Environment volunteers deserve support, not smears – Repubblika

Repubblika expressed its solidarity with the volunteers of the Malta Ranger Unit and BirdLife Malta, “who have been ridiculed and slandered”.

The NGO was referring to how supporters of Labour candidate Alicia Bugeja Said mocked NGOs while celebrating the PL’s win.

The issue is not merely that supporters of a political party chose to mock environmental organisations that dedicate their time and energy to protecting wildlife and enforcing environmental laws, Repubblika said Tuesday.

What is particularly concerning is that the former Parliamentary Secretary responsible for animal rights chose to justify this conduct and then sought to place on the same moral plane those who break laws protecting animals and the environment and those who volunteer to defend them.

No Parliamentary Secretary for Animal Rights can reasonably be expected to remain neutral between those who shoot protected animals and those who work to protect them. No public official should be neutral between law-breakers and those who assist in enforcing the law, Repubblika said.

It is particularly irresponsible for a former minister to repeat unsubstantiated allegations against environmental volunteers without providing any evidence to support them. Public officials have a duty to uphold the facts and protect those who act in the public interest, not to undermine them.

The Malta Ranger Unit and BirdLife Malta provide an important public service, often at considerable personal risk. The least they are entitled to expect is that politicians who have failed to ensure effective enforcement of environmental laws do not exacerbate the hostility directed against them.

Repubblika said it will continue to stand with those who defend the rule of law, protect our environment, and serve the public interest, despite intimidation, bullying, and slander.

Animal Rights Parliamentary Secretary incites hatred against those working for the country’s environment – Momentum

Momentum said Tuesday former parliamentary secretary Alicia Bugeja Said has falsely claimed she had “seen instances of rangers invading private property”.

“This is a blatant lie. The Parliamentary Secretary should submit evidence of such offence,” Momentum msaid.

In reality, in the past four years, the Parliamentary Secretary has always kept her mouth shut whenever the environmental rangers were verbally assaulted.

Momentum Committee member, Katya Compagno, said “Rather than inciting her supporters with her untruths, Alicia Bugeja Said should express her gratitude to the Rangers for doing work which the units under her responsibility fail to do. This arrogant impunity on the first day of the new legislature further highlights the need for us at Momentum to stand up to it”.

The remarks attributed to Alicia Bugeja Said reveal a troubling contempt for civil society and for citizens who volunteer to protect our natural heritage, the party said.

 

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