Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/800760
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 MARCH 2017 26 Letters Malta's five MEPs were cut down to size by a snappy Stavros Dimas, the EU's Environment Commissioner, last Tuesday in a telling off that confirmed Malta's continued state of illegality on the subject of spring hunting. Rounding off a late session at the Strasbourg parliament, Dimas warned the Commission will take a decision next Wednesday on whether to extend infringement procedures against Malta for opening the spring shooting season in 2005, 2006 and now in 2007. He said Malta's continued breach of the directive was "the perfect example of the mis-implementation of the Birds Directive." Infringement proceedings were opened against Malta after the government opened the spring season in 2004. "Malta's illegal behaviour is patently clear," Dimas said. "It started with the derogation in 2004, but continued in subsequent years and it seems it contin- ues in 2007. For the Commission, it's a priority to ensure Community law is not breached, especially when it comes to the Birds Directive." The government claims it is within its rights to derogate from the Birds Direc- tive, which bans hunting in spring, and has pledged to stand its ground even if Brussels takes the country to the Euro- pean Court of Justice. But on Tuesday Dimas said Malta had failed to fulfil the conditions of this derogation for the shooting of turtle dove and quail in Spring. "The derogation is only possible in exceptional circumstances and stringent conditions that have to be adhered to… according to the information Malta sent to the Commission, this exemption was not in line with the Birds Directive… the Maltese authorities were unable to prove there were no alternative solutions, they couldn't prove that spring hunting happens under very strict controls and conditions." A spokesperson for Environment Min- ister George Pullicino yesterday said the government had no comments to make at this stage, when pressed on the claim of Malta's state of illegality. Dimas said Malta authorised spring shooting every year after 2004, "in breach of Community law." He has now warned the Commission will send an additional letter of warning to the Maltese government. A delega- tion will also visit the island on the 27 March. "We're going to ask for explanations from the national authorities and make it clear to them that they must be in line to comply with Community law, as soon as possible. If the Maltese authorities stick to their guns, the Commission will continue the proceedings and after that it can take them to court." But it was the Greek commissioner's adjournment of the late night session on Tuesday that sent the strongest of mes- sages to the five Maltese MEPs. "Even votes have wings and f ly from one party to the other, but I'm less in- terested in votes," Dimas told Nation- alist and Labour members, "and more interested in illegal hunting in Malta… I doubt the MEPs don't know any answers to the questions they put to us." Earlier in the session, Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil referred to the Commis- sion's written note during Malta's acces- sion negotiations, recognising Malta's intention to apply for the derogation from spring hunting. "So now I don't expect the Commission to say Malta cannot use the derogation in the first instance it has applied for it." ... Dimas was to quick to quell any misunderstandings on the issue in his rounding-up. "On derogations, we agreed that yes, they (Malta) have the right to ask for a derogation, like any other country can… but Malta has to fulfil the conditions of Article 9; but Malta did not request, it just went ahead with it. And it hasn't sent an official re- sponse to our infringement procedures." And while Labour MEPs – who did not even vote on the resolution – chided the Maltese government for fooling citizens into believing Malta had gained special dispensation to hunt in spring, the three members blamed the Commission for remaining silent on the issue in the run- up to the EU referendum. "When the Labour Party, as well as environmentalists and hunters, ex- pressed doubt on the supposed deroga- tion, you remained silent – you, who came to Malta," Joseph Muscat charged at the Commission. "There are certain documents which are not in our hands… we find references to them but it is as if we are in some enormous maze. These documents have to scrutinised by eve- rybody." News – 17 March, 2007 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. Dimas rubbishes MEPs: 'I'm not interested in votes' Mourning the Azure Window Malta sweet Malta. My home- away-from-home. I am heartbro- ken over your loss. All our loss, really. This overweight, athletically challenged American had the privilege of studying at the Univer- sity of Malta back in 1993/94. I was in great part privileged because I had befriended Maltese nature and culture-lovers, who forced me to get off my derrière and hike and camp and abseil. They were ahead of their time in the early 90s in terms of camping, hiking, diving, biking, parachut- ing, climbing, abseiling, spelunk- ing, kayaking, and archeology- exploring around the country's three main islands – at a time when getting out into the country- side typically meant going to parks and enjoying family time there. Or hunting birds. But not the ups and downs and scary cliffs of Malta's rugged coast- line. Two of these early outdoors- men, Andrew Galea and Bernard Bonnici, would eventually start up a barely-for-profit Malta outdoors outfit, which would introduce Malta's nature and culture to a great many European and Ameri- can tourists from abroad. As well as Maltese tourists from within. When I was visiting my home- away-from-home