Video: Explosions on fireworks barge

Mario Zammit

Sep 9th 2009, 10:07

I would like to congratulate the San Girgor Committee for the Great Feast and ignore all those trying to take this accident as an oppurtunety to attach you and the Fireworks. Keep It Up Guys and Well done for the good job You re Doing.
Viva l-Festi Maltin.

M.Zammit

Sep 9th 2009, 00:33

No one is suggesting we stop the feast completely. Yes it is a source of tourism, but considering that some tourists have actually commented here...have any of you taken that into consideration. True we might lose tourism if the feasts stop, but have you read what the tourists here said. Words like will never come here again have been used...is that good tourism for Malta. Take it to a vote! Its the only fair and rational thing that can be done! the petards are not a form of entertainment especially to those living close to where they go off.

C Falzon

Sep 8th 2009, 20:38

@S Muscat,
the bangs may not be the 'main element' of the fireworks show. What they are is an obscene pointless arrogant (add more adjectives here) element of the fireworks show.

If the loud bangs were eliminated nothing would be lost and many people who today hate fireworks (because of the bangs) would eventually start to appreciate them.

I sometimes think that the people who make the petards and those whop make the real fireworks must be different people.

Even if many people did enjoy the loud bangs they still annoy (and distress) far too many people to be acceptable.

By the way, comparing the noise of these with the airshow is nonsense. There is only one airshow each year (unlike the countless festi), and the noise is only a few short passes and even the loudest is nowhere near the loudness of a festa petard.

Cristian Debattista

Sep 8th 2009, 19:50

Mrs Brimmer...ahna kemm il-darba amilna festa minajr nar.Il-festa taghna kien l-izghar ftas-sliema u hadt ma kien jigi biex jara. Nhossuna kburin illi mis-sena 2000 bdejna nergaw naharqu u kull sena bdejna nzidu nar fil-kwantita u fuq kollox fil-kwalita u ta organizazzjoni kbira.mis-sena 2000 sall-lum il-gurnata il-festa taghna kibret f'kollox imma l-ewwel li ha l-ghajn n-nies huwa ix-show li namlu s-sibt filghaxija lejliet il-festa.Jien nista nejd illi numri kbijr ta turisti li jigu ta kull sena minhabba l-festa taghna.L-ammont ta nies kiber hafna minn dak iz-zmien lawn u mill-festi kollha ftas-sliema is-sibt filaxija l-iktar li jkollna nies ahna.Festa minghajr nar mhix festa tradizzjonali maltija. Festa Sabiha tkun festa imzewqa b kollox..-ghaqda,hbieb,---armar , banda ,lob tan-nar,u festa spiritwali.....Grazzi --vsg forever---cris Delegat banda San Girgor

Joe Falzon

Sep 8th 2009, 17:44

One must not forget that the Festa organisers all do this work on a voluntary basis and even invest their own money. Their objective is not to gain anything personally but to keep Maltese culture alive. I fully agree that law and respect to others has to be respected. In fact they took all necessary precautions just in case something goes wrong. WIthin the sinking of the barge they have lost their own equipment.

They should not demoralise themselves because of this event. Thank God that no one was injured. I am certain that as from tommorow they will start working again for next year's festa so that next year they will have a lively festa for the ejoyment of both Maltese and tourists alike

S Muscat

Sep 8th 2009, 17:23

It's very unfair to generalise. How can you say that the MAJORITY is against the bangs? Based on what facts? A local newspaper survey which questions residents from only 6 villages?
I'm from Sliema, and i'm not a fan of feasts and neither of band clubs, but I enjoy the fireworks displays (including the bangs - which are not the main element of the fireworks show!).

Silvio Abela

Sep 8th 2009, 17:16

Zgur li Malta ser tiehu l-ewwel premju tal-moralizmu.

I agree with Christian Debattista as dismantling and carrying the completed firework is very dangerous, right after the mixing of the "kulur" in these fireworks.

I also think that we in Malta have a unique tradition so let's not kill it by being on the "I hate fireworks" or "they're too loud" side. Let the tradition be such. It is ours.

Look at the Italians' banner throwing in tights, bareback horse racing etc. Do you think that they will ever put a saddle on the horse? Or stop wearing tights to throw the banners in the air? NO. Becuase it is the tradition of the feast. And for those who do not know, they even take the winning horse in the cathedral after the race to have it blessed.

So what is wrong with our tradition? Nothing, that's the way it is and that's the way it should be left. That is unique and in no country on this planet there is a greater celebration for a patron saint.

Pressure should be more on the increase in professionalism but most of them are already doing that. Well done and keep it up

Nanette Brimmer

Sep 8th 2009, 17:09

Sur Debattista – Jien m’inhiex nghid li l-festi m’ghandhomx isiru. Bhalek naqbel li dawn huma parti mill-kultura u tradizzjoni Maltija, u li huma attrazzjoni kbira ghat-turisti. Jiena m’inhiex dilettanta hafna tal-festi, izda lil-uliedi dejjem haddthom ghal festa tar-rahal taghna (Naxxar) meta kienu zghar ghax dehrli li ghandhom ikunu jaghfu x’inhuma t-tadizzjonijiet ta’pajjizhom. Halli li meta kibru qatt ma resqu lejn festa!! Ghandi pjacir li l-festa taghkom marret sew….imma qatt ipprovajtu taghmlu festa MINHAJR il-murtali? Min jaf – forsi jkollkom festa ISBAH!! Trid tipprova biex tara x’inhu l-ahjar, mhux hekk?

Nanette Brimmer

Sep 8th 2009, 16:53

Mark - I was not referring to action being taken solely in respect of this incident. But you sound like an intelligent man and your reasoning astounds me : if it's not broken, don't fix it, right? So we wait until somebody dies.....and then (PERHAPS) we will do something. Brilliant! Let's just hope that somebody is not near and dear to you.... I was referring to the fact that all this hoo-ha will come to nothing, it will boil down, we'll find something else to make us sling mud at each other again, and all will be forgotten in a matter of days. That's Malta for you - and I'm proud to be Maltese, don't get me wrong! But do not underestimate The Power of One. When I lived in San Pawl tat-Targa, the excessive blasting from a nearby quarry shook the buildings, made my bathroom and kitchen tiles fall off, cracked nearby pools and one resident in Birguma had cracks down one side of his house. We petitioned. We won. The blasts are now controlled. I rest my case. I never said ban fireworks - I agree they are part of our culture. But the petards???? Come on!!!

Cristian Debattista

Sep 8th 2009, 16:31

bjehhh..... jiena membru tal-kumitat.Addiet festa ohra b wicc il-gid.Dak li gara il-hadd filaxija hadd minnha mandu tort.Meta. - Murtal jiehu go kanna tista tigri kullimkien.Kien iktar ta riskju al kulhadd li in-nar li kien fadal biex jinharaq ma hallewniex naharquh.b'ekk kellu joqod jizzarma n-nar kollhu li kien em u kellom jiehduh lura il-kamra tan-nar.Iktar periklu al kulhadd. Ma kelliex alfejn issir inkjesta ax hadd ma wegga u hadd ma miet minnha.Nirringrazzjaw lil Alla u lil San Girgor. Kellna festa kbira u l-ammont kbir ta nies li kien em -Maltin u Turisti zgur li kulhadd ha pjacir u aprezza ix-xol li namlu ahna.
Dawn in-nies li qed imaqdru l-icken haga li amilna huma nies li MA JAFUX JIEHDU PJECIR.DAN HUWA TURISMU AL PAJJIZNA. JEKK JIEQFU IL-FESTI IKTAR TURISTI JONQSU U JKUN EMM INQAS XOL GHALINA IL-MALTIN.TKUNUX INJORANTI.
Ahna minn naha taghna ha nkomplu nahdmu biex is-sena d-diehla jkollna festa ikbar minn qatt qabel.Viva San Girgor il-kbir. TAHLUX HIN THALLU KUMMENTI BLA SENS HBIEB TIEGHI.U GRAZZI TAR-RIKLAM LI QED TAMLULNA...
VSG FOREVER

Colin Micallef

Sep 8th 2009, 16:25

Fireworks enthusiasts continue working for next year!?...As long as no got hurt!? Erm can't you see this was an eye opener without anyone getting hurt? Do we need another monument named after an innocent victim because in Malta we do things half measure i.e. we do them properly after someone is killed because of poor workmanship/thinking.

