Juggler gets fingers burnt

An Italian-Maltese juggler plying his trade in Valletta has left the island accusing the police of warning him against performing in the city, a claim the police deny.

Antonio Carnemolla, 30, of Ragusa, came to Malta to spend the summer performing in the streets of Valletta, planning to leave at the end of this month. He decided to leave on Tuesday, after claiming that a policeman warned him never to perform in Valletta again.

“This policeman came and told me: ‘If I see you performing while I’m on duty you’re going to get in trouble’,” Mr Carnemolla said.

The police, however, insisted they “never gave orders to Mr Carnemolla to stop from such activity”. A spokesman said the police had received a report in May complaining that Mr Carnemolla could injure people with his juggling but, after inspecting his licence and insurance, he was found to be in line with the law.

The juggler claims he was hounded by complaints from a nearby shop, who kept complaining about the smell the torches were making, even after he changed the oil to a low-odour one.

Stephen Ellul, general manager of Charles Grech & Co. Ltd, said that, while they had “no problem” with Mr Carnemolla’s performance, the use of the burning torches was disrupting their perfume business on Republic Street because the smell lingered on in the air conditioner, turning away customers.

He said that when Mr Carnemolla was approached by the manager, he was rude to her and that was why they reported him to the police several times and “the police always did their job”.

He said the police would show up and order the juggler to move, which he would do, only to return.

“Republic Street is big. Does he have to perform in front of a perfumery,” Mr Ellul asked.

Daniel Spiteri, a manager at the McDonalds outlet on Republic Street, said the restaurant had only complained with the artiste when patrons said the strong smell of burning oil was annoying them.

“Complaining about the smell, which is there for three hours a week, is a bit rich, especially when you consider the car exhaust in Malta,” Mr Carne­molla complained while on his way to the ferry back to Sicily.

Valletta mayor Alexiei Dingli said the local council had no problem with the juggler or other buskers. “We’re all open for buskers,” Dr Dingli said, making an appeal to arts students to busk in Valletta to bring life to the city.

In 2007, a Brazilian clown – commissioned to perform by the Arts Council, no less – was arrested after his spirited performance in Republic Street ruffled some feathers.