A few months ago, there was a proposal in Parliament by AKEL (Progressive Party of Working People) to ban the use of fireworks.
At first glance, the proposal might seem excessive. For example, if fireworks were used to celebrate the New Year’s arrival or some major event, a ban would indeed be excessive.
However, in Cyprus in recent years, fireworks and flares have been used on every occasion: weddings, baptisms, birthdays, graduations, football derbies, festivals, Easter, and even marriage proposals, sometimes with permits and sometimes without.
The numbers provided by the police during a relevant discussion in Parliament are indicative: in 2022, they received 218 complaints from citizens, and in the first 8 months of 2023, they received 108, with some of them leading to court cases.
The reasons for citizens’ reaction and the proposal for a ban were many: the risk of fires, panic attacks in people and animals, nuisance…
Greens’ MP Charalambos Theopemptou specifically mentioned the problems faced by children with autism, as loud and unexpected noises scare them.
Moreover, during the discussion, it was already confirmed that a fire in Lofou was caused by fireworks at a wedding reception. Theopemptou also raised the issue of monitoring those who sell them illegally.
“We must not forget that fireworks are explosive materials; we cannot know where those who sell them illegally store them, and I hope there won’t be any fire incidents, because suddenly a huge problem could arise in residential areas. Abroad, we have had deaths from fires that broke out in fireworks warehouses,” he noted.
During this discussion, the head of the Mining Service, responsible for licensing, strongly opposed the ban.
“Most uses are for tourist purposes,” he said. “The economy of the country relies on tourism, so I consider a ban wrong.” His suggestion was to delve more into the issue of combating illegality.
And so, the discussion remained just a discussion. Until two fires broke out on the same day, one from fireworks in Kato Pyrgos and the other from the destruction of flares by the Mining Service itself, which suddenly resolved the issue. At least temporarily. All permits for fireworks were revoked.
It took vast areas to burn and a community (Vasa Kellakiou) to be endangered for the authorities to realize the extent of the problem. As for our tourism, obviously it doesn’t come to see or set off fireworks in the sky.
