Bonġu News on Monday 10 April 2023

Quail hunting starts today

Thousands of hunters are showing off their manliness again as the quail hunting season has opened this morning. The season is expected to last until the national bag limit of 2,400 birds is reached, but no longer than April 30.

Quail hunting is permitted from two hours before sunrise until noon. The hunting federation FKNK said it expected hunters to “strictly observe” laws and regulations and reporting directions.

BirdLife Malta has been trying to prevent government from opening the spring hunting for the vulnerable turtle dove. A hearing on the NGO’s prohibitory injunction filed in court has been set for 18 April.

Deputy Commissioner quits FIAU

Deputy Police Commissioner Ramon Mercieca has resigned from the FIAU board and has not returned to work with the police force.

Mercieca has been out on sick leave since a photo of him attending Rosianne Cutajar’s baby gender reveal party emerged last month. The party took place four days after Mark Camilleri published thousands of messages which revealed Cutajar’s intimate relationship with Yorgen Fenech.

“When you’re in that position […] it’s not ethical to go to a party like that in the midst of national controversy”, the Times of Malta quoted a senior source. Read more

‘Remove poster immediately’

The Chamber of Advocates has called on No Deposit Cars to immediately remove the banner mocking lawyer Jason Azzopardi. On Friday, the chamber said the banner undermines a lawyer’s right to represent clients without being intimidated or threatened.

It said it considers the banner “an attempt of specifically targeting lawyer Jason Azzopardi to somehow try to influence the same lawyer in the performance of his duties towards his clients”. Further steps would be considered if the company failed to remove the banner. Read more

Aaron Farrugia not investigated

Transport Minister Aaron Farrugia won’t be investigated by the Standards Commissioner for failing to show up in Parliament. Farrugia did not attend the plenary on 15 November although he had been scheduled to answer questions over an assault by Transport Malta officers.

Standards Commissioner Joseph Azzopardi said that Farrugia should have planned his meetings better to ensure he could attend the session. However, the commissioner concluded that this did not amount to a breach of ethics.

Civil society NGO Repubblika, which had requested the investigation, said that poor planning did not excuse a breach. Read more

Thoughts and prayers

In his Easter message, Pope Francis invoked prayers for both Ukrainian and Russian people, and praised nations which welcome refugees.

“Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace, and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia”, Francis implored God in his Easter speech.

The head of the Catholic Church addressed a crowd the Vatican estimated at about 100,000.