Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/943656
maltatoday SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2018 26 Labour leader Alfred Sant yesterday was non-committal over whether a new Labour government will open the spring hunting season or not if Environment Minister George Pul- licino refuses to take a decision by the 8 March. On his part, Pullicino yesterday told MaltaToday that he had kicked the ball back into the Ornis Committee's court, asking chairman Louis Cilia to reconvene the committee and give him a clear recommendation in favour or against opening the spring hunting season. Addressing a press conference outside a pig-breeding farm in Ghasri, Gozo, Sant adopted a wait-and-see ap- proach on the hunting question: "We'll see about it when we get to that point," Sant said when asked what a Labour government would do on spring hunting if government takes no decision before the election. The Ornis committee last Tues- day decided it would not issue any recommendation to the minister over opening the spring hunting season, which runs from 10 April to 22 May, due to a pending European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling on the matter. The European Commission has referred Malta to the ECJ for illegally opening the spring season every year for the last four years. But while the Ornis stalemate now leaves it up to the environment minis- ter to take political responsibility for this decision three weeks before elec- tion day, Pullicino has now kicked the ball back into the committee's court. Asked what action he will take after Ornis left the decision up to him, Pullicino said: "I have sent for the Ornis chairman again on this. We are awaiting the rescheduling of a date for a meeting on the issue." Asked whether this meant he is pass- ing the buck back to Ornis, Pullicino said he did not wish to comment any further. But Pullicino's tactic is a clever, delaying tactic to bide his time before a ruling from the ECJ which could materialise before election day, and fi- nally seal the position of both parties on spring hunting. BirdLife Malta had initially insisted that it should be the government to take responsibility for this decision, rather than having Ornis "recom- mending" the opening of the season or not. To the delight of the hunters' federation FKNK, Ornis decided not to pronounce itself on the matter. Alternattiva Demokratika chairper- son Harry Vassallo yesterday said he expected government to enforce EU law. "AD worked for Malta to join the EU. At that time everything was clear as from day one. We never deceived anybody, and we expect that now EU law is enforced by the Maltese govern- ment and spring hunting is stopped". Earlier in the day, Alfred Sant addressed a conference of Gozitan associations and councillors at San Lawrenz. In answer to a question by Joe Perici Calascione, public relations officer of the hunters' federation, Sant said hunting was a "legitimate, tradi- tional pastime" but reiterated again that "as long as EU laws on hunting are respected, we can see ways of working together," answering to Perici Calascione's question on creating more shooting ranges in Gozo and for land management projects with hunters. Sant also said it was his "dream" to have "a reserve that is jointly managed by BirdLife Malta and the FKNK." 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. News – 17 February, 2008 Sant, Pullicino wash their hands of spring hunting Opinion Society as we have never seen it before How is it that some people can talk about human values but have no problem ignoring traditional values that would, quite embarrassingly, counter their arguments with rela- tive ease? Why is it that any values associated with Christian morals – even when presented by non-Chris- tians – are considered anathema in today's wannabe-liberal world? No one person, or government, is allowed to dictate what is right or wrong. Take a look around. We are witnessing our society as we have never seen it before. Ours is now a society without a moral compass. Surely, anyone can see that our society is disintegrating into a den of iniquity. After all the 'liberal' values that the government introduced sur- reptitiously, it is now legalising the production of medicinal marijuana. How long will it be before this government will completely legalise marijuana? How long before abor- tion is imposed? How long before all those who still hang on to sound, moral principles become the minority in Malta? All these liberal changes that have been imposed on Malta in the past five years – in a bid for the country's claim to fame to having been first – have started to destroy the society that our ancestors built for us. Will Malta follow in some other countries' footsteps and ban cru- cifixes from public spaces? How can we hang on to a Constitution that lays down that Catholicism is the religion of Malta, and then bow our heads to the minutest of pres- sure from the smallest of pressure groups? Anyone who dares adhere to some principle or moral value is quickly ostracised and labelled a dinosaur, or worse. People have chosen to have us turn our backs on all that we – as Malta – once were, because they believe that might is right, that