The latest dispute between the police and the Floriana local council over the holding of the council's street party has confused the minds of many. The mystery of how it ended has added to the confusion.

It seems that the Floriana council were not given permits from the police to hold their party in St Anne's Street.

Yet the party was held with no explanation from either side except for just a few words by the mayor of Floriana, saying that they did not break the law. Many are of the opinion that the go-ahead of the party was a direct challenge to police authority. The silence and inaction of the police begs an explanation.

All this gives rise to many questions.

Did the police give their permission for this street party? If in the negative, did the Floriana council break any law? If in the affirmative, is the mayor of Floriana going to be charged for this infringement?

If they did not break any law are we to understand that past applications for police permission by other organisations was just an act of formality and was not really necessary by law?

As regards the future, in view of this activity which has set a precedent, are we to understand that now band clubs, football clubs and any other organisations can close the centre of any locality to traffic without any permission from anyone?

These are the questions that the citizens await replies to from the authorities concerned. The silence on this issue has even increased the doubts of the citizens about how this island is being run.

It seems that this government's devolution policy has created many authorities and none of them knows its real responsibilities and duties.

Let alone the poor citizen.