Update with news of ad-hoc committee below – BirdLife Malta, in reaction to the head of WBRU Sergei Golovkin’s resignation, said that, “now is the time for the Government to shift enforcement onto the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA).”

In a statement, the NGO said that, “it has been very clear that this unit failed in achieving some of its important goals mainly related to enforcement due to its lack of competence in this field, especially in ornithology.”

BirdLife Malta insisted that, “it has been, and will remain, the Government’s policy that determines how agencies, and hence the civil servants within, operate.”

The NGO concluded by saying that it “strongly believes that while the WBRU can remain as an agency that looks at derogations from the European Birds Directive and the relative administration and legislation, the enforcement remit should return back to ERA who has competent persons that can handle this matter more efficiently.”

Ad-hoc committee to be set up

An agreement has been reached to set up an ad-hoc committee during a meeting held between Parliamentary Secretary Clint Camilleri and representatives of the FKNK, the ALE, WBRU and BirdLife Malta.

In a joint statement between the Secretariat, FKNK, the ALE, WBRU and BirdLife Malta, they said that the committee would meet on a frequent basis in order to review and discuss the current spring hunting season, including the enforcement.

It said that the committee will be serving as an important platform to work proactively, and to have the exponents within to provide working statements, with coordinated data and information between the parties concerned.

“This is the ultimate purpose of a background of dialogue to address more effectively any abuse that may be taking place from particular individuals,” the statement said.

 

File photograph

 

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