TMID Editorial: Tradition and safety

The explosion at the fireworks factory in Magħtab has once again placed Malta’s relationship with fireworks under the spotlight. As often happens after such incidents in Malta, the discussion risks becoming a simple choice between preserving a tradition or abolishing it altogether. Yet that is not the question that should be occupying the national conversation. The issue is not whether fireworks should continue to exist. The issue is whether enough is being done to ensure that the people living near factories, the volunteers working inside them, and the surrounding environment are adequately protected. The destruction caused by the Magħtab explosion extended well beyond the boundaries of the factory itself. Homes were damaged, residents were left shaken, and animals paid a particularly heavy price. The deaths of several animals at nearby farms and the Bird Park sanctuary struck a chord with many people precisely because it showed how the consequences of such incidents can spread far beyond the immediate site of an explosion. Fireworks enthusiasts are right to point out that thousands of volunteers dedicate countless hours to the craft each year and that accidents remain relatively rare when compared to the scale of the activity. They are also correct in saying that fireworks form part of Malta’s cultural heritage and contribute significantly to the identity of village feasts. However, acknowledging the cultural importance of fireworks should not mean avoiding difficult questions about safety. As with previous incidents, there will now be investigations, inquiries and attempts to establish exactly what happened. That process is important and should be allowed to run its course. There are rules governing licensing, storage, safety distances, inspections and the handling of explosive materials. However, every explosion should prompt a thorough examination of whether existing safeguards are sufficient, whether enforcement is robust enough and whether current regulations continue to reflect the realities of modern Malta. Many fireworks factories were established decades ago, when surrounding areas were far less developed than they are today. The country has changed considerably since then. The question therefore is not whether traditions should be protected. It is whether traditions should evolve when circumstances change. There is also a tendency in Malta to focus intensely on incidents while they dominate headlines, only for the discussion to fade once public attention shifts elsewhere. If lessons are to be learned from the latest explosion, they must be translated into action rather than becoming another entry in a list of incidents that briefly generate concern before being forgotten. This may mean better enforcement of existing regulations, drafting up new ones which reflect today’s realities. It may even mean reviewing where certain facilities are located and examining whether safety distances remain adequate or whether new technologies can reduce risks further. What it should not mean is dismissing legitimate concerns as an attack on tradition. Protecting a cultural practice and scrutinising its safety are not mutually exclusive objectives. In fact, they should go hand in hand. If Malta wants fireworks to remain part of its identity for generations to come, then ensuring the highest possible standards of safety is not a threat to that tradition. It is one of the best ways of safeguarding it.