The owners of a pharmacy in Freedom Square have filed a judicial protest against the government and the Medicines Authority, complaining that they have not been given a temporary licence in order to operate from alternative premises after they move because of the City Gate project.

Chemimart Ltd said that all the shop owners in Freedom Square and the site of the former opera house which were affected by the project had been given alternative premises or been paid compensation.

The Commissioner of Lands had also offered alternative premises in Valletta for the pharmacy but the move could not take place because of objections by third parties. No alternative had since been offered.

The pharmacy owners, on February 15, had requested a temporary licence to enable them to move to other premises which they themselves owned in 20-21 Republic Street. But although these premises were suitable for use as a pharmacy, a temporary licence had still not been issued.

The pharmacy owners said this failure constituted discrimination since agreement for the transfer of all the other Freedom Square businesses, or the payment of compensation, had been reached. This failure was causing damages to the company and could cause its employees their job.