After the fatal accident at the Tas-Salini fireworks factory we are seeing the usual spectacle of government and opposition MPs shedding crocodile tears - including Minister Michael Farrugia and MP Kristy Debono, Alternattiva Demokratika said today.

These are the same hypocrites who along with the entire Parliament in March voted quickly to amend the law enabling fireworks factories to reduce safety distances, with all the danger for people this brings about.

On Saturday, a fireworks factory explosion killed a man an injured two others.

"In this context it is pertinent to remember that a few weeks ago the Court of Appeal decided a case by the Zebbiegh community, which was pending for 30 years. The court cancelled the permits of the Zebbiegh fireworks factory because it did not observe the minimum distances required by law. Unfortunately this decision was neutralized, because the Maltese Parliament, unanimously, amended the law to give authority to the Police Commissioner to be able to issue a permit for the factory anyway, although the minimum distances were not observed," said AD’s Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo.

"As usual we will now get the usual inquiries, and then we will all hear government solemnly declare that it will take steps to increase safety standards. But as happened in the past, including after the Vella report on accidents in fireworks factories, everything will be forgotten. All Members of Parliament, the Government and the Opposition are accomplices, they shed crocodile tears, they will occupy the front benches in funerals but at the same time they fail to act."
On this issue, the government and the opposition are really double faced, AD said.