Chairman of Ornis Committee remains silent on shooting of 31 protected birds – ‘I’m not going to comment, sorry’

Profs. Mark Anthony Falzon refused to comment on the shooting of 31 protected birds since the start of the autumn hunting season.

According to statements by the Office of the Prime Minister in September, it is the responsibility of the Ornis Committee to recommend a suspension of the hunting season. After avoiding numerous attempts by The Malta

Independent, Prof. Falzon finally

declined to comment on the issue.

When reminded of his duty as the Chairman of said committee, Profs. Falzon simply replied: “I do realise this but I’m not going to comment.”

CEO of BirdLife Malta Mark Sultana, when contacted by The

Malta Independent, said that this “proves the huge inertia from the government authorities to take action of the issue”.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has suspended the hunting season twice before in two separate occasions without any formal recommendation by the Ornis Committee. However, even in a season which has already seen at least 31 cases of protected birds being shot, the prime minister has remained silent. Speaking to The Malta Independent in September Mr Sultana said that he was “surprised to see the difference between the prime minister’s immediate reaction two years ago, and the lack of action now,” and suggested that Dr Muscat was “simply passing the buck to someone else and trying to waste time.

I do realise this but I’m not going to comment