Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/388498
MALTATODAY, The Times and The Malta Inde- pendent have united in a common front against the continued use of political blackmail by the hunting lobby, and in favour of a Yes vote in a referendum on spring hunting. All three newspapers have individually taken up editorial positions in line with this view, but this is arguably the first time that a comprehensive section of the media has stood united on a common plat- form. That the need was felt for such an initiative in itself points towards a dramatic failure on the part of the political class to adequately regulate this sector, with serious consequences that affect all levels of society. The events of the past week alone have illustrated how Malta's hunting phenomenon is no longer about birdlife conservation or even the environment. It has become a destabilising political force with signifi- cant impact on the rule of law. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's unexpected de- cision to close the season until October 10 marks a rare admission from a party in government that its previous policies on hunting are simply not working. Muscat had made generous promises to the hunting lobby before the election, and cannot therefore have taken a decision lightly which would surely have been interpreted as a volte face costing hundreds of votes. Clearly, there is cognisance at the highest level – induced perhaps by the imminent grilling of Com- missioner-designate Karmenu Vella on a portfolio that includes wildlife preservation – that the sheer level of lawlessness into which this pastime has de- scended is no longer tolerable in a 21st century EU member state. CONTINUES PAGE 23 SUNDAY • 28 SEPTEMBER 2014 • ISSUE 777 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY maltatoday Newspaper post YOUR FIRST READ AND FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT CONTINUES PAGE 5 MALTATODAY SURVEY Arrival/Departure Hall Malta International Airport UNITED WE STAND Support for ban on spring hunting is on the rise PAGES 8-9 SUNDAY • malta YOUR FIRST READ AND FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY €1.20 EDITORIAL Hunting is no longer just about birds • PG 23 Bending the rules so that RCC stays on in PN executive EXCLUSIVE MATTHEW VELLA RICHARD Cachia Caruana, erst- while ambassador of Malta to the European Union, has always denied being the power behind the Nation- alist throne. But such was the unbridled power he commanded that Prime Ministers accorded him the widest of berths: not just by being paid the civil serv- ice's highest-ever salary at €148,000, but by being granted tax-free status and exemption from public service restrictions on his political role in the Nationalist Party. Correspondence obtained by MaltaToday and being published in this issue now shows how, in 2005, Cachia Caruana was allowed to stay on as an executive committee mem- ber of the Nationalist Party, even though public service rules for am- bassadors restricted him from po- litical activity. The correspondence, instigated by questions posed by MaltaToday, af- ter this newspaper flagged a breach of public service rules, shows how Lawrence Gonzi signed an exemp- tion so that Cachia Caruana could go on working in the PN's strategy group. The letters show specifically that Cachia Caruana first replied to Mal- taToday saying he was "not a member of the public service"; then sought to have his contract exempted from the public service restrictions; and finally obtained the exemption in November 2005, together with a tax- free status on his benefits. MaltaToday, Times, Independent call for vote against spring hunting MALTATODAY SURVEY Support for ban on spring hunting is on the rise PAGES 8-9 MALTATODAY Would 'EU' believe it? Karmenu Vella tells MEPs he voted for membership, but he absented himself in 2003 parliamentary vote on EU bill • PG3 'LICE'nce TO SCRATCH? Pre-school jitters about head lice? Mums... do not fret • PAGE 15