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.”

Suspending production

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.

It has been suggested that chemicals being used to manufacture fireworks are of inferior quality and that this has led to the increase in accidents. If this is the case, then a moratorium will prevent further loss of life.

However others suggest a moratorium will only drive the industry underground, where any regulation will become impossible. Michael Falzon is also a fireworks enthusiast in his own right, acting as legal advisor to the Malta Pyrotechnics Association.

Falzon defends his position on the committee. “There is nothing political about it at all. Those who are claiming that this has to do with votes are being unrealistic and irresponsible.”

Contrary to Pullicino’s views, Falzon sees a moratorium on fireworks as “stupid” and “ridiculous”, saying that this will actually increase accidents as when the ban is lifted, fireworks enthusiasts will rush to produce the fireworks they were unable to produce during the moratorium to meet demand – precisely an attitude that leads to accidents. His opinion is echoed by Justice Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, who is also an honorary president of the Sagra Familja Band Club in Kalkara.

Falzon does admit that his proposals for the local fireworks industry is likely to prove controversial, with plans of government finance for the Malta Pyrotechnics Association, construction of new fireworks facilities and a revamp of existing regulations, which have not been changed since 1980.

Another Labour MP, Joe Debono Grech, is the honorary president of the Santa Venera band club, but as he told MaltaToday, his expertise does not extend into the reasons for the accidents, even though he believes cheaper materials may be to blame.

Even he shoots down the proposal for a moratorium.

“The people involved in the production of fireworks do this as a hobby. If they are prevented from doing this legally they will only go underground making any form of regulation impossible. It is better to know where the work is being done than if it were done illegally in a garage close to residents.”

“Usually the accidents involve only small sparks or just one petard. Reducing the quantity of fireworks will never make a difference. Banning fireworks altogether will never happen, as the pyrotechnic enthusiasts are too passionate about their hobby to ever stop doing it. They’ll just do it illegally.”

Politicians and fireworks

Some honorary presidents are only elected onto the committees of band clubs as a form of prestige and are not involved with club issues. Novelist and poet Oliver Friggeri is honorary president of the Vilhena Band Club of Floriana but told MaltaToday that he is not an active member. However even if MPs do not pursue an active role in the committees they form part of, will the band clubs go to them for support if the proposed legislation does not conform to their firework frenzy?

Labour MP Michael Farrugia is the president of the Victory Band Club in Naxxar. He claims that because the band club does not have an associated fireworks committee and only works hand-in-hand with fireworks people, there is no conflict of interest.

“The fireworks committee once made a formal request to form part of the band club, but this was turned down in order to keep the two issues separate.”

Farrugia’s opinion does not stray from that of the MLP with regards to a moratorium. He says that it is more important that the investigation is treated with utmost seriousness than to have a moratorium, which would only promote underground production of fireworks.

Labour MP Karmenu Vella believes that the safety issue should be handled on an on-going basis rather than the “management by crisis approach” we seem to be adopting.

“Continuous general audits, education, recommendations, supervision and a certain amount of enforcement to help avoid accidents are more in place and we shouldn’t wait for tragedies to make inquiries and look into these risks post-mortem.”

He says the decision on a moratorium is out of his realm of expertise, but he sticks to the MLP opinion that the moratorium is out of the question.

“One might argue that inquiries looking into plane crashes have never placed a moratorium on flying. Similarly inquiries on traffic accidents have never placed moratoriums on driving.”

As honorary president of the Zurrieq Band Club, Vella sees no conflict of interest.

“When I am in parliament I am not there representing any band club. I am there representing my constituency and my party in the local and in the national interest. I will have no problem and no conflict of interest whatsoever to vote for any legislation which will help to improve matters.”  

Other MPs who occupy roles as honorary presidents of band clubs include Charles Buhagiar, John Attard Montalto, Gavin Gulia, Stephen Spiteri and Eddie Fenech Adami. However these were unable to be reached for comment. Nationalist MP Jean-Pierre Farrugia declined to comment.