Momentum has warned that the three separate reports in September of members of the public being placed at risk by hunting activities ”should be a serious wake-up call for the Government.”

In a statement, the Party said that in the space of just three weeks, there have been three reported incidents involving people enjoying Malta’s countryside. A woman walking her dogs near Fort Campbell was struck by three shotgun pellets. A cyclist at the Victoria Lines was hit by hot shotgun pellets, and in another incident at the Victoria Lines, a hunter was reported to have fired at a bird just metres from walkers.

”People should not have to risk their lives simply to walk, cycle or enjoy Malta’s countryside,” the Party said.

Dr. Alastair Farrugia, executive member of Momentum, asked, “where is the enforcement? Where are the government rangers? Where are the officers responsible for ensuring that hunting regulations are being respected? How many inspections are being carried out in areas where hunters and members of the public are sharing the same spaces? And how many reports of dangerous or illegal hunting practices actually result in prosecutions?”

He stressed that ”the countryside belongs to everyone. The government has a responsibility to ensure that people can use public countryside safely. A person walking a dog, a parent taking a walk, a cyclist or anyone else enjoying Malta’s rural areas should not have to worry about being struck by shotgun pellets.”

Farrugia added that ”what makes this situation even more disappointing is the political priority being given to the interests of the hunting lobby at a time when enforcement remains a concern.”

He highlighted the fact that ”earlier this year, the Government agreed with proposals put forward by the hunting lobby to reduce certain penalties and make it possible for some people who have received lifetime hunting bans to eventually regain their licences.”

Momentum also called on the Opposition to ”clearly state where it stands on reducing hunting penalties and on the possibility of reversing lifetime bans, since there have been pro-hunting and pro-trapping commitments from PN too.”

Dr. Farrugia concluded by saying that, “we want stronger enforcement, proper monitoring of hunting areas and full accountability when hunting regulations are breached.”

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