C Galea

Sep 8th 2009, 15:45

Dear San Girgor organisers

Do not let this incident demorilise you. Keep it up and start preparing as from today for next year. Yours is a growing festa. No probem. There are other barges as long as no one gets hurt. Ignore any void comments.

Mark Vassallo

Sep 8th 2009, 15:42

Nannette,
What action do you want taken? All safety measures where taken! the fireworks where let off by remote control, the boat where pushed backwards and there wasnt any traffic going on and it was at a safe distance from the beach. Did anyone get hurt? Was anything damaged? The sea bed maybe but then again those responsible should pick it up, if not i doubt that it will cause much pollution as the surrounding sea is not exactly the blue lagoon! If someone was hurt than yes I would agree that something should be done. If someone has a car accident does the person deserve to get banned unless he was driving carelessly? If the police find that any safety measures where broken than the people involved should get a fine but I dont think that banning fireworks is the solution. I will agree that they might not neccessarily need to be let off at early hours do to the elderly etc but its part of maltese folklore. Its just like the maltese old buses. we all say they are old but the tourists love them or at least the genuine ones.

Nanette Brimmer

Sep 8th 2009, 15:08

I'm gobsmacked! Here's another typically unique Maltese trait : This thread started about a fireworks incident and here we are discussing the EU and knife crime in the UK and better roads and discos......!!! How do we do it?? We all express ourselves eloquently in favour or against and manage to turn everything into something personal....but do we ever DO anything about anything? Will there be any action taken? This is all going to go up in smoke - just as the barge did last Sunday!!

M.Zammit

Sep 8th 2009, 13:49

I'm sick of half of your comments here. When will you people get it through your skulls! It's not the fireworks that bother people. The displays are beautiful and the majority enjoy them. It's the petards that are useless and have no meaning! Those need to go and are a waste of money! BAN THEM!!!!

Mark Vassallo

Sep 8th 2009, 13:20

Firstly i want to say that im in favour of us joining europe but cant understand why most maltese want to become more like european countries or rather since we joined the eu we are complaining more. Firstly life in malta is gr8 when compared to that abroad. In England crime is so bad especially knife crime that its not safe anymore(they even make tv series about it, and most people carrying knives are under 18 so what will they be carrying in 5 years time?). In Spain well the government has the right to destroy your property if he wants to make a new road and you aint got a say.French schools had to remove Jesus from Catholic Classrooms coz of other religions. The list keeps on going and going. The only thing i deem positive about the EU is the freedom of movement adn maybe nicer roads and money. And yet we still moan moan moan about some firework display which attract thousands at least every week and we are not in the minoroty. Ok let me put it this way... lets ban fireworks and then put a disco in our family car @ 2am

Marco Cancedda

Sep 8th 2009, 13:03

@Steven Brockwell :

I hope you are just joking...right?

And the festa only lasts 2 or 3 days??? Bangs for months, every single day, multiple times...!

Mark Jr. Laferla

Sep 8th 2009, 12:50

Another perfectly fine example of how this madness is unsafe and not well regulated. For the enjoyment of a few, entire villages come to a standstill (as is the case in Naxxar at the moment) and noisy, dangerous fireworks are let off, simply to squirt a few colours in the air and a massive cloud of smoke. I cannot see the fun in that. Not to mention the noise! Ridiculous hobby.

Steven Brockwell

Sep 8th 2009, 12:30

Mark Vassallo, well said i cant derstand why people are against our feast, since the only last for what 2--- 3 days at the most, if some people in Malta want to change our culture then they are better off living else were. the big bangs and the dazzling light shows is practically the only thing that Malta has left to show us we are Maltese, once a proud island. now all we do is complain, and want to like Europe. well for everyone's information the position of our islands make us more Arabic than anything else ????. our color or language nearly every thing.. adopting what Europe wants is just to be another sad country with nice roads nice pavements and everyone stick to the so called rules, even though it means a country looses its identity as a people. ban fire works ban feast ban ban everything, just so we can call our selves boring Europeans. why is that that most of Europe are not happy? simply because all of this was forced onto them?? what did we gain from being part of the euro ? immigrants, loss of jobs higher fuel prices etc.

Mark Vassallo

Sep 8th 2009, 11:22

Can we Maltese for once in our lives be happy with life in Malta. Instead of saying Thank God nobody got hurt we say, it serves them right and hope it happens every year. Im Maltese living in the UK and cannot stress out the point that britons love Malta. Fireworks abroad are boring, last for 10 seconds and its like watching a movie with no sound. My home town is Sliema and I do miss the early bangs in the morning loud or not. To all you critics stop moaning and winging about this and that. My advise is if you dont like it get out. Malta will not change for the few who dont like village feasts. Im coming back to Malta for good and cant wait to hear the first bang.

Rodney Charles Vella

Sep 8th 2009, 11:10

@ S. Friggieri...
I am proud to shout Viva San Girgor.... Listen I am fed up of your comments.... What do you think that I like the airshow... isn't that noise pollution? what do you think of car racing or cars driving with high volume sound? isn't that disturbing the community on a daily basis.... a feast comes once a year for a couple of days.... fireworks only occured on a Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday.... Noise pollution does not result from a 4 day week firework show... I think that then I should express my worries for our neighbours in St julians, who have to suffer on a DAILY basis the noise pollution coming from bars and discos.... That is disturbing!!!!!!

Ylenia Vella

Sep 8th 2009, 09:45

Part 2. Shame on you.... just thank responsible people who have taken good precautions!!! for those who stated that it has endangered people's lives, i do not agree considering that danger is around us all the time... so let's ban election demonstrations as some ended in tragic accidents, let's ban football as some footballers died on pitch... let's ban marriages as husbands killed their wives... BUT LET'S BE ALL RESPONSIBLE AS SAN GIRGOR COMMITTEE WERE... let's always take safety precautions.... and by the way... thank god you do not live in Vietnam!

Ylenia Vella

Sep 8th 2009, 09:44

PART 1 I really understand some people's worries... but I don't really understand their reasoning. I have been following St Gregory's feast for the past 8 years. The persons workingfireworks are very professional and collaborate immensely with the St Gregory's staff. My husband is a Slimiz and proud to be a Gregorjan... I learnt about something during these past years... San Girgor feast is not only a show of fireworks and youths jumping around the band as you described it.... The committee is a proof of team work, of following safety procedures and law... I am not an achtivist in the feast but my husband is and I know that there is no danger in what they are doing... but hey then... avoid buying a gas cylinder from Enemalta because a EUR13 each month can be a loss of money, they can explode too!!! Just thank God that no one got hurt and this is only thanks to safety precautions taken by the committee...With regards to tourists, I saw a lot of tourists applauding the fireworks show last weekend!!! But then many pay to go to Paris for a firework show but attack Maltese show.

