Appeasing interest groups at Majjistral Nature Park

The Majjistral Nature Park near Manikata was established in 2007. After years of discussion, a decision was reached to allow hunting until 9 am, later extended to 10 am.

A compromise was reached. Hunting and trapping is not compatible with people going for nature walks at the park, including children. Hunters are disturbed by visitors rambling through their hunting paths, and visitors are annoyed and unsettled by hunters and trappers.

But on 27 October this year, the government decided to extend autumn hunting hours to 12.30 pm. The Majjistral board and management was against it, and no public consultation was held. But the government went ahead.

The government has appeased one group, but has angered others. It may have calculated that there are more hunters (and their families) who will be satisfied, than people who care about visitors at the park.

An online petition against this move obtained a large amount of signatures, but has been ignored.

Partit Demokratiku MPs Godfrey Farrugia and Marlene Farrugia took a brave stand and put forward a motion in Parliament to reverse the decision to extend hunting hours at the park. It was debated in parliament this morning.

During the...