone criticize it in all his past writings in the UK Times. According to the last EU published report in 2011 listing derogations applied in 2008 (http://tinyurl.com/ pmfq3xy), derogations exercised un- der general license, which is applica- ble to all the UK's 800,000 hunters without the need to quantify their catch, permits the eradication of 15 bird species 365 days a year in the UK, including spring. Such general license permits the eradication of these 15 species with any means possible, the taking of eggs and destruction of nests. Also under derogation the UK permitted the taking of 104,924 eggs of the Black headed Gull from the wild for human consumption and the traditional annual taking of Gannet hatchlings (a protected species) by the islanders of the Isle of Lewis for the preparation of Guga, a dried bird meat, the result of which was that "1,995 individuals were killed to permit, under strictly supervised conditions and on a selective basis for human consumption." Not counting the millions of birds shot, poisoned or destroyed under general license since no figures are ever published, the UK permitted 104,924 Black Headed gulls and 1,995 Gannets to be legally taken in spring. If Simon Barnes, incidentally an owner of a property in Malta and a vociferous Birdlife Malta supporter, in his numerous articles directed at vilifying Malta's hunters deems fit to criticize the Maltese and their customs, he had better see what his own country permits during the spring season before depicting us as some exception. All the UK bird-related derogations are as legal as Malta's. Incidentally, the UK total for 2008 was 1747 derogations, most of which included the taking of birds in spring in comparison to one in Malta. Mark Mifsud Bonnici President St Hubert Hunters Send your letters to: The Editor, MaltaToday, MediaToday Ltd. Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 | Fax: (356) 21 385075 E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt. Letters to the Editor should be concise. No pen names are accepted. This week promises to be a busy one for the newly appointed Prime Minister as he puts together the Cabinet. Every Prime Minister has the constitutional right to choose the Cabinet. He is much more than a first among equals. He is the person who can make and end political careers. Being his choice, the Cabinet inevitably ends up being a ref lection of his style and vision for Government. Accordingly, it is very understandable that at this very moment many a Nationalist member of parliament is anxiously awaiting a telephone call, summoning him or her to Auberge de Castille to be asked whether he wants to serve and to be informed which portfolio he or she is to manage. This may be Lawrence Gonzi's moment. This is the time when he is expected to put aside friendships, past alliances and promises made, and simply decide on his own and in the interests of the nation. As the nation's chief executive, he now has to put his whole team together. Any cutting-edge choice of the Cabinet should include a consideration of past performance, track record, competence, honesty and integrity. It is reported that Lawrence Gonzi has taken the advice of close confidantes but inevitably the decision is his and his alone. In reality there are other factors that any Prime Minister would also consider, should he want to keep his party in electoral shape including the electoral support individuals have, the importance of all geographic areas being represented, and the political risk of excluding certain persons. This is also an opportunity for a far- looking leader to recognise potential talent and appoint a person who shows potential, even if young. The decision is a highly complex one that carries major political repercussions. An incompetent, dishonest or low- performing minister inevitably carries major political risks for any Government and most especially for any Prime Minister. Few recognise that Dr Fenech Adami was never in the mood of Cabinet reshuff les and did little in changing incompetent ministers. MaltaToday believes that it is right to choose a smaller number of ministers and to give a clearly defined role to all parliamentary secretaries. Ministers and parliamentary secretaries who have performed should be retained to build on their strengths. Low performers should have their wings clipped. The Cabinet must perform as a team. The new Government will be taking over at a very strained economic moment. The priority of Government will also include harmonising all European legislation. This is no mean feat. Lawrence Gonzi's first clear message will be the choice of his Cabinet. Until now, Dr Gonzi's direction and vision has been a question of interpretation. Much is expected from this Cabinet reshuff le and more from the government in terms of delivery. Now to business EDITORIAL - MARCH 21 2004 I refer to Leo Brincat's opin- ion ('The Legacy of Disraeli', 16 March), in which he states "the ultimate example of Disraeli's prag- matism was that he changed his religion when he felt that he did not stand a chance of making it in the political world as a Jew." There seems to be a fairly wide consensus that Benjamin Disraeli was indeed a pragmatist if ever there was one. James Harris, 3rd Earl of Malmesbury and a promi- nent Conservative during Disraeli's time, declared "to get office (Dis- raeli) would do anything and act with anyone." Many a politician would undoubtedly identify with that mindset but just for the record, Benjamin Disraeli was baptised in- to the Anglican Church at the age of 12, together with his sister and two brothers, by his father Isaac, after the latter's falling out with London's Bevis Marks Synagogue. Although there are reports that the young Benjamin was preco- cious, there are no indications that becoming an Anglican at that early stage of his life was a conscious career decision on his part to open up the way for his future in politics. Disraeli was undoubtedly a com- plex individual and I agree with Brincat that he was a man ahead of his times but I am personally more attracted to another characteristic of Benjamin Disraeli, which would seem to go against the 'pragma- tism' that Brincat finds so attrac- tive. Another contemporary, Lord John Russel, referring to Disraeli's speeches on the disabilities still im- posed upon Jews, considered Dis- raeli 'admirably brave' to express opinions diametrically opposed to those held by most of the members sitting behind him in the House. It is this trait we need to see more of in our politicians, bravery to take the decisions that may not be politically popular but which are necessary for the common good, especially the welfare of those who do not yet have the vote, namely future generations. Carmel Vassallo Sliema On Disraeli's pragmatism The UK's permissive hunting derogations EU citizens can vote in Malta Whereas 7,391 non-Maltese EU citi- zens are registered to vote in Malta on 24 May in the European Parlia- ment elections, many others are, reportedly, not likewise enrolled. Those non-Maltese EU citizens, who already have either an e- Residence Card or a Maltese identity card, and who wish to vote in Malta, may enrol on the European Parlia- ment electoral register by post - no postage stamp is required. The voter enrolment deadline for the May elections is Saturday, 29th March. Applicants can download and fill out the non-Maltese EU voter registration form (which can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/ofu- mods) and address it to The Chief Electoral Commissioner The Electoral Commission Evans Building St. Elmo Place Valletta VLT 2000 The Electoral Commission shall forward a receipt to each applicant in respect of each such application received by it. Oisin Jones-Dillon St Paul's Bay Benjamin Disraeli