Police find fireworks in Naxxar store

Andre Magri

May 5th 2008, 12:52

Our politicians are as much to blame. To date they have done nothing to raise the punishment that one deserves for putting other peole's lives in danger. €250 - €500 fine will just not do.

Wake up will you not.

Michael Tabone

May 5th 2008, 12:40

While I do think a ban on fireworks is a little harsh, I definitley believe that the manufacturing of them is extremely dangerous with the indisciplined procedures being followed at the moment. These fireworks manufacturing factories are nearby heavilly populated towns, but are a supposive safe distance so that if they blow up, they only kill the people manufacturing them. I think it's suicide personally when dealing with these fireworks. The cost of life is not worth their production, unless stronger more disciplined procedures are followed.

Back on the topic: The Government needs to enforce the law even more then ever with these amateur fireworks manufacturers storing their stocks in a populated area. It's a bomb waiting to go off and these people just live on another planet if they think the chances of an explosion is minimal. The cost of life is too great in those areas to risk it.

The government will hopefully deal with this better, and make a stand against the manufacturing of fireworks. It's the only way to cease this crysis, since there are bound to be more illegal stocks of fireworks or explosive materials somewhere in another densely populated area.

What I'd really like to know is where they are getting the materials from to manufacture the fireworks.

amanda zarb

May 5th 2008, 10:08

When I read this article I couldn`t believe how people can be so irresponsible,especially after what happened.These people live in a world of their own.I was shocked because my daughter attended dancing lessons at Peace Band Club.For all the irresponsible fireworks lovers just one question:WHAT IF SOMETHING HAD TO GO WRONG AT THE TIME WHEN OUR CHILDREN WHERE THERE??How could all those knowing what was going on ignore this situation?OFF COURSE I have the answer to this...COMPETITION!!I appeal to the government to take this into consideration before an other BOMB STRIKES as no one knows when or who is going to be NEXT!!

martin saliba

May 4th 2008, 14:16

To David Attard.
What emmy bezzina is say probably has the support of the majoraty of the population. The present goverment has less than half of the popular vote but still has the right to mspeak on behalf of all the maltes people. Emmy Bezzina speaks out about things that both the MLP and PN are terrified of in fear of loosing votes. One thing is for sure is that he got more votes than you or me as he at least has the guts to try and put words into action of which the benefactors would again be people like you and me.

daniel farrugia

May 4th 2008, 12:21

@franco, fireworks are a threat to you when they are manufactured ilegally!! i don't remember any innocent person dying when a fireworks factory exploded??
@ tiziana, no body comes to clean the pollution from cars from my home neither !
why does the government ban fireworks when, when they are maufactures leaglly they are not harm to any body outside the fireworks factory?? i dont know why you are comapring illegal fireworks to the rest of the legal? i does not make any sens. answer this if a person kills someone else with a knife, the government has to ban knives from malta???? beacuse manyt innocent people die because someone breaks the law!!

Tiziana Grima

May 4th 2008, 12:01

To Antoine Spiteri,

Antoine Grima is my father, we live at Naxxar. No thanks to the Peace Club we just found out that we are living on a mine field. Apart from that every August we get on our property the remains of the fireworks used in the Gharghur feast, which no body dares to come and clean.
What happened two months ago should have been a lesson to all.
Now that we said bye bye to hunting, we need to say bye bye to fireworks once and for all.

Carmen Micallef

May 4th 2008, 11:54

Sorry but the issue here is not about the fireworks but the illegal practices.
I am all out against those people who are breaching the law. But it does not make sense
to ban fireworks displays. What about the fireworks festivals? Why is it that these events are highly promoted and followed by thousands of people and not just enthusiasts. The solution is regulation and moderation not prohibition.

David Attard

May 4th 2008, 10:36

Emmy,

who gave you the power to speak in the name of the people? I believe each time you got near a ballot paper, you never got more than a handful of votes.

As for the banning of fireworks, I strongly believe its the abuse which should be tackled seriously. Banning fireworks to tackle the abuse is like banning cars to solve the problem of reckless driving.

Franco Farrugia

May 4th 2008, 09:36

@ Daniel Farrugia: Fireworks are a threat to us, the rest of the population living on these islands. Yes, fireworks are next in line, after hunting. Moreover, fireworks are worse than hunting - fireworks are a direct threat to us living here in Malta. Hunting, at least, was only a threat to the natural environment. We must now start working to curb fireworks - at least, limit it. There is far too much of it.
There's nothing you can do - you simply cannot stop time. And we have to change with the times. What do you expect? Continue with your 'passion' unabated?

Franco Farrugia

May 4th 2008, 09:31

I would disband that band club, for starters.
Secondly, a very hefty fine, stall their monies in the banks, raise funds through selling off their property and give the money to those who lost everything they had. Let it be a lesson, a warning to one and all.
And roll on, EU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have curbed hunting - now it's fireworks and fireworks factories next!!!!! If people think that EVERYONE in Malta loves fireworks during festas, they're wrong! I, for one, stand up and say, enough! We don't need this.

