No government will dare to ban fireworks from Malta altogether, according to the secretary of Lija's St Michael's fireworks factory.

Malta needs tight legislation and not knee-jerk reactions to control the controversial fireworks sector, Joseph Mangion tells The Sunday Times in an interview today.

Mr Mangion was speaking just days after losing six colleagues at the devastating Gharb fireworks factory blast.

The former Lija mayor objects to perceptions that portray fireworks enthusiasts as infatuated madmen who are prepared to die for their pastime, irrespective of family ties. Fireworks' producers are no Japanese kamikaze war pilots, he insists.

"As far as I know everyone does his utmost to abide by the law. People who work in this sector are serious," he says.

Watch excerpts of the interview above. Read the entire interview in today's edition of The Sunday Times.

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