Rarely does a year go by without a fireworks tragedy.

The recent fatal accidents at the St Catherine's Fireworks Factory in Zurrieq, the St Helen's factory in Gharghur and the recent fatality at Lija show how true this is.

Meanwhile the overdue recommendations for the safer manufacture of fireworks are still nowhere near publication.

Senior citizens remember many such sad stories where families had to cope without their breadwinner.

Years ago, there were no social services and the families were numerous. Many a time, the poor mother had to go out and beg for the family to survive.

There were influential people who tried to discourage this dangerous passion, but it was all in vain.

More than 50 years ago, Malta's former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff penned in The Knight an editorial under the headline The Inner Eye, about the danger and destruction of fireworks when an explosion killed some friends of his.

These tragedies left a deep mark which needed many years to heal.

There are so many people who cannot control their urge to indulge in fireworks, that it is almost impossible to try to discourage their manufacture.

I admired a member of the St Catherine's Band Club having the guts to say that this dangerous pastime must stop, when interviewed on TV.

It is also commendable of the Zurrieq archpriest celebrating funeral Mass, to send a message of advice, so that such incidents would be avoided.