Recent events and my own experience, past and present, of people in the pyrotechnic community justify generalisation. Such individuals are like either hands washing one another clean or hands trying to crush one another. This puts their credibility in serious question. Those that are credible have abandoned this completely. So I find it most surprising that the Minister of Justice is trying to set up an inspectorial body from within this same community. These are not people who follow any code of professional ethics. Their professionalism is only their blind addiction to the manufacture of fireworks.

The Inspectorate

The government has in its employ the few people required able to give the pertinent training required to people to take up such an appointment. Not only, it already employs people who are not only accountable for their actions but are also doing similar inspection work. I refer to the personnel of the Armed Forces who man roadblocks and then liase with the police. I believe that the pyrotechnic inspection board ought to be manned by the army. They have the people, the logistics and the discipline, and no extra expense from the public coffers is needed. I also recommend more draconian measures regarding the issue of permits for the letting off of fireworks besides those already existing.

The applicant

The applicant, that is the organiser of the event, should have his application form endorsed not only by the licensed manufacturer of the fireworks but also by the owners of the licensed fireworks factory, namely the president and the secretary in the case of a society owning the factory. In this way these legally responsible officials will also be accountable to the people they represent (the society members). Too many groups that do not have fireworks factories are saying that they use somebody else’s factory, when in reality this is not true. This would ensure at least that the fireworks are manufactured in a licensed factory. It is preposterous to expect the public to believe that the great amount of fireworks let off in Naxxar during the 2007 feast came from a licensed fireworks factory “escorted” by the police.

There must also be a site plan attached, signed by the architect of the organiser, that has to show the exact place from where the fireworks will be let off. The organiser also has to have an architect who endorses the application to set up street decorations, certifying that they are safe; therefore it would be no big deal to ask the same architect to provide a site map. In this way, a professional would ensure that the legal distances are observed. This also implies that any fireworks let off from other sites are illegal and that they can only be transported from the factory to the indicated sites and under escort at all times prior to the display, due consideration being given to the time required to prime the fireworks.

The licensees

The owners of licensed fireworks factories should send quarterly returns to the Police, copied to the Inspectorate, that list the licensed people (A & B) working in their factory. The mobility of pyromaniacs is extensive and a number change loyalties frequently. Licensed people not listed in any factory should have their licence frozen and they cannot work anywhere except when and where they are listed. I hope the importance of this rule is considered.

Statistics

A good estimate can be made of the real or fictitious use of the chemicals the sale of which is restricted, like potassium chlorate and nitrate among others. The army escort of the fireworks from the factory should supervise the loading and as these are loaded, they tally the numbers or appropriate forms.

Times of letting off fireworks

The prescribed times for letting off fireworks must be strictly observed. Any fireworks let off outside these times are not covered by insurance policies. Organisers ought to be made aware of this fact too. Who is then liable outside the prescribed times?

Permits

It has been customary for the Police, for decades now, to hand out the document granting the permit whole weeks after the event has passed. The organiser is informed that he can proceed but the permit is never confirmed in writing. Why has this been going on? What is the difficulty showing in writing that the required permits have been granted before the event takes place? Why the prevarication? It is either yes or no. If conditions are met then the permits ought to be issued. If there are objections, no permits and no events and to hell with the votes.

Finally, I would like to point out that now is the most opportune time for strong decisions to the taken regarding the subject. There is a new minister, a new Opposition and a new term of office. Now is the time, which will never occur again, to do something.

If the Opposition is against draconian legislation, then it really is in the right place, but if the government does not carry them out, then the governing party is in the wrong place.

Frank Galea

ZEBBUG