An extension of hunting hours is limiting park visiting hours

The national Majjistral Park is in a plea, after both the Nationalist party and the Labour party vote in favour of increasing hunting and trapping hours. So much so that the public can no longer enjoy the park without risking getting their heads shot off.

Majjistral is the first legal 'National Nature and History Park' that was set up by the Maltese government. Funding is minimal but the initial scope is to keep capitalist spectators away from the sight and eradicate any future 'golf course' proposals. 

Compromises however had to be initiated, especially for the bird hunters who in Malta know no boundaries. At first the hunters were allowed to make use of the area till nine in the morning and later an hour for their enjoyment was added. A recent notice however has extended the hours to twelve thirty and trappings till two thirty in the afternoon on weekdays. The initial idea was that till nine in the morning barely any visitors would attend the park and any accidents would be avoided.

The Majjistral board that includes the Mellieha council, government representatives and representatives from 'Din L-Art Ħelwa', 'Nature Trust' and 'Gaia' voted against the notice. They said they could not have visitors and hunters on site at the same time for obvious safety precautions. Anthony Buttigieg, who is the new leader of the Democratic party made a personal appeal to the general public in order to help reverse the notice.

Majjistral Park by Hotel Santana 

National parks are meant to be for the enjoyment of all. In Malta, an over-crowded, over built nation, space is precious. Any parent, any decent human being would want that their children would be able to experience the beauty of nature, its travails, struggles and triumphs from the seasons and elements in a purely natural habitat.

After all, the extended hours disregard the notion of the park itself. It was set for the public to enjoy the beauty of nature and to preserve it for future generations. If this was not contradicting enough, after extending the hours the government finally approved long awaited funds to improve the parks facilities. After the hearing the organisation 'BirdLife' was left extremely disappointed.

It is a pity that today once again the two major political parties showed that they do not have the courage to put the national interest before that of their party with regards to environmental issues!

Disappointment was also directed towards Environment Minister Dr Jose Herrera that said he had not received any complaints regarding the notice, even though over 4,000 petitions were sent to his personal e-mail. He made no appeal in court against the decision taken and simply repeated what Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had previously reported.