Village squares may lose ground fireworks

Ground fireworks (ġigġifogu) may disappear from small village squares this festa season because new insurance policies are imposing a 30-metre buffer zone around the displays.

The fireworks association has warned the fireworks industry that the insurance company will not cover those responsible for the displays if anyone is injured within that radius.

Enthusiasts and fireworks licensees were informed about this and other conditions to be included in their new insurance policies during a meeting organised by the Maltese Pyrotechnic Association on Thursday.

But many complained that the 30-metre buffer zone would make it impossible to hold the displays in village squares, as is traditionally done, because of the size of these sites.

"How can we let off fireworks if we need to keep a distance of 30 metres around them? This means that not even cars can be parked there or pass by," a fireworks enthusiast pointed out.

However, the association's legal adviser Michael Falzon cautioned those present not to take any risks.

"If someone gets hurt within the 30 metres, then the licensee is to blame. You can set them up in the square but it's at your own risk - you are not insured."

Although the association itself was not fully satisfied with the new insurance policy, Dr Falzon said it was a fair deal.

He also warned enthusiasts to obey the law to the letter or face the prospect of being left without insurance cover. "It's your problem if you break the law, don't come to me or the association."

He warned them to toe the line, as the government was doing its utmost to eliminate fireworks from Maltese culture.

The tone became more severe when his listeners protested at some of the new measures being imposed by the insurers.

"Just in case you hadn't realised, there is a long road ahead of us and it's just beginning. The agenda against fireworks has started and it's not even summer," Dr Falzon said.

He urged the men to be careful because "...it looks bad on us" if there is an accident. Dr Falzon defended the fireworks industry, insisting the perception that it was unprofessional was wrong.

"It is far from the truth that these men are careless. There are many car accidents every day but obviously the results are more dramatic when there is a fireworks explosion."

But beyond the perception, even insurers are tightening their grip on the industry, which every year claims the lives of enthusiasts in devastating explosions and often also damages properties in the process.

This year the association found it difficult to find someone to insure them since, in the past three years, over €400,000 worth of claims were made by fireworks factories.

Under the new policy, brokered by KDM Insurance with an English company, the fireworks factories will be covered for a maximum of €250,000.

Moreover, the new policy is more expensive than the previous ones but the total cost will only be known after the members apply for the cover they need, choosing from a number of set options.

The enthusiasts also complained about a recent legal notice which, among other things, introduced refresher courses for people licensed to make fireworks.

Dr Falzon said that while there was a need for these courses, the two-year interval between them was too short. The oral or written test at the end of each course was too much, he added.

The use of fireworks has been limited further through a number of legal changes such as a reduction in the size of loud petards and a ban on rooftop fireworks, known as musketterija, after 12.30 a.m.

Furthermore, the petards can only be let off within 20-minute periods, at either 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. and at noon, and not more than six at a time during those periods.

These changes had been actually proposed by the association in an attempt to reduce noise pollution.

But Dr Falzon on Thursday accused the government of changing its attitude overnight. "We were in discussions but something happened and now they are just barging ahead. In 10 or 15 years' time we will say that once we used to make fireworks."