S. Friggieri

Sep 8th 2009, 09:21

I hope that the barge explodes into thin air each and every year (and no-one gets hurt) so that there will be one or a few BIG BANGS in quick succession and then everyone may continue with their peaceful lives. In a society, the "hobby" of a few should NEVER be imposed on the majority who do not have that "hobby", if this is causing them disturbance and annoyance. So BAN THE STUPID LOUD PETARDS FOREVER. It is evident that they are causing distress and are a nuisance for thousands of persons . . . . and please we should never forget our friends the animals . . . . and now will some BIG-BANG LOVER say that his pets love the loud petards too? Probably. U VIVA SAN GIRGOR U-QADDISIN KOLLHA !!

Joseph Tonna

Sep 8th 2009, 08:12

There are many kinds of pollution ...
Noise pollution is one of them and MUST BE CONTROLLED BY LAW !

M Camilleri

Sep 8th 2009, 01:58

When are serious, strict regulations going to be put in action? In Malta there seems to be the idea that we wait for something really terrible to happen before we enact laws. Honestly! This could have been very serious with worse consequences. This is madness.

O. paulson

Sep 7th 2009, 23:04

Well tomorrow me and the family is going home from a 2 weeks holiday in sliema, But i will never ever come back.... i wish that the travelagent had warned us before of this "tradition". every night the kids have woke up when me and the mrs have tryed to relax and enjoy "our" part of the holiday. and its not just that they woke up they woke up crying.. afraid of the terrible noise!Not to mention the headaches the entire family got... Firework are beautifull but i have never ever heard firework that is just loud and nothing else.... If i had know this i would definatly have choosen another country to take the family on our first holiday! I saved and took a loan to be able to go abroad and unfortunally i got very little out of the money!!!!!! Every single day we went to other parts of the island to get away from the noice! but the nights with 2 small kids we had to be at the hotel! maltese people are friendly and relaxed, but the noice of this feast made us all feel like we thrown 5000 euro away...

C Falzon

Sep 7th 2009, 21:55

I know many foreigners who have been to festi here in Malta. Some thoroughly enjoy them and some less so. However one thing they all seem to say is how much better it would be if only there weren't the deafening bangs.
I am no fan of fireworks but I can still enjoy and appreciate the beauty of them, especially some of the more recent creations. It is a pity though that the enjoyment is marred by the excessively loud and pointless bangs. The loud bangs contribute nothing at all and are totally unnecessary.
Fireworks are necessarily noisy but only to a limited extent. All that is really needed are the charges to launch the shell and to open up the colourful displays. The charges needed for that though are tiny and easily tolerable. The same cannot be said though of the petards that are intended solely to make a very loud and unbearable noise. I don't beleive that anyone can possibly enjoiy those excepot the few maniacs that want to prove that they are louder than their rivals.

M.Zammit

Sep 7th 2009, 21:11

All I have to say is that I work as a shop assistant, and see a number of different people on a daily basis. No one has anything nice to say about these petards. Let the people decide if they should stay or not! Its our country, our ears, and our problem, we have a right to a say! The fireworks are beautiful but the noise with no show...that is just the stupidest thing I've ever seen! - There is no argument to defend the petards! None at all!

alexander spiteri

Sep 7th 2009, 20:07

I believe that feast are religious and therefore should be celebrated in the church. Drunken smelly humans jumping around to the bands has nothing to do with religion. We have enough noise as it is. Maltese people are loud by nature and therefore any unneccessary noise from petards should be banned and so any other unneccessary noise like loud music from clubs and open air parties. I don't impose my hobbies on anybody. So keep your hobbies to yourselves.

N Debattista

Sep 7th 2009, 19:47

@Martin Sapiano
if you live 20seconds away from the barge your house must be a boat....we had a massive feast in sliema,everybody enjoyed it and if you a are really "Slimiz" you should really be proud of it.Thank God nothing happened. VSG FOREVER.....and next year I suggest you buy ear plugs

Robert Grech

Sep 7th 2009, 19:43

And here we are in Vittoriosa risking the same thing to happen (again). As Mr Pule said this happened two years ago during the Senglea feast in the creek between Senglea and St Angelo. For this year's feast the solution was to move the barge, thus as shown as the Sliema accident showed, just moving the risk somewhere else!!! This is not safe. Two accidents in two years is too much.

With all due respect if someone working in fireworks gets injured it is a risk they knew they were taking. But risking one's life whilst at home trying to enjoy an evening in or enjoying a stroll by the sea, is another issue. Who will take on the responsibility if something happens?

Lewis Ellul

Sep 7th 2009, 19:06

As usual most people are mixing apples with bambinella. I'm sure everybody loves the colourful fireworks and appreciates the hard work and dedication of enthusiasts who provide us with lovely spectacular displays, HOWEVER the great majority of people - well with the exception of the usual few illiterate iffissati - can do without the useless petards (bombi) that seem to get more powerful and ear-shattering every year. I hope EU legislation on noise pollution will force our feeble government to do something about the excessive petard noise and ban them once and for all.

Robert MIfsud

Sep 7th 2009, 18:53

Part 3

…We simply DON’T WANT murtali tal-beraq that’s all…you can keep the coloured fireworks as much as you like as long (as these are kept quite as they are) !!! At least this is a win-win situation….Is this too complicated for you to understand!!

Robert MIfsud

Sep 7th 2009, 18:52

Part 2
…Are you doing this just to say we are better then others…because if you start to realise what is really going on here, people are getting sick and much more sick each and every year of your so called ‘hobby’. You simply don’t care of other’s health and safety… Obviously, those who are in favour of this kind of petards simply don’t care the amount of nuisance that they are causing to other people with their so called ‘hobby’!! You are not realising how much distress you’re causing to a lot of people – in a nutshell, this is sheer SELFISHNESS!

I am not saying that all petards must be banned….far from this!! The colourful ones are definitely here to stay as these are admired by everyone and do not cause any damage to oneself, property etc etc since these are much more ‘quite’ than the others! Then, if you still want to continue with this non sense and enjoy your ‘noisy hobby’, then do us all a favour and move away from populated areas (as Giovann Schembri suggested very well earlier in this post) and enjoy them for your own pleasure without causing distress to others!!....

Steven Brockwell

Sep 7th 2009, 18:50

clifford spiteri well said unfortunately accidents do happen, however, that could in any sector of work or play. more people are involved in car crashes then in fire work accidents?? so what shall we do ! may be ban driving for ever >???

Robert MIfsud

Sep 7th 2009, 18:49

Part 1 I am a festa lover, however can someone of you explain to me what kind of ‘tradition’ is this because as far as I’m concerned, you are using the feast just as an excuse to blow off the noisy petards?! Since when are petards considered a ‘tradition’? Has this become a ‘tradition’ just because a group of amateurs decided so??? If someone can prove me wrong on this, then ok, no problem…but come on….we’re living in 2009 and not in medieval times….THERE IS NO NEED FOR ALL THAT NOISE!! There is no need to make a survey/analysis/dissertation to realise that the vast majority of Maltese people and tourist simply hate the loud noise caused by petards (the so called murtali tal-beraq). Just take a careful look around you and you’ll realise this (and please do this with correct insight…u mhux taraw u tisimaw dak biss li jaqblilkom). It’s true that we all have to bear other forms of noises coming from cars, trucks, buses, planes etc all year long, but why do we have to increase it huh???...