the minority should actually dictate the agenda and that liberalism implies the free- dom to impose one's will. Religion has been on the decline for quite some time in Malta, truth be told. The problem is that – as things now stand – so are values. Lawrence Vella San Gwann Accessibility to medicines is a priority For.UM and MUT miss the wood for the trees The Malta Medicines Authority organ- ised a meeting at the Malta Life Sciences Park earlier this month to engage with stakeholders on the approach to poten- tial Brexit scenarios and to understand the concerns and requirements of all stakeholders. Together with other Member States and the European Medicines Agency, the Malta Medicines Authority has taken a proactive approach to support stakeholders in their business continuity for the benefit of patients. The Author- ity is undergoing capacity building to deal with the increased demands for its services and is providing targeted advice and training. Parliamentary Secretary for Consumer Protection and Valletta 2018, Dr Deo Debattista, addressed the stakeholders meeting. Dr Debattista emphasised how the Government is committed to ensure availability of medicines post-Brexit which satisfy the rigorous EU quality assurance requirements. He assured those involved in pharmaceuticals that the Government is pro-business, which is of benefit to the country, and supports the private sector in its endeavour to ensure continuous supply of medicines following Brexit. The Chairperson of the Malta Medicines Authority, Professor Anthony Serracino Inglott, informed stakeholders that the Authority is optimising its role within the European regulatory network and maintaining its strong working relationships with UK colleagues. Inter- est by the pharmaceutical industry to register medicines through Malta has increased. He assured the full commit- ment of its highly qualified professionals to support the registration of medicines in Malta. Stakeholders expressed their concerns about post-Brexit outcomes and said they look forward to work together with the Medicines Authority team to overcome the challenges. The possibil- ity of positive opportunities emerging from Brexit related to healthcare, such as the establishment in Malta of offices for notified bodies for medical devices were explored. All stakeholders requir- ing clarification or assistance from the Medicines Authority, especially related to the registration of medicines, may contact the Director for Licensing, Helen Vella. Luana Mifsud Buhagiar Malta Medicines Authority The Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability is disappointed to note that it fell victim to a vicious and orchestrated public attack launched by For.UM less than two hours after withdrawing legal proceedings following an amicable agreement that was reached by the Malta Union of Teachers and Government. For.UM affiliate MUT took to the media to claim victory after the court ordered it to drop its industrial action following the said agreement, which was reached thanks to the goodwill of all parties involved and the learned direction of Mr Justice Joseph Zammit McK- eon. On 2nd February, MUT issued a directive which de facto denied profoundly and severely disabled students attending Helen Keller Re- source Centre of their hydrotherapy sessions. These sessions are medically proven to be of benefit to such persons. Upon apprehending that Government would not intervene to solve the issue, CRPD took immediate and effective action to stop the MUT's directive, not to deny it the right to take industrial action, but to stop it from denying disabled students of their badly-needed therapy sessions by using them as pawns during indus- trial action. CRPD would not have had any reason to intervene had Government sought to solve the problem, or had MUT ordered its members to refrain from sending emails and answering the phones. Nor would it have intervened had MUT ordered its members to work-to-rule, given that the Learning Support Educators' job description stipulates clearly that they are to participate in such sessions. In fact, CRPD filed a court application against both MUT and Government. It felt obliged to intervene because it is bound by the Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disabilities) Act to defend the rights of persons with disability. This law, which empowers CRPD to take necessary action to defend such rights, also postulates that it prevails over all other laws in matters pertaining to the rights of persons with disability. For.UM and its affiliate MUT should under- stand that the right to industrial action should never be exercised at the expense, or the health, of persons with disability. In fact, denying such therapy is tantamount to mistreatment and discrimination, which is an offence under the above-mentioned act, and a clear breach of the United Nations Convention of the Rights with Persons with Disability. MUT should also learn to stick to the truth in its public statements, and not flutter its feathers to earn brownie points with its members. CRPD is always ready to collaborate for the best interests of persons with disability and hopes For.UM and MUT stop missing the wood for the trees. Bernard Busuttil CRPD