Following yesterday’s incident at Montekristo Estate where a 3 year old boy suffered grievous injuries after being attacked by a tiger, Professor Arnold Cassola, AD Chairperson, said:”This is just another in a series of accidents which is showing that the rule of law is rapidly collapsing in our country. The country is being run by unelected business people acting illegally and not by our elected representatives. We have had Paqpaqli a few weeks ago, Paceville two weeks ago, now this at Polidano’s illegal complex. We are no longer interested in crocodile tears by Prime Minister Jospeh Muscat and Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil, whose parties in government failed to act effectively against the rampant illegalities by the Polidano Group. Who is going to shoulder political responsibility and resign? Is the President of the Republic going to hold events at this illegal site?”
Simon Galea, Alternattiva Demokratika Spokesperson on Animal Welfare and Agriculture stated:”Reports on media about all the illegalities concerning Montekristo Estates, including the said zoo, have been going on for years without any concrete enforcement measures being taken. It is amazing how some people are above the law. Apart from irregularities involving development permits, Montekristo Estates also operates this illegal zoo where exotic animals are deprived from their natural habitat which not only disrespects the animals’ welfare but also proves to be a danger to visitors. Exotic and wild animals’ place is in their natural wild habitat and not in captivity, let alone on a leash amongst 3 year old toddlers. Yesterday’s incident is a result of the incompetence of government after government that in order to favour Charles Polidano, refrain from enforcing the law.”
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PR29/11/2015 L-inċident bit-tigra riżultat ta’ Gvernijiet PN U PL jiffavorixxu lil Polidano
Wara l-incident serju tal-bieraħ fil-Montekristo Estate, fejn tifel ta’ tliet snin gie ferut b’mod gravi minn tigra, ic-chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, il-Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Dana huwa ieħor f’serje ta’ inċidenti li juri li f’pajjiżna l-istat ta’ dritt qed jikkollassa b’mod rapidu. Il-pajjiż qed jiġi mmexxi minn niex tal-business mhux eletti li jaġixxu illegalment u mhux mir-rappreżentanti eletti tagħna. Kellna Paqpaqli ftit ġimgħat ilu, Paceville ġimagħtejn ilu, u issa dan fil-kumpless illegali ta’ Polidano. M’aħniex interessati aktar fid-dmugħ ta’ kukkudrilli tal-Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat u tal-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni Simon Busuttil. Kienu l-partiti tagħhom fil-gvern li ma ħadu l-ebda azzjoni effettiva kontra l-illegalitajiet rampanti tal-grupp ta’ Polidano. Min ser jerfa’ ir-responsabilita’ politika u jirriżenja? Il-President tar-Repubblika ser tkompli torganizza attivitajiet f’dan l-istabbiliment illegali?”
Simon Galea, Kelliem ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika dwar il-Ħarsien tal-Annimali u l-Agrikoltura, qal:”Ir-rapporti fil-Media dwar l’illegalitajiet tal-Montekristo Estates, inkluż iz-zoo, ilhom għaddejjin is-snin mingħajr l-ebda miżura konkreta ta’ infurzar tal-liġi. Huwa tal-iskantament kif ċerti persuni huma ‘l fuq mil-liġi. Apparti l-irregolaritajiet dwar iol-permessi tal-iżvilupp, Montekristo Estates topera ukoll dan iz-zoo illegali fejn annimali eżotiċi huma mċaħħda mill-abitat naturali tagħhom. Dan mhux biss nuqqas ta’ rispett għall-benessri tal-annimali iżda huwa ukoll ta’ periklu għall-viżitaturi. Il-post tal-annimali eżotiċi huwa fl-abitat naturali u salvaġġ u mhux f’gaġġa, jew -aktar u aktar- fuq ċinga ħdejn tfal ta’ 3 snin. L-inċident tal-bieraħ huwa r-riżultat ta’ inkompetenza ta’ gvern wara l-ieħor, li biex jiffavorixxu lil Charles Polidano, iżommu milli jinfurzaw il-liġijiet”.
