Robert Abela vows constitutional protection for traditions like feasts

The government has kicked off a legal exercise that will see local traditions like the village feast being given constitutional safeguards.

Addressing a political activity in Cospicua about protecting hobbies, sports and traditions, Prime Minister Robert Abela said the constitutional safeguards will once and for all guarantee people’s pastimes.

The move comes on the back of a failed attempt by the Opposition to introduce a law offering environmental protection guarantees in the constitution.

Abela’s government, together with various NGOs, claimed the PN’s proposed law would have endangered village feasts, hunting and outside sports activities.

The prime minister said on Sunday he had tasked Justice Minister Jonathan Attard with carrying out a legal analysis of how other countries safeguard their hobbies and traditions.

Abela said just like the environment should be protected and was already protected in Malta, other countries have introduced constitutional safeguards protecting their traditions.

He said the introduction of such safeguards in Malta’s supreme law will once and for all offer protection for these traditions.

Abela decried attempts to pit those who have the environment at heart against those who practice traditional pastimes.

“A good politician will bring the two in harmony, not pit them against each other. This is why we took a clear position in parliament. This is why we launched a green paper, asking people about the best ways to protect the environment,” Abela said.

The prime minister described the government’s pledge to return Manoel Island “to the people” as one of the biggest environmental projects ever undertaken.

He also announced plans for a new campsite in the north of Malta that will be up to “the highest standards” for camping enthusiasts to enjoy.

Abela said progress has also been made on a new horse racing track, which will be completed in the coming weeks.

‘We were not bought’

Representatives of different groups who attended the political activity, including the hunters’ and trappers’ association (FKNK) and a feast enthusiast, hit back at claims that they were pressured by the government into opposing the PN’s environmental law proposals.

FKNK president Lucas Micallef said he was “hurt” by the claims hunters had been “bought off” to come out against the law.

Micallef said the FKNK had only opposed the law after getting their hands on a draft of the PN’s proposals and passing it on to their lawyers.

These lawyers clearly warned that the proposal could threaten “our hobby”, Micallef said.

Malta Shooting Sport Federation president Frans Pace said their opposition to the proposal was because it would pose a genuine “threat” to the sport.

Mario Coleiro, a feast enthusiast, said the proposal would have opened the door to those who want to stop feasts.

He said village feasts offer a window into what the Maltese are capable of, and thanked the government for its financial support of such traditions.

“I came here willingly, no one bought me off,” Coleiro said of his attendance at the Labour activity.