Circus promoter suggests €50,000 bank guarantee

Animal circus regulations should be imposed on promoters, says circus and football impresario Johann Said.

Animal circus promoters bringing circuses to Malta should face fines and penalties if animals are found to have been mistreated, circus promoter Johann Said has said.

In what appears to be a last-ditch effort to convince government to reverse a proposal to ban animal circuses, Said argued that promoters or organisers should be asked to submit a bank guarantee of €50,000 when bringing circus animals to Malta.

"If Animal Welfare Department officers or veterinarians find the animals to have been mistreated, then the promoter would automatically lose his bank guarantee," he said.

The Labour government announced in Budget 2014 that animal circuses would be banned as from this year. Acknowledging that the government could have a popular mandate to ban the circuses, Said said he still wished to voice his proposals to the government.

Having been involved in the circus business since he was seven years of age due to his family's business interests, Said grew up working with these performers. This year he brought an aquatic circus to Malta.

"When God closes one door, another opens... and I am already thinking of setting up an agency to take Maltese families to see the Circo Moira Orfei in Catania next Christmas," he said.

While a petition supporting animal circuses has gained 5,000 votes, Said insisted this show of support was not enough. "The issue should not be about collecting signatures but showing that the Maltese love animal circuses.

But to ensure that regulations are being followed, the responsibility should be placed on the organiser."

Said said the demand for his circus in Victoria, Gozo, was "so high" that he extended it by another week.

Said also confirmed that even MPs from both sides of the House - who soon have to vote on a bill banning animal circuses - took their children to his circus.

Meanwhile, Animal Rights Coalition spokeswoman Myriam Kirkmond urged the government not to bow to the pressure of circus promoters.

"The government has electoral mandate to ban animal circuses. If it does not condemn animal circuses, Malta would be taking a step backwards and become an uncivilised country," Kirkmond claimed.

"Any MPs who visit the circus are setting a bad example, more so if they take their children with them. Anyone who is elected by the majority of the general public should take into account the opinion of the majority: which is against animal circuses," Kirkmond said, in light of circus promoters claiming MPs were in attendance during their circus shows.

On the other hand, in response to the gathering of 5,000 signatures in favour of animal circuses, the ARC spokeswoman insisted that the petition is immaterial as the government has electoral mandate to ban animal circuses.

Asked whether the ARC foresees the launch of a counter-petition, she said that the animal rights coalition would wait before taking such a step.

"The ARC will never compromise on animals' rights with circus promoters or anyone else for that matter. Animals should be kept in their natural habitat not in cages and for the amusement of circus promoters," Kirkmond said.

"Apart from physical harm, circus animals also suffer psychologically due to their constant travel and stress. Consequently, it is immaterial whether circus promoters would submit a bank guarantee to safeguard animals' health."

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i will gladly pay money to come and see your circus, thats if you are the source of entertainment and not wild animals who belong in the wild!!! the cruelty of circus animals as you are fully aware of since you are not 7 yrs old anymore is making them travel for hours on end in cages to be laughed at by stupid people and told what to do by bullies with whips in their hand!!! GAME OVER!!!!
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The mistreatment primarily happens when training the animals, out of sight of the public.