R. Bartolo

Sep 7th 2009, 16:37

Tourists come to Malta in spite of these nuisances, not in search of them.

Also... regarding the statement that Maltese love festas... generalise much?
I know people who like festas, and people who despise them. However only one group of these two imposes their disturbances and way of life on the other one.

Which group is that? Answer that, and then you will learn who is intollerant.
I have had to suffer from this so called hobby as a student in the middle of his exams , as a sick person, as a person who has had to wake up early to go to work, and also as a normal individual trying to communicate civilly.

I am not against the whole concept of the festa, but as usual, us Maltese have to take it one notch too far.

clifford spiteri

Sep 7th 2009, 16:20

@ R. Bartolo

It seems you haven't been to a festa for quite some time - if ever at all. Otherwise you would notice that:

Toursits love festas
Maltese love festas, and I am not talking about just the people who work so hard to keep such traditions alive - but also the average Maltese person who appreciates Maltese life, traditions and culture.... or maybe who is simply after a different, colourful and fun, night out.

So I suggest you do your research before start throwing words, without even KNOWING what a festa looks like.
And if, after all, you still decide that you do not like festas, please stop being so intollerant!

M. Cilia

Sep 7th 2009, 16:04

@ Mr. Walter Arciola,

Just because transport of fireworks is escorted by police, it is passed through busy roads just the same with great danger to us all. And was a radius of 200 metres cordoned off whilst the fireworks were being unloaded from the shore to be taken to the barge? I think you need to come down to earth.

Jason Attard

Sep 7th 2009, 15:41

WE SHOULD MAKE A PETITION AND STOP THEM, ONCE AND 4 ALL!!!

Pule' Carmel

Sep 7th 2009, 15:09

I feel so vulnerable now more than ever. I know of SPREAD SPECTRUM AND FREQUENCY HOPPING techniques with elaborate coded keys to open the end in a reliable manner. But I also know that cheap radio control links can be bought over the counter and that one can build a Single Transistor 20 milli ampere Transmitter working in conjunction with a Single Transistor Sensitive Super regenerative Receiver and get a two mile range! How are we to ensure that such unreliable systems are not built by amateurs, who do not know the harm they can do to themselves and others, since they do not know the essential requirements of absolute reliability which sometimes incorporate three transmitters and three receivers all confirming the correct signal before action is taken. May God Help all of us.

R. Bartolo

Sep 7th 2009, 14:48

You say you do it for tourism, but most tourists hate the loud noise.
You say you do it for us, but we tell you it annoys us.
You complain that you do it as volunteers.... Well, then stop doing it.

It is a win-win situation.

Ernest Vella

Sep 7th 2009, 14:07

min kull darba li jigri xi haga joqghod iparla bla sens...allura missna nghalqu Paceville ghax ma jhallix ir-residenti jorqdu, jew ghax dejjem b'xi glieda, nghalqu t-toroq biex ma jmutux iktar nies, nghalqu l-bajjiet ghax jistghu jeghrqu n-nies, nghalqu l-latrini minhabba s-swine flu, ma naghmlux l-exhibiton tan-nar ta' l-ajru fil-port il-kbir jew tan-nar ta l-art fuq il-fossos....dan kollu paroli zejjed....il-prekawzjonijiet kollha ittiehdu....imma incident dejjem jista jigri.....kieku kien hemm abbuzz nghidilkom ghandkom ragun imma kollox sar bil-ligi...nfatti kien hemm ukoll Patrol Boat jekk fhimt sewwa.

Incident sfortunat li dejjem jista jigri

walter arciola

Sep 7th 2009, 13:38

dear mrs sullivan halli lil min ghandu delizju jgawdieh bil kwiet int ma tarax li in nar jigi iriklamat f kull poster etc ghat turizmu .mela halina kwieti!!u biex inwiegeb naqra li sur cilia waqt li jingarr in nar min gol kamra dan jsir bi skorta tal puluzija plus hekk min fejn jitpogew il braken dejem jkun hemm 200 metru u dawn jkunu imkejlaa min perit biex jekk mintix agornat ghandek bzonn tagorna ruhek

S. Muscat

Sep 7th 2009, 13:34

Thank God no one was injured.
It's a pity that all the hard work by these people ended up like this. Friday and Saturday's fireworks displays were AMAZING!

Peter Korsten

Sep 7th 2009, 13:15

Although the scale of the two is not comparable in the least, the footage is eerily reminiscent of the fireworks disaster in the Dutch town of Enschede in May 2000, which killed 22 people, wounded another 950 and obliterated an entire neighbourhood.

It serves as a reminder that there are no safe fireworks, and that there will always be a trade-off with regards to safety.

Adrian zahra

Sep 7th 2009, 12:25

@Carmel Pule'
Typically Modulation used in professional fireworks control systems is FSK (Frequency shift keying )given the low data rates involved. Although not immune to interference, it is impossible to trigger unwanted ignitions at least not via radio, since most of these systems use digital communications with AES encryption and CRC data frame checks. So data cannot make it end to end unless one has access to the 128 bit Aes Key. Also the most advanced radio links use dynamic frequency hopping algorithms which make it even impossibe for a would be hacker to even detect the carrier being used for data communications. Unfortunately however on the maket there are also cheap systems which use carrier detection of licence free carriers and these are very risky and in my personal opinion unapt for use with fireworks.
Having seen footage of the scene it seems more that some ground detonation (Shell exploding in mortar) has triggered a chain effect of shells going up and bursting on the barge without control. Apparently there was no detonation at all. In such cases the biggest risk is of mortars toppling over and sending active shells sideways on a projecgtile rather than vertically upwards.

P. Micallef

Sep 7th 2009, 12:17

I live right next to cavallieri, and I'm not a religious person, but right now I'm thanking God endlessly that my mother wasn't hurt, as the explosion was only a few meters away from the house in reality.

I can assure you however, that from this second onwards it will be my mission to make sure that that stupid deluded barbaric pyromanic hobby you have, will NEVER happen again because it is dangerous.


IMAGINE IT WAS YOUR MOTHER IN A HOUSE NEAR THAT EXPLOSION

dak biss nghidilkom.

Michael Seychell

Sep 7th 2009, 12:16

As far as I am aware when fireworks are let off from land it is a must to have a Fire Engine on sight. This is confirmed also by the fact that last week during the feast of St. Joseph in Manikata a fire broke out in a nearby field, and the fire personnel present put it off quickly using a stand-by fire engine.

The authiorities must also make it obligatory that a fire tug/boat is in attendane whenever fireworks are let off from the sea, which is becoming a regualar necessity in order to ensure the 200 meters distance from inhabited areas,

Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta

M. Cilia

Sep 7th 2009, 12:12

One wonders what ¨safety precautions¨ were taken to transport the fireworks from the factory to the barge. They could have exploded in transit on a busy road.

M. Caruana

Sep 7th 2009, 11:37

The basic truth is that our supposed celebarations in honour of particular saints, etc', originally intended as a form of spritual and dedicated veneration, have been reduced to a form of idolatory with the statue ( a man-made object, however artistic in value) and not the saint itself, assuming the centre of attraction. Hence, the piques and rivalries between the band clubs set up within the respective localities having different "saintly" loyalties and also between band clubs of neighbouring localities, the involvement of politicians and political parties patronising the rival band clubs, the street parties and revelries with the participation of the younger generation, the dumbness of certain priests who are not prepared to rock the boat - all this in the name of preserving Maltese Folklore and attracting Tourism. Firewoks, within this context, and with all their tragic consequences, represent the apex of this ingrained culture.