again last November, I noticed a great many bikers, walkers, and climbers that just weren't there 25 years ago. They were taking in the incredible array of nature and culture outside of Valletta and the Three Cities. All, I believe, thanks to Bernie and Drew, who have steady jobs outside of their Malta Outdoors eco-vocation. If a MaltaToday article has not yet been written on them – and about their singular importance in creating outdoors activity, tourism and culture in the country – it really should at this time. Especially as the country considers what to do to satisfy a tourism niche left vacant with the very sad vanishing of the Azure Window. I believe these and other outdoorsmen would have some intriguing ideas in answering "What now?"; I also believe that their ideas would not entail replac- ing one natural widow tourist spot with another. Malta has long been vexed with significant tourism pollution that comes with the rich tourism economy. I believe these godfa- thers of eco-appreciation would be against the further marring of Malta's incredible nature with quick-replacement interpretative centres, awkward out-of-place art projects, and tourist traps. Perhaps the silver lining of this national disaster could be a re- newed effort to preserve and treas- ure the unspoiled nature that still remains, and making it accessible to more people. Including stem- ming development that covers up more and more of Malta's beautiful countryside, as beautiful in its own right as the Azure Window. Believe me, there are many Europeans, Chinese, Japanese and Americans who would love to come to Malta to join Maltese in hiking a coastal park system around all three islands. True, bus-only tourists might be a little too frenzied in sightseeing, and unsure of their footing, to hike such a coastal trail park. But they will, from moving seats high above Malta's walled roads, enjoy the overall absence of human intru- sion on Malta's natural beauty. I remain, like a great many around the world, saddened at the world's loss. But there is a silver lining here. I hope Malta embraces it. Rev. Paul Jarvis Minneapolis, MN Clarification Offensive to Catholics Salutary effects of faith In a report in MaltaToday Mid- week (15 March, 2017) relating to the proposed IPO of PG Group, it was reported that Mr Paul Gauci is the owner of the Big Bon Group and Polaris Ltd. It was reported that the Big Bon Group is going to be involved in the db Group's ITS project. This is to clarify that the PG Group and Paul Gauci do not own, and have no relationship with, Big Bon Group or Polaris Ltd. Furthermore, it is also understood that PG Group and Paul Gauci have no plans to be involved, in any way, with the ITS project. The PG Group operates the PAVI (Qormi) and PAMA (Mosta) supermarkets, the PAMA (Mosta) Shopping Mall and the Zara and Zara Home franchises in Sliema and Mosta. I would like to express my dis- gust at the title given to a recent play 'Fl-Isem tal-Missier u ta' l-Iben u ta' l-ispettur Bonnici'. I found it offensive and subtle and seemed aimed to ridicule the Blessed Trinity, which is the pillar of our Catholic Faith. How different is the gentle at- titude of the mystic St Elizabeth of the Trinity, who used to call the Blessed Trinity "my Three" and she also says that she liter- ally felt that the Blessed Trinity dwelt in her. But in the long run we are the losers since God is God. Allow me to quote some verses from Scripture that in my opinion fit this occasion. '"The Lord's enemies will be destroyed; he will thunder against them from heaven." 1 Sam 2, 10 ( il-Mulej iwerwru lil min jeħodha miegħu). "Those who are angry with You will know the shame of defeat" Isaia 41,11 (Ara, għad jistħu u jitriegħxu, dawk kollha li nkurlaw għalik;) and; (Ħażin għal min jitlewwem ma' Min għamlu. Is 45, 9 Maybe we need to hear the words of the wise Gamaliel: "You could find yourselves fighting against God" Acts 5, 39. (Araw li ma ssibux ruħkom li qegħdin teħduha kontra Alla! Is, 45,9) If I were to insult a minister or any other on the newspaper, I would be summoned, chastised, and what not. And yet we dare to abuse God's name! Thank- fully we have a loving Father in heaven who is always ready to cast away our shortcomings. Sr Rose Rizzo Tarxien The world is eternally intoxicated by strife, global conflicts, a myriad of creeds, fear of the future and phobia of annihilation. A very recent research has unveiled how religion helps in such scenarios. People strive to find solace some- where especially when there are no medical answers. It is here that faith provides hope when everything seems hopeless. Faith is the ultimate link between man and God. St Augustine acknowledged that "faith must precede reason and purify the heart and make it fit to receive and endure the great light of reason" though in certain circum- stances reason must precede faith. He also exhorted us to "seek not to understand that you may believe but believe that you may understand". But what's more so easy of accept- ance, so benign, so glorious than the words of thankfulness by Cardinal Newman. "What joy and what thankful- ness should be ours that God has endowed us with this divine virtue. What gift is equal to it in the whole world in its preciousness and in its rarity?... To find ourselves in the region of light, in the home of peace, in the presence of saints, to find ourselves in the possession of certainty, consistency, stability, in the highest and holiest subjects of human thought, to have hope here and heaven hereafter". Thanks be to God for his unspeak- able gift. While the poor world is guessing and quarrelling at the foot of the Cross, who shall not be awe-struck at the inscrutable grace of God, which has brought him, not others, where he stands? John Azzopardi Zabbar