BirdLife Malta concerned that handling of wild bird regulations will be moved to Animal Rights Ministry
BirdLife Malta is concerned that handling of the wild bird regulations will be moved from the Environment Ministry to the Animal Rights Ministry, after such indications were made in a number of Facebook posts by Clint Camilleri, who explained his responsibilities and those of his ministry.
These posts were made prior to Camilleri being appointed to a different ministry. Clint Camilleri was appointed as the minister responsible for animal rights when Prime Minister Robert Abela announced his Cabinet, but was subsequently moved to the Gozo Ministry after Justyne Caruana resigned. Now, Anton Refalo is the minister responsible for animal rights.
“We believe that wild bird protection and their regulations should be under the Ministry for the Environment, and not Animal Rights. When we speak of animal rights, it mainly affects domestic animals that have the right to be properly treated, but wild birds, hedgehogs, and other wildlife all fall under the environment,” explained BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana.
Sultana was speaking to The Malta Independent yesterday after Anton Refalo took his oath of office as the new Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Animal Rights and Consumer Protection.
“We saw what had happened when the Planning Authority was removed from the Environment Ministry, and we do not want to see the same happen when it comes to the protection of wildlife and birds. We hope that this change is not to support any hidden agendas, especially hunters.”
Whilst he explained that it is still too early to determine how Refalo will take on his new role, BirdLife Malta has already written to Prime Minister Robert Abela, and to the Minister of the Environment Aaron Farrugia, to discuss the next steps forward. “If the Wild Bird Regulations remain under Refalo’s ministry, then we will also ask Minister Refalo for a meeting.”
In a previous interview with the Malta Independent back in 2018, Sultana had expressed that Clint Camilleri should have been removed as Parliamentary Secretary for Animal Rights. “I believe he was in an awkward position, being both a parliamentary secretary for animal rights, but also forming part of a hunting lobby group.”
Sultana yesterday expressed that it is not just the minister who makes the final decision, but also those people close to the ministers, who play a vital role in decision making. “Under Galdes and Camilleri, they both had advisors who formed part of hunting groups, which meant that when it came to making decisions on hunting and conservation, ministers would be advised by the wrong people. We are holding our breath and hoping that things will be different with Minister Refalo.”