Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/570058
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2015 26 Letters Editorial • 11 September 2005 Banning the trap and memories of Stanley Zammit THE decision by Minister George Pullicino, with cabinet approval, to consider the banning of spring trapping and the reduction of shooting at sea is a step in the right direction. There is no doubt in our minds that this would not have hap- pened had the European Com- mission not applied pressure on the authorities to fall in line with the spirit of the Birds Directive. It would not have happened had Malta not been a full member of the European Union. The decision to remove spring trapping in March brings backs memories of Stanley Zammit, the forgotten PN junior minister who had the gall to champion changes in hunting and trapping regulations. He would later suffer at the polls, forgotten by his electorate and his party. Only last week, he was remembered by the Prime Minister for his sterling initiative. A much awaited comment by ad- mirers of Zammit. But Dr Zammit had gone even further by reducing the period for the hunting season in Spring. He did so in a climate where the hunting lobby was still revered and considered untouchable. It has changed the ambience of the Maltese countryside in innumer- able ways. His actions were met by illogi- cal reactions from the pro-hunt- ing lobby that turned into vile and unbearable actions. Apart from the violent clashes and the mayhem at traffic junctions and roundabouts, the temples of Hagar Qim, Mnajdra and Borg In-Nadur suffered irreparable physical damage apart from be- ing daubed with paint. Although the hunters' repre- sentatives denied their followers had anything to do with it, the pattern and style pointed in one direction. Minister Pullicino should be prepared for such negative re- actions, and he should not un- derestimate how the anger and frustration of a small number of trappers and hunters can turn out to be violent and abusive. We truly hope he has alerted Heritage Malta and the Police about this eventuality. Pullicino has said, indeed in a comment to this newspaper, that he would like the Opposition to support him when he debates and takes action on the hunting and trapping situation. That commitment, albeit shrouded in political discourse, did come this very week from Al- fred Sant who said Malta would have to live up to its commit- ments with the European Union. He did use the word negotia- tions and he added that the Mal- tese hunter had been deceived. Indeed it would be useful if Dr Sant takes a closer look at the ne- gotiations on hunting and trap- ping and suggest what he would have done differently. Which brings us back to Stanley Zammit's days: there is the per- ception that the junior minister did not have the full backing of the cabinet or rather the much needed enthusiasm at the Office of the Prime Minister when he acted to curb hunting and trap- ping. This time round, the story is rather different. Minister Pulli- cino may have made some mis- calculations and hasty decisions, but he is definitely not one who acts without the full blessing of the Prime Minister. His decision to take on spring trapping is a courageous one. It will mean that the countryside will be rid of over 4,500 trap- ping sites and become a delight for ramblers, naturalists and the public. It will mean that thou- sands of migrating birds head- ing north will be spared the trap and some may even attempt to re-colonise our maquis and garigue. There will be many recrimina- tions in the coming days. Min- ister Pullicino's measures are commendable and welcome, and we applaud him for his actions. In his position he should call in Stanley Zammit and ask him to replay the events of eleven years ago when Malta breathed some fresh air only to see it crumble down with the electoral prom- ises of the political parties in the election of 1996. Indoctrination of the intelligentsia The forces of Catholic reaction, including lawyers and university professors, came out in full force to "protect" their religion, as soon as it was announced that it would no longer be illegal to publicly "vilify" the Catholic religion. This came as no surprise since Catholic indoctrination in Malta runs deep and starts early. It ena- bles the clergy to form the minds of children to priestly domina- tion and makes sure that those children will be in cahoots with the Church when they grow up. What I find mystifying is that otherwise intelligent and rational adults, including some of Malta's conservative intelligentsia, still cling – at least in public – to Catholic beliefs which contradict both reason and common sense. Perhaps it was for this reason that George Orwell quipped: "You can't really be a Catholic and a grown-up!" How is the suppression of reason and common sense, in religious belief, brought about in the first place? Helvetius explains in his treatise On Man: "In every religion, the first objective of the priests is to stif le the curiosity of men, to prevent the examination of dogmas whose absurdity is too palpable to be concealed... "Man is born ignorant but he is not born a fool; and it is not without labour that he is made one. Indoctrination must heap upon him error upon error." John Guillaumier St Julian's Spelling words Much has been said about the writing of English words in Maltese. I have just returned from a visit to Germany and had the opportunity to read some material targeted at German tourists using English words as part of the German language, with words such as 'check-out', 'snacks' or 'cocktails' being spelt as they should – in English. If we persist in spelling English words as they are pronounced in Mal- tese we run the risk of having many people writing both bad English and Maltese! I sincerely hope that better judgment will prevail and that we – as is the case in most other countries – will continue to spell English words correctly. Paul Edgar Micallef Valletta Duty to disclose No matter how well prepared you are to relocate to Malta, you will never, in your wildest dreams, be prepared for the fact that neither your property agent, nor any of the relocation web pages you attempt to educate yourself on (in many instances) before your move, will advise you as a pro- spective tenant that your utility bills will be on a higher tariff, if your landlord refuses to endorse Form H. The 50 faces of confusion. I have seen them all, usually fol- lowed by "Why?". Then comes the amazement. They will reel off a whole list of things they checked before their move, possibly including the cost of utilities, but even on these pag- es, they will find no information regarding the almost double cost for a family without Form H. By the time they do find out, it's too late and they are rightly very annoyed. The contract is signed and they are stuck on the domes- tic rate, zero residents, or paying through the nose on a pay as you go scheme. Their next question is "Do we have to be aware of any other stings?" to which I just smile, and say "You'll love it here." If the government insist on re- taining this ridiculous practice, the least they could do, is be open about it, and ensure that all those in the business of renting prop- erty be required to disclose this racket. Patricia Graham Pembroke