Qala council calls for end of fireworks unloading at Hondoq

The Qala Local Council has expressed its opposition to the unloading of fireworks in the locality, which are then transported to other towns and villages through the Qala's narrow streets.

"The Qala local council is aware of the danger involved and can no longer tolerate this situation," Qala mayor Clint Camilleri said.

He explained that the bulk of fireworks destined for all Gozo feasts were transported through the village after landing in Hondoq ir-Rummien, at the height of summer when the popular bay is visited by hundreds of persons.

Camilleri said that while the council will not object the unloading of fireworks at Hondoq ir-Rummien for the Qala feast, it is unacceptable that all other fireworks transported from Malta is unloaded and transported through Qala.

While noting that the council had already submitted a similar objection two years ago following the death of six persons at a fireworks factory explosion in Gharb, Camilleri said that the authorities did not address this objection.

Camilleri called on the authorities to address the situation and ensure that Qala residents are not exposed to unnecessary risks.

Fireworks and safety issues has dominated the news headlines in the past week, following an explosion, in which four people died at the Qalb ta' Gesù fireworks factory - only 500 metres away from the Farrugia Brothers factory which blew up in 2010 and six persons died.

Following the 2010 incident, a commission was appointed to draw up a comprehensive report of the industry's practices, however most recommendations are still in the process of implementation.

Among others, the report concluded that the local industry still used a number of dangerous chemical mixtures that were banned abroad because they are too volatile.

The government said it was still waiting for proposals from Explosives Committee a consultative body on fireworks before moving to implement basic recommendations to improve safety that were made last December.

Stakeholders are now calling for certain key recommendations, particularly the ban of volatile mixtures, to be urgently implemented.

Meanwhile, Labour MP Anton Refalo called for a complete ban on fireworks, which was not well received by enthusiasts and the majority of MPs.

Speaking in Parliament last week, Refalo said that in the lack of adequate laws and enforcement the time has come to ban fireworks completely.

He said that Maltese politicians should shoulder some responsibility in the fatalities caused by firework explosions and stresses that the situation was never controlled adequately because of electoral exigencies.