Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547048
CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Gozo's fireworks transport challenges During a MaltaToday inter- view, Pyrotechnics Association president Godfrey Farrugia said Gozo's "double insularity" and inadequate berthing facilities made transportation more ex- pensive and created additional risks. "Offered during transporta- tion prove to be very expensive and a risk factor… Resolving this issue is a safety necessity, not just a logistical inconven- ience," Farrugia said. There are 89 non-profit fire- works groups across Malta and Gozo, each linked to a village feast, but only 31 have their own factory. This means 67 fes- tas depend on a limited number of facilities to supply their fire- works displays. Farrugia said fireworks groups are also facing rising materi- al and permit costs, while only one new fireworks factory has been approved since the Plan- ning Authority introduced its fireworks factory policy in 2014. Building or upgrading a fac- tory is not straightforward, he said. Applications must be ap- proved by the Fireworks Facto- ry Technical Committee, with representatives from the police, Civil Protection and the Armed Forces required to establish that all possible risks have been re- duced to a minimum. "An application can take years," Farrugia said. He argued that Gozo should have its own fireworks facto- ries to reduce the pressure and risks associated with having the island's fireworks requirements serviced by factories in Malta. Payments for additional escorts The highest single payment recorded was in June 2026, when five police officers escort- ed fireworks in Xewkija at a cost of €605.40. The payment was listed against Franklin Farrugia. In Munxar, three officers were assigned to an escort in June 2026, costing €363.24, with the payment listed against Shaun Parnis. Other payments includ- ed €234.29 for two officers in Xewkija in June 2025 and an- other €234.29 for two officers in Sannat in July 2025. Società Filarmonica Leone was listed as paying €141.19 for an escort during the St Maria feast in Victoria in August 2025 and €189.29 for another escort in December. Sezzjoni Żagħżagħ Munx- arin paid for several additional escorts, including €234.28 for two officers in May 2025 and €189.29 for an escort in Octo- ber. The detailed payment break- down covers 2025 and 2026 up to 25 September 2026. 5 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 9 OCTOBER 2026 NEWS Date Festa / Locality Number of officers Amount paid for escort Organisation paying for extra escort 05/04/2025 Kercem 1 €117.14 Kercem Ajax FC 10/05/2025 Munxar 1 €117.14 Sezzjoni Zaggzagh Munxarin 17/05/2025 Munxar 2 €234.28 Sezzjoni Zaggzagh Munxarin 21/06/2025 Xewkija 2 €234.29 San Gwann Xewkija 22/07/2025 Sannat 2 €234.29 Ghaqda tan-Nar Sannat 19/07/2025 Victoria, St George 1 €117.14 San Gorg Gozo 30/07/2025 Qala 1 €117.15 San Guzepp Qala 10/08/2025 Victoria, St Maria 1 €141.19 Società Filarmonica Leone 19/10/2025 Munxar 1 €189.29 Sezzjoni Zaggzagh Munxarin 29/11/2025 Zebbug 1 €117.15 Parrocca St Marija Zebbug 21/12/2025 Victoria, St Maria 1 €189.29 Società Filarmonica Leone 11/06/2026 Xewkija 5 €605.40 Franklin Farrugia 23/06/2026 Munxar 3 €363.24 Shaun Parnis 17/08/2026 Zebbug 1 €121.08 Ghaqda tan-Nar Maria Assunta 30/08/2026 Ghajnsielem 1 €197.02 Ghaqda Piroteknika 10 Ta' Dicembru Between 2025 and 2026, additional police escort payments amounted to €3,095 During a MaltaToday interview, Pyrotechnics Association president Godfrey Farrugia (inset) said Gozo's "double insularity" and inadequate berthing facilities made transportation more expensive and created additional risks ADDITIONAL POLICE ESCORTS FOR GOZO FIREWORKS TRANSPORTATION 2025/2026