Resident files judicial protest against local council

Zabbar resident John Camilleri filed a judicial protest against his town's local council after he was turned down for a commercial licence to set up a kiosk during the village feast.

The feast was Zabbar's Madonna tal-Grazzja, held from 13 to 15 August.

According to Subsidiary Legislation 441.04, councils receiving more than one licence application for the same area can allocate these permits on a first-come first-served basis. But a resident's application can take priority in such cases. When none of the applicants are from the village, the posts are assigned by lot.

Camilleri argued that while he was informed by the council that lots would be drawn over the areas assigned to kiosks, the council decided instead to carry out an ad hoc procedure by allocating the areas according to how they were assigned in previous occasions.

The residing applicant complained that subsequent to this decision, he was granted an area of low commercial traffic. Furthermore, the actions of the local council had created an unlawful  precedent.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri signed the judicial protest.