The Garden of Eden Garage presented a judicial protest at the First Hall of the Civil Courts calling for its applications for the registration of eight double-deckers to be processed as per their effective application date after the Fair Trading Commissioner declared the transport sector a free one last October.

The company had thus imported the double-deckers and paid duty but the registration process was then suspended. In May, the government published a legal notice imposing new regulations. The company alleged that applications are thus being considered as per the new legislation and it is being asked to meet conditions which were not in place in November when the company had filed its applications. It is claiming that the sum of over e20,000 must be paid for every route on which the buses operate; a condition which was not in place in November.

The protest was filed against the Prime Minister, Transport Minister and Malta Transport Authority.

Meanwhile Garden of Eden Garage presented a prohibitory injunction against the Malta Transport Authority calling for it not to create barriers and maintain a free market.

Lawyers Michael Tanti Dougall and Mark Simiani are representing the company.