Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/459448
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2015 24 Letters 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. The Labour Party is right to feel upbeat. It is riding on the crest of a political wave. Its party activists believe their party can win the next election and the party leadership too is smelling victory. The party activists are buoyant and will no doubt flock in their thousands to this afternoon's Labour Party mass meeting. Whether all this euphoria is suf- ficient to ensure victory at the next general elections is another matter. The recent general conference is a case in point. The enthusiasm was rousing, the stage, head table and podium a marked improvement, the decision to invite members of the constituted bodies and the independent press showed strategic think- ing. It certainly has reinforced its public relations. Yet there was something missing. One is left with the feeling that Labour is not pressing all the right buttons. The conference was characterised by a lack of policy announcements. All talk was dominated by references to the past mis- takes and contradictions of the Nationalist Party or by critical analysis of government's present policies, without the announcement of any counter policy proposals. At no stage did the party leadership say what it would do or say how it would do things differently. This attitude risks labelling Labour as the no to all government proposals party with a negative attitude and an un-preparedness of what to do, if elected. Party strategists should not draw too much comfort from the encouraging opinion polls reaching their desks. There are still a full three years before the next election and the resounding question being asked among the floating voting electorate remains what would Labour do differently? How would Labour turn the economy which is likely to be the determining election issue? What does Labour really stand for now? Its care- fully chosen words on illegal immigrants issue is strange coming from a party that prides itself on its left wing credentials. Is it pamper- ing to prejudice? Has it become opinion poll driven, no different to an American party? There is much work still to be done before foolishly publicly declaring that once Labour is elected all persons not willing to implement its policies will be swept aside. Such unwelcome declarations lessens its chances of being elected as it runs alarm bells in the ears of a floating voter class still sceptical about Labour's trustworthy credentials. There is the need for more strategic thinking. Its media must be put to better use and to serve as a means of reaching out to the uncommitted rather than being a propaganda machine appealing to the converted. This weeks' news bulletins smacked of a rallying call for all to attend today's meeting rather than an attempt to inform people as to what is happening in the country. It must declare clearly its policies on all the controversial issues as they arise. The electorate is in the dark regarding Labour's policy on waste management, the signing of the European Constitution, its acceptance or otherwise of the eco-taxes introduced, and the reduction of employees leave entitle- ment. Its fine for it to criticise the increased rate of VAT, but will it reduce the rate if elected? Will it abolish eco-taxation? On these and many other issues Labour simply remains silently, sitting on the fence and biding its time. The MLP hopes to win by default await- ing the walls of Jericho to come crumbling down. Its electoral strategy rests on the long years in power of the Nationalist Party and the grumbling noises coming from traditionally Nationalist quarters. One only wishes winning elections were that simple. Labour must also address the credibility factor surrounding its leader. Opinion polls if we are take them seriously show that the Labour party is more popular than Alfred Sant. They also show Lawrence Gonzi with a higher credibility rating than Alfred Sant. Alfred Sant has still not overcome the trust threshold. This benchmark is a vital component to place its electoral strategy in place. The article published last week in this paper by Dr Anna Mallia, conveniently ignored by the party media, may have run a chord with the very few remaining dis- sidents still in the party and many a floating voter. Labour strategists must face the issue. As the granaries are filled and the enthu- siasm aroused to electoral campaign pitch, Labour would do well to start announcing its policies. Beyond the public smiles of its energetic and media friendly secretary gen- eral and the handshakes of its leader, politics is essentially all about policies presented to the electorate. The floating voter will even- tually ask, where is the beef? Where is the beef? Editorial • January 30 2005 Bees' importation is bona fi de project The importation of bees into Malta by Melita Bees Ltd is far from being a clumsy, clandestine importation: my clients first started discussing this project with the competent authorities in Malta in September 2014 – first with the Department of Agriculture and subsequently with the competent minister. The project was seen as an oppor- tunity for professional growth of the Maltese beekeeping industry, and consequently, with the utmost trans- parency, on October 27 the ministry organised a meeting for beekeepers and farmers at Project House in Floriana, during which the entire project was illustrated in detail and concrete proposals of development put forward. The discovery of the Small Hive Beetle in Melilli (Syracuse) inevitably led to a re-evaluation, since it was no longer possible or feasible to import bees from Sicily. Indeed, it was my clients who informed the Maltese authorities about Decreto nr. 1893 in the Region of Sicily, which imposed a blockade on exportation of bees from Sicily, and it was they who provided a copy of that decree to the authorities. On November 12, Melita Bees informed the Maltese authorities of its intention to import bees from