Proposals to reduce noise of petards

The fireworks’ association has suggested placing restrictions on noisy petards used during certain parts of village feast celebrations.

While the petards may be music to the ears of fireworks’ lovers, they have been a source of irritation to many others who complain they are way too loud.

Aware of this reality, the Malta Pyrotechnic Association yesterday unveiled a series of proposals aimed at reaching a compromise with the ultimate aim to safeguard Maltese fireworks’ tradition. ­Suggestions included reducing the size of petards (bombi) used when the saint’s statue was carried out of the church (a week before the feast), on the eve of the feast and on the feast day.

The proposals are to be discussed with Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici.

The association’s secretary, Joseph Theuma, told a news conference that fireworks’ factories’ applications to let off fireworks during the feast were treated differently, depending on the local police who are responsible for issuing the permits.

There were cases when permits were refused a few days before the feast, following months of preparation.

“After taking stock of what went on during this festive season we realised there was confusion across districts so we are making our own suggestions,” Mr Theuma said.

In fact the proposals call for the introduction of a clear set of guidelines to regulate fireworks displays throughout the country in order to avoid inconsistencies between different villages.

The association’s legal adviser, Michael Falzon, said the proposals also included drawing up guidelines for the testing or ­fireworks.

The association also suggested changing times when fireworks were let off so that the morning 8 a.m. fireworks would move to 9 a.m. to accommodate modern lifestyles.

Suggestions included ground firework displays (ġigġifogu), which could go on till midnight rather than 1 a.m.

The association has also made a range of technical proposals on the manufacture of fireworks and safety distances for letting them off.

Dr Falzon, who is also the Labour Party spokesman on Home Affairs, stressed the association would not support any illegal fireworks factories and would cooperate with the authorities to prosecute any law breakers.

He pointed out, however, that the association had not been consulted on the government’s plans to convert an old explosives factory near Dingli into a central fireworks store.

Mr Falzon, who is the opposition’s home affairs spokesman, denied that his two roles gave rise to a conflict of interest.

He said he had been legal adviser to the association for 14 years, since it was set up. He did not believe there was a conflict of interest as ultimately the association was proposing restrictions and controls. He said he preferred not to speak as a politician during yesterday’s event.

The Justice Ministry is still consulting stakeholders on amendments to the Explosives Ordinance, which aims to impose stricter regulations on fireworks factories, the manufacturing of fireworks as well as their display.

The amendments follow the tragedy in March last year when an explosion in a residential area in Naxxar claimed the lives of 35-year-old mother-of-two Sina Sammut and Paul Camilleri, 47, who is suspected to have caused the explosion when he was illegally manufacturing fireworks inside his garage.