Pirotecnica Martín has supplied the firework display for Motril for many years; since 1895 in fact, which is all the more surprising that this year it wasn’t chosen for the task. In fact, the only time that it didn’t do it was during the Civil War, when explosives were needed elsewhere…
Is it just another casualty in the public cut backs in spending, or is it something personal?
The manager of the company believes that the decision to give the contract to a company in Guadix is because of a row over a controversial municipal decision. If that is the case, he argues, it’s not just hurting him; its hurting all the Motrileños that work for the company.
So what’s going on?
What appears to be behind it all is the Town Hall’s surprising and certainly controversial decision to go back on an issued licence for the opening of a shop dedicated to selling fireworks in the centre of Motril.
Coupled with the tragic explosion in the company’s factory on the outskirts of Vélez Benaudalla, the financial loss caused by the about-face over the small shop turned 2012 into an annus horribilis for the company.
It cannot be sufficiently emphasized that the proposed shop, which had all the permits granted from the municipal and regional authorities, was to only stock small fireworks of the kind used in birthday parties, etc, but even so had the correct and regulated bunker for storage.
The Town Council took the decision to withdraw the licence owing to unfounded neighbourhood concerns – elections are never far away, perhaps. The way that they managed this was by changing the PGOU, or if you prefer, moving the goal posts.
Anyway, as a result, the company has called for compensation for damages… Bear in mind that the Town Hall still hasn’t even paid for last summer’s firework display, leaving the company staggering under the weight of this unpaid 17,500-euro bill.
“I could understand if they had changed company because work had been badly done, but our efforts have been excellent and we put everything we can into our hometown firework display. This is clearly a vengeful decision taken by the Mayor to make it clear who is the boss,” explained the company manager, Esteban Martín, adding, “and then they go around claiming that they support local business!”
Judge for yourselves:
As far as the Town Hall, the Councillor for Fiestas, Alfredo Ortegar Tovar, claims that the company showed no interest in doing it this year and that they had not submitted a project, whilst the Guadix company had.
The PSOE opposition party lost no time in chiming in. Party Spokeswoman, Flor Almón said, that this action has been an “gesture of contempt” towards this local company, adding, “A Town Hall should support local businesses; not have it in for them.”
Her closing observation was that it is curious how the contract went to Guadix, which has a PP mayor, who also just happened to be a colleague of the PP Mayor of Motril on the board of the the Provincial Council.
(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)