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.