Anna Maria Gatt

Sep 7th 2009, 11:36

I would like to answer Mr. J Farrugia. It is true that this year the St Catherine feast was without fireworks but it was a great feast as usual. The church and street were brightly decorated as usual, marches were held as usual and church functions were held as usual. So for us at Zurrieq, the feast was great as in the past!! The Zurrieq feast is popular because it can boast of having everything, not just fireworks.

marisa zammit

Sep 7th 2009, 11:21

Yes 25 years ago was a big tragic accedent ,one of the policeman was my couisn ,after all these years we are still suffering his loss.thanks god no one was hurt in yesterday's acciedent.May God give them eternal rest and give ther families serenity. I miss you dear couisin Joseph.

Krista Sullivan

Sep 7th 2009, 11:05

Those of you in favor of Banning Petards please sign the online petition:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/banthepetards

It's a FREE website so don't worry when they ask for a donation after you sign, it's not obligatory.

Lets unite to stop this circus once and for all...Maybe and only Maybe we will be heard in numbers, however don't hold your breath in hope cos it seems that the authorities have grown more and more deaf in the last years!

J Farrugia

Sep 7th 2009, 10:45

All these people really do not know what they are talking about. Ban the petards.not the colour... The colour is more dangerous than the petards, the mixing of chemicals is indeed more perilous than anything else. And by the way, no one will ban the petards. mark my words. The excessive noise yes, but banning the petards is no go. I have just seen the Zurrieq festa of St Catherine. It was without any fireworks, except for a few here and there. It was really no festa at all. No one knew there was a festa going on. So if we really want tourists if we really want to continue organising the village festa, fireworks of all genery is a must. including petards.

Nick Debattista

Sep 7th 2009, 10:44

Jien naqbel ma Colin Schembri.....u nghid prosit kbira lill ghaqda tan-nar ta San San Girgor Band Club ghax show sabieh li taw fuq il front is-sibt filghaxija. Dan gie apprezzat minn folla kbira ta nies li attendew ghall dan is-show fil bajja ta l-exiles.....Hassra li in nar u ix-xoghol iebes li sar ghall-Hadd li kien ilu biex jigi ppreparat sena shieha kellu jispicca hekk.....Nirringrazzjaw lill San Girgor li hadd ma wegga

G. Portelli

Sep 7th 2009, 10:44

@Brenda Bugeja

Put your cv online to tell us what is the definition of "mostly practised and appreciated by the lower middle class gentry who couldn't care less about other persons' feelings".

Chris Grech

Sep 7th 2009, 10:42

@ Brenda Bugeja
""It is a fact that the letting-off of thunderous murtali (like the craving for kacca) are mostly practised and appreciated by the lower middle class gentry who couldn't care less about other persons' feelings. Sorry, but that's the truth.""

from where did you get the statistics? NSO maybe?
do not purt statments unless u have true bases for such statements!!
in order to manufacture fireworks one must have knowledge about chemicals etc!!
i know persons who work as teachers, soldiers, police men, people at high positions within the government, that manufacture fire works, so are these "the lower middle class" for you?

i. Tabone

Sep 7th 2009, 10:36

@Brenda Bugeja

Whilst fully agreeing on the fact on the first bit of your comment re Murtali and stuff, I seem to not fully undestand how you classify / quantify "Lower Middle Class Gentry". Just by which measure are classes quantified? Earnings, savings, education, property? And how exactly did you reach this conclusion?

Jason Borg

Sep 7th 2009, 10:34

@ B.Bugeja

What does social class have to do with the whole argument?

Which survey do you refer to quote these "facts" ?

Pule' Carmel

Sep 7th 2009, 10:32

Did I read correctly? Now the energy stored in the Petards and fireworks on barges are being controlled and released from a distance using radio controlled transmitters!!!
If that is so, may I know of the MODULATION SYSTEM BEING USED and how immune it is to interference. If it AMPLITUDE MODULATION alone, then the system is well subject to other interferences from other nearby and distant ELECTROMAGNETIC sources. If it is FREQUENCY MODULATION then this also has its weakness. If it a CODED system and has a key to every signal that is sent to the receiver it is more secure but not infallible. If FIREWORKS in MALTA are now being triggered using RADIO CONTROL, and around that area there must have been many yachts transmitting signals at the time, OUR AUTHORITY AND ALL THE MALTESE PEOPLE HAVE AN EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM ON THEIR HANDS!!!!
Let us remember thatTwo years ago the fireworks barge at Vittoriosa near Fort St Angelo also BLEW UP. Was that RADIO CONTROLLED also???????

Joe Cassar

Sep 7th 2009, 10:25

Keep the colour, ban the noise. That is the only sensible way to go.

Brenda Bugeja

Sep 7th 2009, 10:20

Excessive noise is, in most unjustifiable cases, the hallmark of an over-the-limit dose of egoism and ignorance. It is a fact that the letting-off of thunderous murtali (like the craving for kacca) are mostly practised and appreciated by the lower middle class gentry who couldn't care less about other persons' feelings. Sorry, but that's the truth.

jscerri

Sep 7th 2009, 10:07

@ Robert Mifsud
We know that fireworks are expensive...they cost lives!

claire farrugia

Sep 7th 2009, 10:03

I feel this man who jumped in the sea to see if there were wounded is the hero of the evening, he was prepared to risk his life to see if anyone needs help.
Of course our first responsibility is towards ourselves, but it was probably a natural reaction of him to see whether anyone was in need of help... while one should not put his life in danger, one should also encourage that people do not look away when disasters happen or people get beaten or whatever and they take some action.

Colin Schembri

Sep 7th 2009, 09:58

Mhux hekk Joanna Vassallo mela nwaqqfu l-fabbriki, l-karozzi, it-trakkijiet u kull haga li taghmel l-istorbju. Bhas-soltu dawk li jobghodu n-nar u l-festi se jiehdu din l-okkazjoni biex jergaw jehdew fl-attakki kontinwi lejn dan id-delizzju. ghax issa la nqered id-delizzju tal-kacca u l-insib, ha nduru ghan-nar...sajf shih ilha sejra dil-kummiedja.

R. C Conti

Sep 7th 2009, 09:19

I happen to be a parishioner from St. Gregory and I am well satisfied with all that has been done for another successful feast. Yes I have to admit that yesterday's mishap could have been tragic if people were on the barge. But the organising committee thought well about setting up a remote system to trigger fireworks and through this nobody was harmed. A very well done to all. I happened to be on the roof of my mother's house and yes the explosion was a bit bigger than usual but it was surely not as described in some comments left by some sadistic readers on this newspaper. Yes unfortunately fireworks tend to be unstable but this is their nature since they are a mix of chemicals. That's why our feast's committee makes it imperative to respect safety rules when using fireworks. I can understand the thoughts of people who live in the area and others who where at Exiles at the time of the explosion. These comments are only a repetitive harm against one of the most beautiful traditions on this island.

Chris Grech

Sep 7th 2009, 09:18

Joseph I. Camilleri
the murtali tal beraq also require lots of skills!!!

Joseph Galea

Sep 7th 2009, 09:17

Thank God nobody was hurt. Te only positive thing about the incident was that we subsequently enjoyed a pleasant, quiet evening.

The problem here are not the 'fireworks' - they have them everywhere overseas too - but the petards or "murtali tal-beraq" as one (obviously aficionado) commentator called them. The only purpose of these evil devices is to make noise. Fireworks displays overseas do not generate anything like the kind of noise that ours do. One can enjoy them without risking damage to one's hearing.

