Saints, fireworks and politicians

The subject of a moratorium on the production of fireworks until after a government inquiry on the quality of chemicals is completed has been ruled out by both the Nationalist and Labour parties. However, exactly whose interest party members speak in is still up for debate. Many band club committees throughout the island include members of parliament. In the event of legislation relating to the manufacture of fireworks, where will their loyalties lie?

Labour party MP Marlene Pullicino is a self-confessed fireworks enthusiast who enjoys letting them off at the festa of St Philip in Zebbug. She is a license B holder, which gives her the right to assist in the manufacture of fireworks, though under constant supervision. She admits she holds the license simply to have a better understanding of how the fireworks work and to be able to visit the factories.

Prolific in her support of these associations, she is also honorary president of a number of band clubs including the St Joseph band club of Kirkop, Sagra Familja band club of Kalkara, Zebbug’s St Philip band club, Socjetà Lourdes of Qrendi and the Queen Victoria band club of Zurrieq. Her partner, Godfrey Farrugia, is on the committee of rival band clubs.

Pullicino has however taken a surprising stand against the majority PL opinion of shooting down the idea of a moratorium and is actually in favour of it.

“This is a process that can be carried out immediately on chemicals already present in the country, and henceforth on all material still to be imported. This should be carried out in a definite period of time and doesn’t have to carry the obnoxious name of ‘moratorium’.”

But Pullicino claims that extending the moratorium indefinitely will backfire, and here she shares the opinion of Labour MP Michael Falzon, that it would drive the industry underground.

She refused suggestions that she would have a conflict of interest in voting on legislation that would further regulate fireworks production. “As far as conflict on interest is concerned I see none of it… I believe in standardisation of chemicals and regulation in the fireworks industry.”

The idea of a moratorium was first floated by The Times and since then taken up by Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) as well as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Brigadier Carmel Vassallo among others.

The rest of this feature and details of other MPs who are honorary presidents of band clubs appears in today's MaltaToday on Sunday.