Former army explosives expert backs fireworks moratorium idea

Alternattiva Demokratika accused the two main political parties of forming an “alliance against the common good of the Maltese and Gozitans” by dismissing the possibility of a fireworks production moratorium.

The moratorium was proposed editorially by The Times and by a swathe of commentators over the past days following Sunday’s devastating explosion in Gozo that left six people dead, nearly wiping out an entire family.

Former explosives committee head Col Albert Camilleri, an explosives expert with 45 years experience, welcomed the idea but said a date had to be set by when every factory would have depleted its stock.

Former Armed Forces commander, Brigadier Carmel Vassallo also agreed with the moratorium idea although he insisted there had to be a specific timeframe. “We cannot have an open-ended moratorium. If it comes into force, the board has to have a specific timeframe by when to conclude its investigations.”

Reacting to the Nationalist and Labour parties’ opposition to a moratorium, AD general secretary Ralph Cassar said this showed their “sheer lack of respect towards people, not only those who manufacture fireworks but also those who happen to live close to fireworks factories”.

He said certain situations called for difficult and strong measures. The accidents pointed towards something repeatedly going wrong.

“In other industries where human life is affected, such as food production and medicine manufacturing, the authorities and even manufacturers go as far as recalling their products on the slightest suspicion of defective products,” he said. “But it seems that, since the PL and the PN are only interested in getting one vote more than each other, in the case of fireworks anything goes. This attitude is disgusting. The two parties had again formed an alliance against the common good of the Maltese and Gozitans, he said, adding that “not even repeated deaths will quench their thirst and hunger for votes and power”.

Former Labour minister Lino Spiteri said the idea was “understandable” as a first reaction but if it led to fireworks being produced outside the parameters of the law, “it will increase the danger rather than decrease it”.

“We have to review the capabilities of those involved in manufacturing fireworks and their knowledge of the ingredients used as well as the quality of the latter. Fireworks are too deeply cultural to stop like this but prohibition will lead to underground production,” he said.

When asked whether he agreed with the main political parties shooting down the idea, Mr Spiteri said the issue should not be politicised and he criticised AD for doing so.

Lawyer Stefan Camilleri, who is representing residents whose homes were damaged by a fireworks factory explosion in Għargħur in 2007, believed the moratorium was not the ideal solution. He pressed for a proper authority that would carry out regular checks at fireworks factories and impose hard-hitting sanctions against people found in breach of any regulations.

Dr Camilleri said such authority would also have the duty to protect the lives of innocent people who had to live in the danger of factories close to their homes whether they liked it or not.

“Fireworks are part of our culture, so it is difficult to do away with them. The solution, however, is not a moratorium but seeing all the safety measures are in place and the raw material being used are of optimum quality. We also need to reduce or curb once and for all the competition between different factories,” he said.

Lawyer Georg Sapiano said someone should look into why the last two blasts in Mosta and Għarb happened just a few days from the feast day.

“I support the idea of very strict vigilance. People without the technical knowhow should be prohibited from approaching these factories and from producing fireworks,” he said.

“The only way to take stock of the situation is a moratorium which could also have the unfortunate and undesirable side effect of blocking those with the technical knowhow to produce fireworks. This is the only way forward. Something’s got to give.”

Col Camilleri said he disagreed with Gozo Bishop Mario Grech’s initiative announced yesterday to set up a commission to help him issue directives on fireworks used during feasts.

Mgr Grech appealed for prayers for the six victims of Sunday’s fireworks factory explosion and their families. What happened, he said, was a human tragedy that shocked everyone and gave rise to reflections on the value of life.

He said fireworks were associated with religious feasts and incidents blemished such festivities.