Francesca Abela

Sep 7th 2009, 09:15

We 'moaners' are not saying ban the fireworks but BAN THE PETARDS

Nanette Brimmer

Sep 7th 2009, 09:10

Like C Reiff, I have watched fireworks live in Toronto and Sydney. True, "the Maltese have a knack for fireworks" but the spectacular displays in foreign countries as SPECTACULAR because they are VISUAL. They are creative and colourful. The Asians are beyond competition - the Beijing Olympics display speaks for itself! None of these countries use petards like those which have cracked window panes in our building! I am a St. Julian's resident and have had to endure 3 festas in almost as many weeks. The St. Julian's fireworks were the most contained, however, every year there are letters in the newspapers regarding the Balluta and more so, the San Girgor petards. It's not only the sick and children (and animals) that are negatively effected by these barbaric blasts - we ALL are - and if these constant explosions give pleasure, it's only to an obsessed minority. Fireworks are indeed part of the Maltese culture, and they are also an attraction to tourists, but could we not just stick to the colourful displays and do away with the petards??

Giovann Schembri

Sep 7th 2009, 08:49

I repeat my suggestion of some weeks ago. The Government should legislate to lease the eastern part of Kemmuna (opposite side of hotel and blue lagoon) to the fireworks enthusiasts. Build a fireworks factory there to satisfy the demands of all the towns and villages and allow them to let off the fireworks from the cliffs facing Cirkewwa. I also expect the church to do its part by banning all fireworks from its religious activities - and if it finds opposition from the "iffissati", to cancel all the year-long feast days and celebrate just one huge feast day on 1 November - All Saints' Day. I'm sure the saints will prefer this rather than the pagan, caarnivalesque celebrations we witness today.

J. Cardona

Sep 7th 2009, 08:45

@ G. Debono... can you please tell me who made you an authority in decision making..... how on earth can you say "But PETARDs (Murtali) are uncivilised and barbaric. They should be banned." who on earth gave you the sovereign right to make such comments. This country is ending up becoming a country of moaners with an immense lack of common sense. It is imperative everyone understands that letting off fireworks at inhuman times such as 8 am or later than 11pm is not good and should be stopped but making sweeping statements such as the ones i have seen in this threads and other past or future threads should also condemnable. We are heading in the direction of creating or deepening the rift between those who appreciate and does who hate fireworks..... Malta wake up, this little we are already divid

Jason Borg

Sep 7th 2009, 08:20

From what I can understand safety measures have been implemented. No one got hurt and till now there seem to be no complaints of major damages to private or public property. I agree that noise is annoying but I think that all this moaning against fireworks is too much. The Maltese should support fireworks by providing constructive criticism so to improve the current situation and not by moaning on whatever is under the sun. Stopping firework displays would be a big loss. Improving them would be a great advantage !!

Joseph I. Camilleri

Sep 7th 2009, 08:17

I really feel sorry - that the fireworks barge did not blow up three weeks ago! It would have saved us living in the St. Julians area the tension, headaches and general pain created by those who insist on competing for the strongest explosions, and justifying it by referring to Maltese "culture", celebration of patron saints, and any other stupid excuse to cover up their ignorance, their sheer arrogance and their "look at me I am the noisiest and therefore the most important" attitude. Some even claim that the majority actually love all this noise, inflicted upon all by the few whose minds have never got beyond the primitive stage. It is about time they were made to see that, in fact, it is they who are the minority and not the other way round! This is a real case where we have a "silent" majority and a "noisy" minority. If we want to celebrate saints feasts properly outside of church, we should just provide bands and processions and some colour fireworks (which are the ones which require skill) and leave out all the primitive noisy bangs and start behaving with consideration for others. Then, maybe, saints will smile!

Chris Bonaci

Sep 7th 2009, 07:51

I happened to be at the festa last Saturday with my family and we all enjoyed the spectacular fireworks and the way it was synchronized. I regret to say that to my experience there seem to be some lack of professionalism in the co-ordination being that of the p.a. system and the fireworks. For example, I noticed wires and plugs beeing let visible and disposed to everyone on the pavements with thousands of people and children passing and stepping over them. This is unprofessional and dangerous to bystanders. I even noticed that sometimes the p.a. system was shutting down disrupting the synchronized fireworks and the opera singer. Were the fireworks placed on the barge professionally? Conclusion, professional people should handle fireworks. Safety first.

Anthony Briffa

Sep 7th 2009, 07:48

@ Johann Cardona

If by your posting you are suggesting that we thank these people its simply thank yo but no thank you. The muratali tal-bomba, barages and salutes are most uncivilised and the authorities should do something drastic about it before somebody gets hurt really badly. The police have lost their sense of hearing during weekends. I happened to be present at one of the Waterpolo clubs in Balluta Bay before the feast of St. Julians and I have seen a boy of about 9 years go into a quasi hysterical fit when petards started being let off from the barge in the middle of the bay. The boy was in such a bad state that the whole family who were about to order their meal had to get up and leave. Is this right so that a few enthusiats can sit back, drink beer and enjoy the noise. What culture and tradition is this? Barbaric.

C.Caruana

Sep 7th 2009, 07:43

Again another fireworks accident but luckily with no victims.What are the responsible authorities waiting for, to establish strict rules regarding all that has to do with FIREWORKS???Unlike in other foreign countries here we take things too slowly and lightly.Its about time that some drastic action be taken .Wake up guys and have a heart regarding those sick and moribond people who have to hear by force the explosions of petards.Put yourself in these people's shoes perhaps you will then have some idea of what these people go through. Immediate action please!!!!!

Joanna Vassallo

Sep 7th 2009, 06:53

Petards are BARBARIC and ought to be banned!

The noise pollution is totally unacceptable; and i would say that this summer the petards were much louder than they have ever been in previous years.

Neville Calleja

Sep 7th 2009, 06:38

@C Reiff

I have been lucky enough to watch fireworks live in London and Tokyo, and on TV in the US, China and Sydney. Trust me - they don't do it better - only the Asians would give us some strong competition. I still strongly believe that the Maltese have a knack for fireworks.

Did you know that Maltese fireworks clubs have sometimes been commissioned to do the Independence Day fireworks show in the US?

I agree that the only uncivilised tradition we have that should be banned by law is the Maltese gemgem.

Kevin Spence

Sep 7th 2009, 03:43

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=121873898616 If you think fireworks are done 'properly' and 'civilly' around the world, you are mistaken. In the 'free' and 'liberated' world of Canada, the Vancouver 'Celebration of Light' fireworks festival has become a toxic poison to our neighbourhood, our ocean, our wildlife and our community. Visit the facebook link above, as well as this link: http://www.planetbotanic.ca/hsbc_festival_of_light.htm - the latter will show you the photo evidence that humans are actually no longer 'civil' or capable of cleaning up after themselves.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Sep 7th 2009, 03:29

The bloggers who are lauding these latest “safe practices” are completely ignoring the fact that - even when fireworks do not directly and visibly injure anybody - they are always a source of serious sound, air and water pollution.

ELIZABETH SCHEMBRI

Sep 7th 2009, 00:12

We never learn. We will learn when a major accident occurs. Nobody cares. Nobody cares for the elderly, children and sick people. Colourful fireworks are ok but the loud ones should be banned. And all this for the sake of religion. I am sure that our patron saints do not care about our local fireworks. They have far more important things to care about!!!!