Josianne Vella

May 4th 2008, 08:49

The people that were hiding these fireworks now found should be ashamed of themselves!! Approximately 2 months ago an innocent mother lost her life because of illegal fireworks! And now this! In a major band club too!! And keep in mind that there's a petrol station infront of the band club so you can imagine what a disaster might have happened! The Government should take legal action about all this and not only against Spring hunting! The Life of an Innocent Victim is more Valuable than that of a bird (gamiema or a summiena)?? Please Dr. Gonzi wake up and take all the procedures necessary so that these shameful acts will stop NOW not when another disaster (God forbid that) happens again!

Simon Vella

May 4th 2008, 08:45

Whilst I understand those who manufacture and are diehards on fireworks, they must also understand those who want to live a life free from "danger". In my humble opinion, fireworks should be banned for a number of years until such time that the raw materials held by these entheusiasts become obsolete. Licences have to be re-issued based on new regulations and complete enforcement.

daniel farrugia

May 4th 2008, 05:18

i think the problem is to stop illegal firworks manufacture and not to stop fireworks.!! how can a club which does not have a fireworks factory display a certain amount of fireworks if it does not buy any fireworks from other loacalities??? it is very simple, they are working illegaly!! can our poluce force ivestiagte on such obvious cases??? I am from naxxar and I work for the other band club in naxxar, we manufacture fireworks as the maltese regulations orders, why should we stop from doing our hobby if we are not harming any human being or other creature ??? this is very different from the hunting problem one cannot compare the 2 problems. one can compare illegal fireworks production only to problems like road regulations where one disobeys the law and injures other persons!

antoine Spiteri

May 4th 2008, 04:08

I dont agree with You Antoine Grima, Its not fair that everyone should suffer. Dont forget that not everyone is doing like Naxxar. But I definitly agree with Mr Martin Saliba.

Edmund Azzopardi

May 4th 2008, 00:21

Why did the police have to find this themselves? Why didn't the persons responsible report this immediately after what happened? O
And what are we waiting for the new tough laws to be enacted? Or are the ''experts'' still studying the situation???
And yes, if anyone falters, that village or town will be banned for life from holding any fireworks whatsover. Will we ever learn?

A Bezzina

May 3rd 2008, 23:31

Fireworks are let off at short notice by supporters of a party who get a whiff of winning an election denoting that there had been stored fireworks available on standby. Conversely, fireworks must also be on standby for use by supporters of the party that loses an election but do not have the opportunity to use. Festas apart, it seems both major political parties have a finger in the pie and as the saying goes 'faham miblul'. Does this have a bearing on the slow progress in legislating for harsher penalties and better supervision? Please don't give us the excuse that parliament has not reconvened yet.

Reuben Scicluna

May 3rd 2008, 22:30

The fireworks brigade strikes again.... I don't think that it's a question of these people learning their lesson ... when will WE, their potential victims, ever learn?
Fireworks displays should be banned. Forget amnesties and all that drivel ... these people will just not listen. This is not a matter of opinion. This is self defence. If you tolerate this your houses will be next, to borrow an idea from the Manic Street Preachers.

Dr Emmy Bezzina

May 3rd 2008, 21:41

Must we resort to the European Union once again to discipline our diehards who simply do not care about the constant peril they place their fellow countrymen in ? Where are our MPs in Moments like this who never voice an opinion condemning the hard headiness of these stupid sadistic enemies of the people ? Fireworks must be banned as Hunting has now been banned: we are witnessing to what extent fireworks` manufacturers are prepared to go even by placing people on top of these timebombs! Let Parliament wake up from its vote-catching drowsiness, or else let them resign and the European Union takes up the Case in the interests of The Political Sovereign.

In the Name of the People:

Emmy Bezzina
Alpha Liberal Democratic Party
alpha@emmybezzina.org.
==============================================================.

ben pullicino

May 3rd 2008, 21:10

This is the limit!!! - I Think in this last development ,after having MURDED one person and killed another it is high time there is serious accountability. Therefore i would propose that all funds of the Band club be frozen and the same premises or any other owned by both the CLUB and the PARISH be seized, put up for sale and pay for the two houses out of three blown up and pay a very good renumeration to the family of the ONE, MURDERED person.

effie carbonaro

May 3rd 2008, 20:12

One oh the man responsible for these has been long indicated to the police and people phoned xarabank and mentioned him. If action would have been taken against this man none of this would have happened. When the peace band commitee were questioned over the Naxxar tragedy they washed their hands. Would they wash their hands now too?

JOHN SCERRI

May 3rd 2008, 19:49

This news article clearly shows that some people NEVER learn.
They do not care about anyone as long as they are satisfied - Egoistic attitute at its best.
I wish we shall soon hear when all those responsible for illegal manufacture and storage of these substances will be brought to justice and punished accordingly.

In the meantime it is strongly suggested for the ministry responsible to BAN on all fireworks which, in layman's terms, end with a BIG BANG.
The Colours are beautiful..a work of art, but the Big Bang at the end is pure - Rubbish, apart from being harmful to all, including babies , sick people, elders, and even private property.

martin saliba

May 3rd 2008, 18:56

Confiscate the band club and rebuild the demolished and damaged properties. If that's not enough sue the people responsable aswell.

Antoine Grima

May 3rd 2008, 18:19

With this abuse, all fireworks should be banned! Too many innocent people have suffered through this abuse.