With all due respect, Servolo Delicata is no fireworks expert – ask anyone who has ever been inside a fireworks factory. While there may be a smidgen of truth in what he’s saying, it is NOT the only thing that needs to be addressed.

Marku, I ridicule no one. Professional chemists test raw materials before utilizing them. Apparently, if this was the cause, these people did not. I question the lack of enforcement of regulations, not the ‘love’ of their hobby.

Harrie Purdie: D. Muscat seems to know what he’s talking about. Just because you (and I) don’t have much interest in fireworks doesn’t mean we should ridicule everything said about them. For all I know it may be true that the manufacturers are working with faulty materials and so dying through no fault of their own.

No one is claiming they should stop. If a skydiver thought it was a good idea to dive, head first and without a parachute, into a crowd it would deserve condemnation.

When a complete and utter moron figures it’s all good and dandy to store fireworks in a populated area he isn’t just putting himself at risk, you know.

I hate it when problems with such simple solutions just aren’t solved.

– Negligence in handling fireworks – do spot checks to ensure rules are being followed.

– Drunk driving – start administering breathalyzer tests outside drinking areas (parties, discos, wedding receptions etc).

– Price irregularities from local retailers – name and shame (or do like the insane Times reports – hint at which places they visited).

– Students skinny dipping – do nothing and get on with your life.

See, four problems solved without any focus groups, discussions or voting involved.

And you and I as taxpayers are supposed to take care of the wives who should have ‘seen’ before they were married – great!

So,, Mr. Muscat. You condone incompetent, unregulated behaviour and stupidity. I wager you’re a hunter also.

This is just like a skydiver who loves falling off a plane so much he risks dying, or like the scuba diver who likes the underwater world so much he risks blocking himself in some underwater cave and dying there.

Some might think I’m being an egoist because they have wives and kids etc etc, but wives should see that before marrying not after.

Imbaghad in-nies jipreferulek logħob tan-nar Ċiniż minn dak Malti, u jgħidulek li l-murtali Maltin huma perikolużi. Grazzi tal-info D. Muscat.

I remember him saying that he would never consider any other supplier because of the potential risk. He was proud of the stringent conditions under which these materials were produced, transported and stored. ICI itself ascertained and certified the standards of the storage facilities in Malta.

I have not got a clue as to what the situation is nowadays.

I would dread to think. Is it too much to ask for reassurance ?