P. Seidel

Sep 7th 2009, 00:07

Hardcore...I was sitting on the balcony with overview on Spinola and Balluta and the barge...
I tell you, if this was controlled it should be banned, because this was everything, but not civilized. And all the people going out to the balconies and roofs must have thought the same.
So, the firework was nice, but if this "finish" was a planned remote action. You should take responsibilities and change the plan for the next time or just stay home.
On the other hand it was nice to feel how it must have been in Afghanistan when the US air-force hit the two tankers on order by a german ground force unit. So, stop these war games or go to Afghanistan if you want to build bombs.

Clayton Luke Mula

Sep 7th 2009, 00:06

First of all thank God that no one was injured tonight.

@D Camilleri

I wish to arrange your mistake of what was done in the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel which was celebrated on the last Sunday of July at Balluta on the barge.

Your comment "it was so dark that you could hardly see this, can you imagine a sailing boat hitting this barge at night,, No light what so ever". I'm sorry to say but you wasn't watching very well on the barge because there where two signal lights for night which was a security precaussion for other boats.

Do you know D. Camilleri that suppose sailing boats and other type of boats are not suppose to stay in the area where the barge is set? Do you know that the patrol boats come around before the show or any other type of Fireworks which will get fired on the barge? But as usual boat come in the area where the barge is because they don't like fireworks or they don't know the exact laws.

Hopefully next time we will see you in our Feast and hopefully you will see aswell the lights on the barge.

Dennis Zammit

Sep 6th 2009, 23:50

To D Camilleri

Lighting on seacraft is not intended to be seen from people eating and chating at Exiles. The port and starboard lighting is seen when approaching the barge.

Over and above this, the position of the barge is mentioned on the Govt. Gazzette and all boats are informed via VHF by the control room.

Shawn Mifsud

Sep 6th 2009, 23:36

Agree 100% with Mr. J. Cardona.

Vincent Borg Carbott

Sep 6th 2009, 23:35

BANG!! One whole bang and San Girgor looks forward to next year!! When are we going to stop this idiotic senseless charade! Thankfully nobody was hurt ............... this time.

Robert Mifsud

Sep 6th 2009, 23:20

@ Chris Reiff clearly you don't have an idea about what you are talking about. It is not the first time Malta was taking part in a competition and won it or came top. Malta has nice firework displays and accidents reduced alot. The only people that get hurts are those people that don't follow the law.

@ the rest of the whiners: Fireworks in Malta is not all free. Actually it is pretty expensive!

kcauchi

Sep 6th 2009, 23:06

It is indeed saddening when such accidents happen - the sound of petards may be annoying to some but truly a feast without any fireworks is really a ghost of what it is meant to be. One should sympathise with the organisers after such an unfortunate mishap. The fact that they were remotely controlled is a fact to be commended.

Franky Gatt ex-Pat

Sep 6th 2009, 23:05

Only in Malta Lol Lol Lol Lol money gone up in smoke...crying all the way to the bank .

Jo Delia

Sep 6th 2009, 22:57

Letting off fireworks from a barge in the middle of the most popular Sliema/St. Julians bathing bay should never be allowed. Last Sunday after the Saturday's display of fireworks in 'honour of St. Julian", the exiles beach was littlered with spent cartidges, planks of burned wood, bundles of crushed brown paper and other debris. Does it make sense that the sea should be out of bounds for a couple of days because of some hot heads who are burning more money each year. The amount of fireworks is always on the increase! This evening's explosion topped it all! Thank God nobody was injured but when will the debris be cleared and the bathing areas made safe for swimming

David Cutajar

Sep 6th 2009, 22:50

Lol chris reiff that's not true... I've seen some fireworks festivals abroad where they made a lot of fuss and millions of people flocked to see, even clogging up public transport... but as I watched I thought snugly to myself is this what the fuss is about? That's when I realised the value of what we have here in Malta.

And abroad they have accidents too! They call them 'accidents at work' because they are actual workers.

Joe Fenech

Sep 6th 2009, 22:47

The millions that go into fireworks every summer shows very clearly that this country has no sense of priorities. In a massive recession, esoteric interests still guide some medieval minds and obsolete beliefs take over reason! Can you imagine how much could be done in a town had this money been invested in improvement projects?! OBSCENE!!!!

MARTIN SAPIANO

Sep 6th 2009, 22:45

I AGREE WITH MOST COMMENTS..I LIVE 20 SECONDS FROM WHERE THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ..I SAY NOT TAL - MICKEY MOUSE DAN IL -PAJJIZ AS MICKEY MOUSE MAKES U LAUGH..DAN U PAJJIZ TAL-BIKI..WE ARE A DOT IN THE WORLD AND THINK HADD MA JIST GHALINA!!! WE ARE IN THE EU HAHAHAH YE RIGHT!"

Henry J Bonett

Sep 6th 2009, 22:42

So the fireworks were lit by remote control! What is absolutely without control are the barbaric proclivities of those 'big bang' maniacs. It has nothing to do with who volunarily risks his life for perpetrating such practices. And, No, first respect and consideration should not go to them, but to those who suffer unnecessarily, throught the whole of summer, particularly in the Sliema area, Thakks for the fireworks. But NO to the Bangs!!

Pamela Hansen

Sep 6th 2009, 22:41

What's all the fuss about? It's only an explosion.
I can't understand these people who are getting so upset.
It was only a little louder than the normal summer long explosions. Very civilised.

E. Azzopardi

Sep 6th 2009, 22:30

I was there walking on the front. This time nobody was injured, but when are we going to stop this stupidity?

Chris Grech

Sep 6th 2009, 22:28

@g.borg - mela jmessek ma tohrog fit- toroq ta, ghax qed jigru hafna accidents!!!

@ c . Reiff - anywhere in malta, where the law is not respected, the police can interfere and Stop any show, but these never do so because the laws are always respected... also, people from other countries come here to see the pirotecnic shows since the MALTESE SHOWS are unique!! and by the way, a local fireworks factory won (came first!!) in a competition in italy!!! so please show respect the local manufacturers!!
thanks!!!

Alfred Cassar

Sep 6th 2009, 22:28

I don't know why all this criticism on fireworks. It should be appreciated by all. I really appreciate the hard work these people do and the risk they go through to make this attraction to all of us.
I would appreciate though if the noise is reduced a bit especially the 'bomba' as it may be harmful to some.
This particular case shows that the fireworks enthusiasts take care and try to be as safe as possible. In fact the fireworks were being let off with a remote control and nobody was hurt in this accident.
Well done to all fireworks workers and keep it up. Your work if really appreciated by the great majority of the Maltese and foreigners alike. Some moaners in this site are the only exception. But then these people moan and grumble about everything that happens in Malta.

Rocco Cauchi

Sep 6th 2009, 22:23

"Fireworks" is very much of a misnomer. Why not coin the new term FIREPLAY? It's playing with fire, after all.
A very contrasting picture with the one we saw last Monday morning of the St Julians fireplay. Yet autumn will soon set in and we will all forget about the issue once more until May, or God forbid, another factory exploding before that time.
Government will be entering a hard time come 28/9 and playing with fire will certainly be the last thing on their mind.

S Callus

Sep 6th 2009, 22:22

Petards should be prohibited. Imagine having an eight months old baby asleep and all of sudden wakes us because of this nonsense and what can we say about sick people in hospitals and elderly at the residents' homes. Lets put some sense in our people. Its like we are in a circus!!!

