Angry calls for Fireworks BAN

Many people have not only voiced their concerns but are enraged and severely critical of the authorities and those people who let off fireworks irresponsible.

People have openly expressed their worry regarding the annual New Years Eve celebrations, which many believe has turned into a dangerous free-for-all where fireworks are concerned. Predominately because of the notable increase in the amount of illegal fireworks that this year again found there way into Gibraltar and then to hundreds of homes.

Dangers of Fireworks, Yet Few People Understand Associated Risks

Despite the dangers of fireworks, few people understand the associated risks - devastating burns, other injuries, fires, and even death. More so, when one considers that ‘Fireworks’ are a class of low explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes, but still a dangerous explosive devise that each year it seems, are bigger, louder with the added increase of an incident involving serious personal harm or damage to property.

There is no doubt that illegal fireworks continue to cross the frontier each year into Gibraltar in large quantities.

Introducing illegal fireworks into Gibraltar is an offence. So one can imagine how many people committed these offences this year. Particularly judging by the amount and sound of the fireworks and non-stop high pitched massive explosive sounds all round the Rock of these low-level recreational explosive devices, it must have been a huge amount.

Then there is the other safety issue or danger, when you consider that illegal explosives get stored without appropriate safety measures in peoples homes or on residential estates, often for weeks on end before new year arrives.

The Fireworks Frenzy

But the same story repeats itself year in year out on New Years Eve and its getting worse and more dangerous.

I am a strong believer in traditions and keeping them alive, but at least some common sense should prevail, which unfortunately it doesn’t at the determent of many others.

It is useless to ask what we are waiting for, before anyone takes any serious action on the senseless noise of petards or pertardo and the dangerous practices of totally irresponsible people letting off or discharging fireworks at will, anyway they think fit.

I also cannot see how the loud, boring and repetitive bangs of petards and other fireworks during the xmas and new period should be permitted for prolonged periods, because it starts days before the year ends and continues many days into the new year.

The whole community is forced to participate in the ritual of noise. The respective fireworks fanatics probably compete with each other to see who produces the loudest of noises.

Of course, non-enthusiasts, elderly persons, the sick, infants and even pets are excluded from this frenzy. Yes, pets, those poor creatures who constantly seek places for refuge from the tremendous loud bangs or explosions.

If the pertinent law book pages have yellowed with the passage of time, it stands to reason to reconsider and appropriately update these laws.

Where is the Common Sense Applied?

When did the government last consider pointedly and comprehensively all pertinent matters relevant to fireworks, especially prohibiting areas, especially densely populated residential estates, for god’s sake, is there any common sense applied here.

And why not have designated areas to let off fireworks instead of your neighbors front door.

The only reason such explosives come into Gibraltar and stored illegally, mostly in homes or large estates and without appropriate safety measures, is because people are prepared to buy them in large quantities, cross the border as if they had bought the weekly shopping in Spain.

The latter point would be an area where controls appear to be none-existent. If we make it possible for anyone, anywhere to launch fireworks, just what are we waiting for and what can we potentially expect, Do we have to wait until a tragedy occurs, which appears to be the local mentality regarding this yearly event.

There was also uproar amongst numerous people who went on social media to express their disgust, concern and criticism when damage was caused to the ‘evacuation world war memorial’ when certain idiots thought it was a good place to let off fireworks on the very memorial itself.

NO FIREWORKS SEIZED OVER CHRISTMAS

Panorama posed the following question to HM Customs via the government press office:

“How many illegal fireworks have been seized at the frontier or anywhere else in Gibraltar during the Christmas period”

Answer: No fireworks were seized over the Christmas by HM Customs but it is important to note that many of the ‘legal’ fireworks sold in Gibraltar (under such names as ‘Nuclear Demolition’ and Cat 3 Rockets such as ‘The King,’ etc) have extremely loud and dramatic pyrotechnic effects. All such fireworks are imported under licence issued by HM Customs and the Royal Gibraltar Police after being inspected by the Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Service. In addition, the Spanish authorities have now tightened up on the selling of ‘illegal’ fireworks (ie, those that are non-EU compliant) and fewer are available to be smuggled into Gibraltar.

AWAITING ANSWER FROM RGP

The RGP were also asked, “how many people had been reported during the same period in connection with the use of illegal fireworks”

An answer is expected this morning.

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04-01-18 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR