Mepa stops Naxxar circus
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) has issued a stop and enforcement order against the operators of the circus in Naxxar after the 30 day period for the temporarily use of the land outside the Trade Fair Grounds elapsed.
The Authority explained that last October it had not objected to the Circus being put up in the parking area of the former Trade Fair Grounds in Naxxar. The Local Council had given its consent for this temporary activity for a 30 day period.
"As from today, the circus must stop its operations in this and any other site unless the necessary clearances are issued. The police have been informed that any operation of the circus as from today is not according to law. So far, the Circus operators have collaborated with the MEPA Enforcement Officials," Mepa said.
Naxxar Local Council has informed MEPA that it will not be issuing any permit for the operation of the circus to be extended.
The circus had been expected to continue till early January.
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44 Comments
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Rita Spiteri
Dec 19th 2012, 14:43
We should start campaigning against people who keep pets locked at home and not free to roam the streets,those who train their dogs to poo in a box & if they don't they will be hit by a rolled up newspaper or will have water squirted on their faces ! those who keep birds,mice hamsters etc in cages,or fish,reptiles in aquariums!!! and most of all the ones who dress their pets in silly costumes !!!!
Maya Fenech
Dec 19th 2012, 11:50
The circus forms a cultural part of quite a few nations and should, if not liked, at least be respected. After all they got permission to enter Malta. If you are so against it then feel free and don't support it. Do not go and visit it like you naturally would never go and support the various small zoos, dolphins etc in Malta by visiting. After all, they ALL have animals in captivity.
Christian Spiteri
Dec 19th 2012, 11:13
this is becoming ridicules, first the incident at floriana and now this..
James Attard
Dec 19th 2012, 09:59
Part 2: , these same people do not complain when they see abused animals in a movie, films for kids (do you remember Flipper for example? are dolphins naturally born to play and balance balls?). What about the clothes you buy, leather, perfumes, etc...
Conclusion: These people should not act as saints when it comes to animal welfare and patronize people who enjoy circus and love animals
James Attard
Dec 19th 2012, 09:55
Part 1: I just want to pass some food for thought. I believe that a big part of the 'sensitive' people who are against circuses have been to circuses themselves when they were young and had fun. I also believe that most of these 'sensitive' chaps are hypocrites because while they do not condone animal abuse (and by this I do not necessary imply the pulling of teeth, claws, etc from wild animals),
Jon Vercellono
Dec 19th 2012, 09:53
Mr. Grixti - its actually a shame that animal torturers (as opposed to abusers) get away with a slap on the wrist (after the animals die as a result). Its a shame a EU country allows such abuse. Circus animals are fed, looked after and kept warm. They may actually enjoy their trainer's company, we don't know what they think. Work on the problems here in Malta and don't point fingers at others.
Ms. P.M Graham
Dec 19th 2012, 08:44
This whole situation has been dealt with abysmally and I fear that there will be a price to pay.
Stop the circus before it gets on the boat, (if so inclined) not once it is here.
George Mangion
Dec 19th 2012, 08:21
We ban circuses but yet allow horseracing, birdtrapping and hunting.
Ian Pirotta
Dec 18th 2012, 21:11
Good... finally something constructive!
Packup and leave, don't come back....
you don't have our support, we don't need this type of entertainment from the medieval era.
Ban live animals in circuses now!
Charles Grixti
Dec 19th 2012, 04:31
I agree with you completely. It is a real shame that the EU with all its regulations still allows this kind of animal abuse to go on.
Kevin Camilleri
Dec 19th 2012, 09:00
If you don't like it don't go but don't ban all the rest of us from going. Why do I have to travel abroad to see a circus just because you don't like it? Typical maltese mentality, if I don't do it or I don't like it no one else should.
C Attard
Dec 18th 2012, 21:06
Give us a break. What difference would it make having them for more time. If the Maltese are visiting them, its our fundamental right. If Maltese does not, automatically they will pack.. BUT ..again..GIVE US A BREAK. too much is too much
Mario Pandolfino
Dec 18th 2012, 20:44
Dawn qatt ma salbu klieb u qtates bhal ma ghamel xi mignun hawn Malta.
V Caruana
Dec 18th 2012, 20:41
the behaviour of the authorities is really funny. they should join the circus
I Bugeja
Dec 19th 2012, 08:22
the most sensible comment
S. Azzopardi
Dec 18th 2012, 20:27
What about the one infront of Addolorata Cemetry? Will this be allowed to continue with total disrespect for the people buried there. Not to mention the disregard to the feelings of those who lost their loved ones. Shame on you!!!
mario delicata
Dec 18th 2012, 20:12
I hate animal cruelty but I am not against the Circus. I hate Fanatics and people who dictate their principles on others. Who hate circuses can stay at home, but there are a lot more people that enjoy them. So let it be.
Martin Galea De Giovanni
Dec 18th 2012, 22:55
... yes people have a choice to stay at home. but did anyone ask the tiger or lion whether they would have preferred staying free in the savannah ? Until a couple of hundred years ago slaves, indigenous people and people with strange defects were displayed just like the tiger and the bear are today. It was acceptable then but I guess (and hope) that you agree that it was a barbaric thing to do....
Ellen Pace
Dec 19th 2012, 03:19
....bit of a double standard there. Not preaching, just pointing it out.
Thomas Grima
Dec 19th 2012, 07:46
Qed tara kemm tirraguna sur Delicata. Fsentenza wahda ghidt li int kontra l mohqrijja ta l-annimali imma favur l annimali fic cirklu. Ma nahsibx li qed tghamel hafna sens.
Amanda Sciberras
Dec 19th 2012, 08:13
Funny... ' I hate animal cruelty but I am not against the Circus'. Than what is circus than? Wild animals living in 2cm cages? Come on! Let them free in the wild THAT'S I SAY LET BE!!!
Kevin Camilleri
Dec 19th 2012, 09:04
Yes let them free, send them back to Africa so that the rich European people can go their doing their safaris and shooting at them, whilst the normal people like me will never get to travel there to see any of these animals. Pathetic
Etienne Bonanno
Dec 19th 2012, 10:00
I am definitely against animal cruelty and these circus animals do not live the ideal life, however note that circus animals are usually born and bred in captivity and would probably not survive if released in the wild.
At most they could be housed in a zoo, but then again life in a zoo is not ideal either. But where to draw the line?
Etienne Bonanno
Dec 19th 2012, 10:02
All kinds of animals are put to work by humans to earn a living, sometimes at great risk to their lives, for example police dogs are used to search for explosives. They haven't had a say in their life career either, have they, and yet nobody makes a scene about how cruel it is to make a dog risk its life looking for bombs.
Amanda Sciberras
Dec 19th 2012, 10:10
Dear Kevin, you got a point yes and I agree with what they do to animals in the wild too, as you see animals are nowhere safe, but for your benefit to see a wild animal you rather like to see them in a circus slaves for us, that s egoism
Rodney Xerri
Dec 18th 2012, 20:00
What about the Circus infront of the Adolorata Cemetry? What a disgrace and disrespect!!
oliver joseph mangion
Dec 18th 2012, 19:35
a country full of clowns, if the circus was given the go ahead why stop it now.....purcinelli
E. Vassallo
Dec 18th 2012, 19:18
How very arrogant of the authorities! Why did they issue a permit in the forst place?
Pauline Peterson
Dec 19th 2012, 08:47
I agree with you E. Vassallo. Will the authorities who issued the permit, refund the expenses the circus made to get to Malta?
Simon Vella
Dec 18th 2012, 18:58
I am against animals in any circus and haven't been to one since I was a child. But come on give us break, let them live pls. We became too holy now, always complaining about this or the other. Seems like its true what some foreigners say to us, we have no real problems so we look around where to find some
Victor Borg
Dec 18th 2012, 19:58
We have many problems. This country is riven by corruption; our infrastructure is cranky; we have a grave water shortage; our environment has been laid to waste by overdevelopment; we have men who enjoy gunning down wild birds; our justice system is a mess; our hospital waiting lists are depressing; there is no accountability in public service... need I go on?
B Attard
Dec 18th 2012, 20:17
totally agreed with your comment.
i think the circus people or and who owes them in Malta applied for a permit from the arrival date till the last day here. This is no joke to transport all these animals and belongings by sea.
Mepa at least respect the animals, and get a life.
Anita Mifsud
Dec 18th 2012, 18:39
I wish they had stopped them before so we wouldn't have been tempted to go. What a waste of money it was!
Christopher Dimech
Dec 18th 2012, 19:06
Why don't they demolish illegal buildings and get then to pay for doing that !!!
N Sciberras
Dec 18th 2012, 18:33
How rude ,circus exists all over the world for the kids! I dont understand why maltese government makes such a fuss because of it especially during the festive season
Martin Galea De Giovanni
Dec 18th 2012, 19:37
Animals in circuses are banned in many countries. Just to give you an idea in Europe only, animals are banned from circuses in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and Sweden. In some other countries such as the UK and Spain the bans are on local/town levels.
M Grima
Dec 18th 2012, 19:42
at least the circuses should be animal free. there are many circuses animal free. and also, here in malta we cannot host such things as there is no proper place for this
Thomas Rubicon
Dec 18th 2012, 17:38
Good - now they can pack up and go back!
I saw personnel from the Circus dressed in red in the middle of busy roads ( Hamrun and Birkirkara ) distributing flyers to passing cars. We have enough confusion on our roads without these clowns distracting drivers!
Nyal Xuereb
Dec 18th 2012, 17:31
I hope that after the Floriana issue and now this one, no other circus will step foot on Malta again.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Dec 18th 2012, 17:05
I pity these circus guys. It seems that MEPA and the police have decided they do not want circuses anymore in Malta. They should at least have warned them that circuses are not welcome here instead of letting them come to Malta and waste their time and money.
Ms. P.M Graham
Dec 18th 2012, 20:01
Perhaps I am stating the obvious, but if they truly don't want the circus in Malta why don't they just make it that the permits have to be issued before coming on to the Island.
Saviour Sam Agius
Dec 18th 2012, 16:46
Jiena ma nafx għaliex jippretendu li kollox jitranġa la jaslu hawn. Għax ma jarawx li għandhom il-permessi kollha f'posthom qabel jiġu u jekk ma jkunux f'posthom ma jiġux? Dawn bużullotti.
Rita Spiteri
Dec 18th 2012, 16:42
why do we need a circus in Malta ???? We have a permanent one in parliament !!!!!!!!
Alfred Gatt
Dec 18th 2012, 16:11
I do not think there should be discrimination against the operation of the Circus. After all there are those who enjoy watching them. We are becoming too one sided. Animal lovers have their rights but so do those who are not so fond of animals. We are on the verge of equating animals with human beings, putting them on the same level. Every kind of cruelty is wrong whether to man or animal.
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