Senators: Ban items like scratch bombs

ANY ban on scratch bombs must include similar items such as Spanish Crackers that cause trauma to the public, said two members of a parliamentary committee that had inquired into the harm to humans and animals caused by these fireworks.

The day after Minister of National Security Stuart Young promised a scratch-bomb ban, Newsday yesterday spoke to former senator Dhanayshar Mahabir, former chairman of the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Social Services which recently concluded its inquiry into the adverse health effects of fireworks, and JSC member Opposition Senator Khadijah Ameen.

Mahabir said, “What we call scratch bombs – these very loud explosive devices that do not generate a light – under the existing Customs rules and regulations are already deemed to be illegal. So one could not legally import them and have Customs approve them. Scratch bombs were always illegal, however (they) came in.”

Newsday asked if Spanish Crackers should be banned.

“The issue is nuisance to the public, of which scratch bombs are one." said Mahabir, adding that anything "making the same type of disturbance as the regular scratch bomb" falls "under the spirit of what the minister wishes to do, that is, to eliminate nuisance to citizens.”

Once they create an explosive noise exceeding a certain decibel level, these devices fall within Young's scope of censure, Mahabir said. “As long as the devices, however you label them, are creating a loud noise it should fall under ‘scratch bombs.’”

He said the real issue is for the minister to regulate all fireworks by setting regulations under the Explosives Act, but he saw no such rules being drafted.

am in support of protecting our citizens. We should go noiseless. I live in an area where I hear scratch bombs and don’t know if it is a gunshot.”