Oct 29 - GSD Express Concern Over Upper Rock Nature Reserve
The Opposition has today questioned the effectiveness of Environment Minister Dr. Cortes’ announcement that systematic searches take place as part of the Upper Rock Surveillance Monitoring Programme, following reports of illegal traps, by members of the public. Shadow Minister Jaime Netto has also received claims that individuals have bought exotic pets and abandoned them in the Upper Rock, whilst the perennial problem of feeding of the Barbary macaques continues.
A GSD statement notes, ‘while all this is happening, the Minister talks a good talk about the production of more and more studies by ‘experts’ in order to advise him on what to do. It appears that Minister Cortes has forgotten that as General Secretary to GOHNS, he has been advising previous Governments on how to manage the Upper Rock Nature Reserve for the last 20 years or so.
'For years Minister Cortes argued as Secretary General of GOHNS that these problems within the Nature Reserve would be eradicated by the employment of Nature Reserve wardens and that this was a ‘high priority’. Yet 23 months within his term of office, Minister Cortes has not only failed to introduce wardens, but been found wanting when asked in Parliament.
Perhaps GOHNS ought to give the Minister a copy of the 2005 report entitled’ Upper Rock Nature Reserve, A Management and Action Plan’, in order for the Minister to get a grip with what to do and to get on with it.’
