Aaron Farruigia, Environment Minister, has dismissed the question of whether he was embarrassed that he was endorsed for the election not by environmental groups but the hunting lobby.
“The endorsement is through the large [environment] projects done throughout the past two years and a half,” said the minister, who is responsible for conservation of the environment and wildlife.
He added that the most important approval was from the people of the seventh and first districts, which are the electoral areas he is contesting.
Farrugia shared an image of Lucas Micallef, FKNK president, on Facebook earlier this week. He described Farrugia as an ally in their cause.
It is important that I am endorsed in the first and seven districts by the people so that I can be a part of parliament in near future– Aaron Farrugia
Farrugia was responsible to transfer responsibility for a consultative committee on hunting and trapping from his ministry to Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri. Camilleri is also a registered trapper.
“My work as minister is to keep the balance between the environment and planning and also a balance between the hobbies of Maltese and Gozitans voted upon in the referendum and the environmentalists,” Farrugia told Times of Malta.
The minister was present when a 2020 agreement was signed between the government and FKNK, giving the hunters’ federation sole access to large swathes of the Miieb and Arax woodlands during the hunting season.
Conservationists were harshly critical of the move.
“The large projects we announced were with groups such as BirdLife but also with FKNK, who also have the environment at heart, as we have seen in their projects.”
When asked if he has received endorsements by environmental NGOs, he answered that he has had numerous meetings and projects with them over the past 2 years.
“Without a doubt they would tell you about the amount of aid I provided them for such projects,” he said.
“What is important is that I am endorsed by the people of the first and seventh district so that I can be part of parliament in the near future.”
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