Update with KSU and PN reactions below – Two agreements have been signed today between the Lands Authority and FKNK and the Environmental Resources Authority and FKNK.

The Government said that these agreements introduce a number of obligations for the management of Mizieb and Ahrax land for FKNK while permitting access to the public, including the picnic areas, which will remain completely open to the public, with management and cleanliness upkeep obligations for FKNK

Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg, Minister for the Environment, Planning and Climate Change Aaron Farrugia, Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri, and Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Construction Chris Agius presided over the signing.

This follows a collective decision by the Cabinet of Ministers and the approval of the Lands Authority Board of Governors.

The introduced obligations include maintenance, upkeep of cleanliness and general upkeep of the sites, health and safety on the sites and clear signage.

The Government said that, “this is especially important as the coastal perimeter will remain the public domain and sites must remain accessible to the public, while parts designated for hunting must also remain accessible, excluding during fixed hours which are clearly displayed during the hunting season.”

It said that “FKNK will also be obligated to designate dedicated picnic areas and camping sites for the public, and full access will be given to conservation officials to ensure that the law is observed and to guard against any abuse or illegal hunting, while a joint monitoring board will be created, including local council representatives, to ensure that obligations are fully met.”

Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri, who is also responsible for the hunting and trapping sector, said that “the Government continuously works to safeguard the hunting and trapping tradition.”

He added that “hunters and trappers know where they stand with this Government because it never tried to fool them.”

Camilleri said that “with these agreements, FKNK are also ensuring that they will take care of the place and that public paths remain open to the public.”

Minister Ian Borg said, “We are looking to consolidate things well. We are giving access and a dedicated space to those who practise hunting, like we see in several other countries around the world with dedicated spaces during their season.”

“This is also being done with a number of responsibilities and obligations, because we believe that the natural environment is at the heart of Maltese and Gozitan family life,” said Minister Borg.

He added that “we therefore want to ensure the protection of the public domain, and that we have accessible and well-kept spaces to further aid the improvement of quality of life for people while also making space for the practice of a popular pastime to this NGO.”

Minister Aaron Farrugia said that it is “within everyone’s interest to ensure the proper management and protection of all the natural sites in our country.”

“Our role as a Ministry, together with ERA, is to ensure that the organisation safeguards the natural environment within the sites in the agreement. This is being done through a number of obligations that the Ministry and ERA is placing in the agreement, also through the authority’s directorate which is tasked with enforcement,” he said.

“The agreement is also ensuring that that all public passageways and thoroughfares remain open to the public at all times,” Minister Farrugia said.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius said that thanks to these agreements, these lands will be organised so that while FKNK may practise hunting, they will be bound to maintain and carry out upkeep for these sites.

He stressed that these sites will remain accessible to the public, except during specific hours during the season as was always the case. The difference is that the formal agreement will lead to more specific signage, protection and obligatory maintenance by the same organisation.

KSU reaction

Kaccaturi San Uberta, in a statement said that it believes in the right of every citizen to the enjoyment of public land, as well as the controlled and managed use on certain lands for different sectors to practice their respective hobby.

KSU added that, “in principle,” it welcomed the agreement because “it is a step that shows confidence from the authorities in a union of hunters and trappers to run public land.”

But it went on to point out that, “contrary to what is being said that the land has been given to hunters, KSU and its members have never been involved or consulted.”

“KSU would like to clarify that as an autonomous voluntary association none of its members are allowed on these sites,” it added.

KSU went on to say that “believes that every Maltese citizen has the same right as anyone else to enter any public land and that there should be no preference and restrictions on who enters and when.”

The group said that while it “agrees that there should be a responsible association for the site,” on behalf of its 3,000 members it called on the Authorities to ensure that access to public lands should not be exclusively for those given the responsibility of the site, and that access should remain free.

The “Government that listens” then runs over everyone – PN

PN, in a statement reacting to news of the signing said, “the Government that listens, has today chosen to roll over civil society, Local Councils and anyone who called for the agreement between the Government and the FKNK on the management of the public land of Mizieb to be published before it is signed.”

David Take, PN spokesperson for the environment, said that the “agreement was signed behind the people’s back.

The PN stressed that it does not accept that public land is closed to the public without a valid reason.

The Nationalist Party concluded by commending the work of civil society and Local Council “which were once again instrumental in raising awareness about this agreement.”

The two agreements are available to download in English, here and here.

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