Northern Italy and France – where there were no signs of any infection. On December 13, 2014, in view of the open market with Sicily, Melita Bees asked the department respon- sible for the beekeeping industry, about the possibility of the presence of SHB in Malta, which inquiry was then forwarded to the Veterinary Services Department. On Decem- ber 19, a meeting was held with that department, which provided assurances about the monitoring activities that were being set up by it and about the negative results to the investigations carried out up to that date. Consequently the voyage to France to collect the colonies destined for Malta was undertaken on January 5 while the veterinary services were informed on January 7 of the pend- ing arrival of the notice of importa- tion using the TRACES system. Upon arrival in Valletta, my clients noticed the presence of a consider- able number of security personnel, but took no further notice since they had been absolutely transparent in their dealings. It was only later that they found out that this presence was due to the malicious report filed by one particular bee-keeper about the possibility of the arrival of infected bees in Malta. The necessary investigations and controls showed that there were no signs of any infection and Melita Bees started the voyage to the final destination eager to be able to let free the bees that had now been in an enclosed space for three days. On the way to the ferry to Gozo, it was noticed that the trucks were be- ing followed at a distance by another vehicle – driven by Ray Sciberras, a Maltese beekeeper with whom they had previously discussed the possi- bility of joint cooperation. However when they tried to approach him and ask for a reason behind his behav- iour, Sciberras promptly reversed his vehicle. At Cirkewwa, Mr Sciberras was again seen in the queue and boarded the same ferry. Upon being ap- proached, he stated that it was his right to know precisely where the colonies were going to be deposited. In Gozo, the police escort asked Sciberras to let my clients continue on their way unhindered and Melita Bees finally reached their destina- tion, always in the presence of the police. The Maltese authorities were kept fully informed of the intention to import the bee colonies and with all the necessary information. Likewise, the veterinary services were plan- ning to be present upon arrival not only because it was their duty to do so but becuse of the advance notice given by my clients. The journey to Gozo was not followed by the Police or the veterinary services but only by Sciberras. There was no need for the protec- tive nets used for long haul trips because the bee colonies had been transported from France to Italy on a refrigerated vehicle furnished on purpose for long haul travel (up to 4,000km). While waiting for the Virtu Ferries catamaran, on January 9, the nuclei were transferred to two smaller vehicles, because of techni- cal problems on the original vehicle, but primarily because my clients had discovered that Gozo Channel ferry did not offer the facility of electrical power – which was necessary in or- der to leave the bees in a refrigerated environment. Moreover, since some bees had come out from the nuclei on one of the two vehicles, that vehicle was provided with security netting for safety reasons. It was also alleged that the carrier boxes were "identical to those used in Sicily", probably because Sciberras and MaltaToday are unaware that in countries using the Dadant stand- ard, the boxes for the development and the transport of bee nuclei are mostly those produced by Aziende Quarti e Sther, and then by Lega and Le Rouge and other small manufac- turers. One of the vehicles used for the transportation is almost new, whereas, although older, the other vehicle was perfectly suited for the 40 kms trip from Valletta to Gozo, and better suited for use in unload- ing the bees in the countryside in Gozo than the Mercedes Atego used in the voyage from France: that vehicle would not have been able to access the breeding places. Sciberras has branded my clients' programme as a "loophole" to con- tinue selling bee nuclei in Europe: not only is this false but it is also ridiculous. It would be idiotic for my clients to export bees infected by the SHB. Secondly Melita Bees does not intend to export its nuclei. Carmelo Galea, Victoria Obo Melita Bees Editorial note: This right of reply was edited due to printing space The spring hunting referendum I wish that I will be proved wrong in what I am thinking, but it is my opinion that this referendum is going to be a replica of the divorce referendum of three years or so ago. At the 2008 election none of the major political parties had divorce even mentioned. Then in 2011 a referendum was held to decide whether divorce would be introduced or not. Politically the situation remains the same, and because of this, spring hunting will not be elimi- nated. I wish that I am wrong, but in Malta the situation is that elec- tors are like a herd, following their leader even down a cliff. A referendum is said to be a very good democratic tool, and I believe that it is, but it can be abused, as everything is. I am against not only spring hunting, but against all hunting, and I am going to vote No, to eliminate it. For me it is barbaric and cruel for a human to kill other creatures in cold blood, to satisfy a hobby or sport. That is my reasoning, and I know that I am not going to impress anybody, but to hear Joseph Muscat and Simon Busuttil saying that they are voting to retain spring hunting is beyond me, and in my opinion this coming referendum is already being abused, because each of them has a herd following them, which unfortunately will follow. Both of them can vote as they like, but to announce their inten- tion in public, when the subject is not political, is wrong. 1 appeal to the Maltese people to enjoy these creatures, especially birds in the parks and countryside, enjoying their habits, colour, song and the beauty that God gave them. Joseph Muscat Mosta