Michael FalzonMichael Falzon

Michael Falzon, the Malta Pyrotechnics Association’s legal consultant, has lashed out at critics who questioned his professionalism to chair a working group tasked with devising a new policy for fireworks factories.

“There is no conflict of interest. I have not been appointed to represent the pyrotechnics association; I’m not there in as my capacity as legal consultant,” he stressed when contacted yesterday.

On Wednesday Times of Malta reported that Dr Falzon had been appointed to chair a planning authority working group, raising questions about conflict of interest.

An authority board member, who did not wish to be named, questioned how the Labour MP, albeit a competent person in the field, could be put in charge of a group that was creating a policy affecting his own lobby group.

Replying to this criticism, Dr Falzon pointed out that his advice and expertise in the field had always been sought by previous home affairs and justice ministers Tonio Borg, Carm Mifsud Bonnici and Chris Said.

“I’ve always been consulted, asked for an advice or an opinion every time there was a change to pyrotechnics legislation... even when I wasn’t an MP or shadow minister,” he said, insisting he would not be receiving a penny for chairing this board.

“So before, when I used to discuss matters with the PN ministers didn’t I also have a conflict of interest? Or did it just suddenly surface?”

Critics also used comments he made before the election – that to improve safety Mepa had to issue more permits in outside development zones (ODZ) – to lambast Dr Falzon’s appointment on the board.

But Dr Falzon defended his comments saying: “Where do you want to build fireworks factories, in the village square or along Tower Road? Is that what people want? Where do they suggest they’re built?”

Mepa has, over the past three years, refused a number of new permits for fireworks factories in Mellieħa, Rabat, Nadur and Munxar.

According to Dr Falzon, Mepa was turning down the applications because there was no policy on fireworks factories; simply references in the North and Gozo local plans.

“Mepa was ripping people off... There were cases where €6,000 and up to €40,000 was spent on processing an application.

“But instead of telling them there was no policy when the application was filed Mepa would still let them apply, then come up with some excuse or another when it was turned down.”

This administration, right or wrong, Dr Falzon said, had decided to have a policy in place and he had been appointed because of his 17-year involvement in the field. He said it was also “no secret” that he was a founding member of the pyrotechnics association.

Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia has defended Dr Falzon’s appointment insisting he was a “gold mine” of information and he was certain he would be “totally independent”.

Asked how he could differentiate between the different hats he wears, Dr Falzon felt he was capable of being professional.

“I understand why people would think this way, but is this the faith we put in the Maltese? I worry more about the hidden agendas to eradicate the art of pyrotechnics from our country.”

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.