Stefan Aquilina

Sep 6th 2009, 22:17

I was at the sliema swings with my son 18mths old and my wife who is 8 and a half months pregnant...we had arrived just about 20mins before the fireworks started...we had no idea there was still the feast..with no warning the children at the park all got scared once they had just started..then all of a sudden fireworks fireing from everwhere, that everyone grabed their kids and ran out of the park...and my wife was in shock to move.. we feel that the boat was too close to the swings or for that matter around the bay..thank god no child or person got hurt from them.. but our children were emotionally upset.. and had too leave..
There is a need for these fireworks to have a stop to them especially the day ones that are just too loud and noisy..there should be only be one sessions of these fireworks at night time..
We should take in consideration of our enveiroment of the noise and pollution we are putting out there! And put the money to save our enviroment and country!

Chris Grech

Sep 6th 2009, 22:17

a.muscat,
nispera li qed tghid thank god for the outcome, ghax ma wegga hadd, mhux ghax sploda il barkun...
jekk qed ghid thank god, ghax sploda il barkun, MESSEK TISTHI!!!!
ix xoghol isir kollu volontarju u intom ma taprezzawx!! tal misthija l-attitudni taghkom...
tmur barra minn malta jibku biex jaraw show, jew jivjaggaw kilometri shah...

S. Sultana

Sep 6th 2009, 22:12

Johann Cardona: it's their own business if some people want to risk their lives manufacturing fireworks but let them risk their lives without endangering those of others. It's not as if these fireworks workers are firefighters or humanitarian workers in a war zone.

Mark Bishop

Sep 6th 2009, 22:10

@Johann Cardona

Thanks for sanitising this thread. Comments well done.

Riccardo Flask

Sep 6th 2009, 22:09

I was there at the playing field with my wife and kids. Thank God no one was injured as I feared some of the fireworks could reach the playing field. I praise the foreigner who thought people were on the barge and tried his best to give rescue, but please in such cases one must think twice before doing such deeds as he risked his life for nothing. When I did a First Aid course the first thing I was taught was that I had to look for dangers to oneself and to the casualty and make the area safe. I observed the barge, and even though not sure there was no sign people were on it. I got to know later it was remotely operated. One final point am sorry fireworks display had to end in a couple of seconds, no one enjoys hard work and see such ending.

S. Sultana

Sep 6th 2009, 22:08

David Cutajar: Grow up! I live in the U.S. where every Fourth of July thousands of towns and cities across the country put on gorgeous, free and safe fireworks displays. So let's cut this nonsense about Malta being the only place in the world where you can enjoy fireworks. Other countries do it even better and more safely.

Andrew Paris

Sep 6th 2009, 22:05

We were at Exiles yesterday evening (Saturday) when the usual loud petards were let off. The barge looked packed with fireworks and prophetically we commented on what would happen if the barge caught fire. We have to go through these explosions for three weeks every Summer in Exiles bay, enduring the ultra loud explosions that upset our children and elderly alike. Not to mention the filth that is left in our sea over these weeks of madness. The government and the church should do something concrete about this.
Andrew Paris President Exiles Sports Club

Kevin Gauci

Sep 6th 2009, 22:01

Stop blaming those people who work fireworks, that is their hobby and they have to practise it!!

for fish future, stop fishing with nets (pariti) those for sure will destroy not only fish but all marine creatures that try to pass through it

@ George debono not petards onyl are called murtali, even coloured shells are murtali :P lol

But mutli break shells MURTALI TAL BERAQ in malta are the number 1 in the world and you want to bann them lol, stop blamin us and get alive!!!

mario bezzina

Sep 6th 2009, 21:26

i do not think there will be white noisy petards tonight. at the moment i am hearing the band playing and it is pleasant. if this happened the minute the barge appeared some weeks ago,perhaps, we would have had some peace and quiet this year. having said that, i am pleased that nobody got hurt. please learn from this.

J Grech

Sep 6th 2009, 21:18

There’s got to be a certain limit of fireworks in every village during the celebration on feast days. Imagine over €110,000 finish up in smoke while loud noises annoying a lot of people. A few years back murtali tal-bomba was prohibited, because too noisy for young kids, elderly and sick people. It seems nowadays no one care about noise pollution. No one care about the countryside. Likely no one in today explosion, but who care’s about fish?

Chris Reiff

Sep 6th 2009, 21:13

Quoting David Cutajar: "but hey fireworks are not uncivilised... they are appreciated everywhere in the world... and in other countries workers are actually paid to make fireworks, while in malta it's all done for free. we are lucky to have so many fireworks clubs that we take them for granted".

In other countries they respect the law, don't hurt anybody, and basically do it much much better. that's why they get paid.

D.Borg

Sep 6th 2009, 21:08

A+ comments from J Cardona. Agree 101%

George Debono

Sep 6th 2009, 21:07

@David Cutajar

@ fireworks are not uncivilised... they are appreciated everywhere in the world...

Agree that FIREWORKS (=colourful displays) are not incivilised -

But PETARDs (Murtali) are uncivilised and barbaric. They should be banned.

......and that is what all discussion is about.

G

T Aquilina

Sep 6th 2009, 21:06

I feel we ought to mention the guy who jumped in to save anyone needing assistance. He is a true hero - his act was totally selfless with his main concern being to help others.

C Cassar

Sep 6th 2009, 20:47

Well, the operators have excellent safety procedures should such an event like this occur. That's why nobody was hurt.

Regarding lights on the barge, they are there and working.

Sometimes things happen but so far the displays have been excellent and the operators should be congratulated for entertaining the thousands of people who have been lining the promenade for a view.

The only uncivilised tradition in Malta that should be banned is that of moaning and being jealous of the enjoyment of the majority of locals and foreign visitors alike.

Johann Cardona

Sep 6th 2009, 20:40

@D.Camilleri, with all due respect any sailing boat should be anchored 150 mtrs away and this is enforced by civil protection barges located in the area during displays, and secondly no traffic takes place during the fireworks displays as the port is usually closed at this time. So please before saying pajjiz tal-mickey mouse be sure what the law sipluates.....

Gregory Borg

Sep 6th 2009, 20:38

Thank God there were no injuries. Still, these people never learn, do they?

D. Muscat

Sep 6th 2009, 20:36

@ A. Muscat
I don't think that uncivilised cultures would use electronic remote controls & respect the safety distances of 200m!!! Probably San Girgor would be pleased by the respect for saftey standards. Indeed very civilised....

Johann Cardona

Sep 6th 2009, 20:36

@A.Muscat Do you know which uncivilized traditions should be banned? The way you and many people on this online resource comment, it shows lack of respect towards the many people who risk their lives on a daily basis to provide enthusiasts and not a display on a weekly period throughout the summer months. Before you comment in such a manner think... or is thinking too difficult for you!

David Cutajar

Sep 6th 2009, 20:32

sorry to hear about the explosions.

but hey fireworks are not uncivilised... they are appreciated everywhere in the world... and in other countries workers are actually paid to make fireworks, while in malta it's all done for free. we are lucky to have so many fireworks clubs that we take them for granted

our problem is that we are so small and so built up, so there are very few safe places to launch where it would be both safe and visible.

D. Camilleri

Sep 6th 2009, 20:24

Me & my family where at exiles a month and a half ago and saw a barge in the middle of the sea between Ballutta and Sliema, it was so dark that you could hardly see this, can you imagine a sailing boat hitting this barge at night,, No light what so ever,
ghara Veru Pajjiz tal Mickey mouse..

A. Muscat

Sep 6th 2009, 20:23

Thanks God for the outcome. Such uncivilized 'tradations' should be banned and I am pretty sure no Saint will get offended.