Prime Minister says government is exploring solutions to the hornet problem affecting beekeepers
Photo: Terry Caselli Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Prime Minister Robert Abela says the government is looking at ways to help beekeepers who have lost hives to hornets, and that an action plan will follow once an ongoing assessment is finished.
Asked by journalists about hornets attacking bee colonies, Prime Minister Robert Abela acknowledged that beekeepers have reported significant losses. He said the matter has been discussed at Cabinet and that Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo has been asked to examine it and propose measures.
Abela described the situation as a "challenge" rather than a crisis. Pressed on why help would only be announced in the coming weeks, he said the government wants a remedy as soon as possible, and that once the current assessment is complete it will announce an action plan. He did not say what form any assistance would take or give a date.