Floriana circus permit refused, promoter files court application
A circus promoter has filed an application calling on the court to declare a police refusal to grant him a permit to bring a circus to Floriana unjustified and without legal foundation.
In his application, Johann Said said that last January, he filed an application to run a circus at the parking area in Floriana adjacent to the Granaries between December 12 and January 6.
His application was objected to by Transport Malta and his application was refused on October 12. The applicant appealed and the appeal was heard on November 6.
In a letter dated November 21, the applicant was informed that his application could not be accepted because of a new policy which stated that open spaces in Floriana should not be occupied by circus operators.
The applicant argued that this was unacceptable in a democratic society and in blatant breach of his fundamental rights as a citizen and a businessman.
Such behaviour also caused him major financial damage since at no stage of the preparations was he given any indication that his application could be refused.
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26 Comments
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Joanna Farrugia
Nov 25th 2012, 09:48
a 'democratic society' is not one where everyone is free to do as he pleases Mr Said! It doesn't give you the right to do whatever you want.
Ms Sylvia Zammit
Nov 25th 2012, 09:29
Good for the Floriana Local Council!
Marie Therese Debono
Nov 24th 2012, 17:10
is this the one that is being advertised as the first to come to malta ? this week i have a received a flyer advertising a circus which will be held in floriana with tickets being sold from a booth in city gate, valletta
Anthony Borg
Nov 24th 2012, 06:55
Serves you right!
Change business!
No (to animal) circuses - anywhere!
If you want to see roaming animals go on a safari or switch to Animal World on TV.
Franco Farrugia
Nov 23rd 2012, 21:30
I sincerely hope that the Courts will uphold the Police action. It is despicable that in this day and age, in Malta, we have animal circuses. Absolutely condemnable and equally condemnable, without reservation, would be all those who visit such circuses!
Joseph Borg
Nov 23rd 2012, 21:13
Let's hope that the court re-acts as expected and keeps the case going for another 54 years!
Franco Farrugia
Nov 23rd 2012, 21:30
Haha! Good one, Mr Borg!
Nicole Mifsud
Nov 23rd 2012, 21:10
Well Done! They should've done this ages ago :)
J Grima
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:21
"Unacceptable in a democratic society and in blatant breach of his fundamental rights as a citizen and a businessman."
You're right, it is unacceptable in a democratic society. Unacceptable, to use a public parking for a source of income whilst caging exotic animals which shouldn't be travelling with you in the first place. I'd love to see you entertain people against your will....
Myriam Kirmond
Nov 24th 2012, 15:08
well said! But what is most important for all to understand is that all animal circuses need to be banned from coming to our Islands. Countries the world over have began to realize that animals should not be enslaved in a life where they are constantly caged up,moved from country to country and made to perform tricks or otherwise.Circuses yes but non animal ones
Joanne Falzon
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:57
Finally some good news :)
Ronald Cauchi
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:14
A Parking Place is a Parking Place and should not be used for anything else, circuses, political shindigs or whatever.If people want space they should go look for some unused and derelict area and not hog the little parking space there is outside Valletta.
Emilia Kensington
Nov 23rd 2012, 19:10
There is still the circus in Naxxar :-s. Animal circuses should be banned. completely
A.f Ellul
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:48
So what! yes there is one at Naxxar,have another one there will be a competion and we can choose the better one to see.this is called democracy,after all we we are not communist.let the circus do their job ,after all we can see animals that not excists in Malta .it is better to banned the bad words that we like to use,such as " Mainsion the name of GOD in vein." or "Lie on someone to take his job"
Paul Borg
Nov 23rd 2012, 18:54
How about Ta Qali.
Tania Farrugia
Nov 24th 2012, 08:50
How about nowhere?? Maybe one day all circuses will be banned and no-one will be able to make money off animals' suffering for our viewing pleasure!
Peter Lloyd
Nov 23rd 2012, 18:26
But will the promoter now stop selling tickets for the circus until and unless the courts accept his application and if they do not will he refund in full all the people who have bought tickets that will then be useless?
fleur cilia buckett
Nov 23rd 2012, 22:20
funny that, the promoter has already set up the booth and has sold tickets in valletta!!
Maria Vassallo
Nov 23rd 2012, 17:57
Well done, Transport Malta!
Let us all boycott such circuses that harm animals and obstruct open spaces!
A.f Ellul
Nov 23rd 2012, 20:36
Who told you that the animals keepers of the circus harm their own animalstyhose who have animals at their homes are doing the same as the circus.specially those who keeps doqs ,take them for a walk to make their dirth on the pavements,it is better to make boycots for thopse who dirth on the roads such as horses,dogs and even people,throwing rubbish on the roads.circus excists around the world.
A Sultana
Nov 23rd 2012, 17:22
and in the meantime in the UK...
http://news.sky.com/story/1015626/elephant-abuse-circus-owner-convicted
Christina Pace
Nov 23rd 2012, 17:21
Congratulations to Floriana policy makers for having the guts to protect the animals, the residents and after all our humanity. PN and MLP, please follow suit and ban animal circuses from our country.
Maria Williams
Nov 23rd 2012, 16:52
What about the rights of the animals to live their lives as nature intended and not to be dragged from place to place spending their lives in a circus just to make money for Johann Said and others of his ilk. The same applies to zoos, do these entities have permits to operate? Are they insured? And most important who is checking on the animals'welfare, not just physical but also psychological.
Rosalind Agius
Nov 23rd 2012, 16:45
This is certainly good news. Well done to the police and transport Malta. Wild animals do not belong in Floriana's open spaces.
Mr Stanley Fenech
Nov 23rd 2012, 16:29
Looks like the Floriana Local Council does have what it takes to protect the rights of the residents. Unfortunately, for us Naxxar residents we do not have that luxury.
Albert Critien
Nov 23rd 2012, 15:55
Mdepa and Naxxar Local Council please note
Please choose the reason of your report below: