Scratch bomb mamaguay

MINISTER of National Security Stuart Young has said his ban on scratch bombs was just a start and could be followed by further orders on other devices. The Explosives (Prohibition of Scratch Bombs) Order 2018 imposes a $20,000 fine or 10 years imprisonment or forfeiture of items.

However, two prominent activists were unimpressed with the scratch bomb order and described it as "mamaguay" and "old talk".

Young defended the order as a start to changing how explosives are used for entertainment.

“It’s never been done before in TT. Nobody has taken this on board. It’s the first time a minister of national security has made an order under the Explosives Act section 37. I’ve made the order,” he said on Friday.

Sunday Newsday asked why the order – which defines a scratch bomb as an explosive ignited by a friction sensitive head – does not include the equally loud Spanish Crackers ignited by wicks and sold by large retailers. Young did not deny that Spanish Crackers were excluded.

“That order was produced by an experts to capture scratch bombs. I’m not the scratch bomb expert. If there are necessary orders to be made in future they will be made,” Young said.

He repeated his promise that more orders may be done, if required, such as if there is a demand and if more items come into contravention.

Asked who were the experts, he replied, “Persons in the Ministry of National Security, along with external experts.”

Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said under the order no-one can “manufacture, import, keep, convey or sell” scratch bombs with immediate effect, as of last Friday.

He urged that Young’s order be read in conjunction with the Commissioner of Police (CoP’s) recent press release cautioning on the use of fireworks under the Summary Offences Act section 99.

“The Minister of National Security kept true to his word and dealt with it in the time frame he had indicated. He’s to be complimented.”

Al-Rawi said Government had to do its consultations and get the definitions right. “We decided it would be done just before the New Year.”

Sunday Newsday asked if he expected merchants to comply with the order if they are already in the midst of their business of selling the scratch-bombs.

“The law is the law and is there to be enforced,” the AG replied. “It is there with the police and I expect it will happen in the way it should. The Government’s decision is based on tragedy that has occurred. Citizens must uphold the law.”

Animal-rights activist Nalini Dial, in a Facebook post on Friday, dismissed Young’s order as “a mamaguay.”

She then told Sunday Newsday, “He made it seem like a big thing but he has not done anything. Do you think it will be a peaceful Old Year’s Night?”

Even as she spoke fireworks were exploding nearby her causing her dogs to try to break down her door in panic. “Someone outside is letting off things and you can’t get any peace and quiet. I have to call my vet and get medication to give my dogs to stay calm.”

Dial was considering a next step to force Government to ban the use of fireworks. “I wish I could get a lawyer and sue the Government. How could you live in a country and you can’t get peace and quiet in your own home?”

Apart from fireworks producing bright displays where noise was incidental, she lamented those devices (like scratch bombs and Spanish Crackers) whose sole purpose was noise-making. “It’s noise they want. They know it is disturbing people, and that is fun for them,” she lamented.

Dial said that instead of Young’s order banning scratch bomb imports under the Explosives Act, a ban could be effected under the Summary Offences Act which says individuals cannot discharge fireworks unless they have a permit. “You need to enforce the law that is there.”

Of Young’s ban, she said, “He bans that but what about all the other things making noise. We end up with the same problem because it is not scratch-bombs alone affecting us.

“This is a sham. It is not going to alleviate the problem. We need to do something else.”

Dial related the sad effect of loud fireworks such as scratch bombs on people. “I have an old lady friend who nearly had a heart attack. That’s the fun they (perpetrators) get.”

She knew of a little boy traumatised by scratch bombs. “A woman I know has a two year old son and at Divali he couldn’t eat and couldn’t sleep. She had told me ‘For days I couldn’t get my son to calm down.’ He was afraid to go outside.”

Anti-fireworks advocate Josie Ache-De Goulard was disappointed that all fireworks were not banned. “Why can’t they use silent fireworks? It seems everybody wants a bang.” She urged TT to emulate countries that more tightly regulate fireworks.

“In many towns in the United States you can’t let off fireworks without a licence. In Barbados the law is very strict and they don’t allow that nonsense. But in TT, where’s the enforcement?” She saw Friday’s announcement as simply “old talk.”

Recalling that scratch bombs had burnt down three houses at Freeport and blown off the hand of grandmother Sally-Ann Cuffie hand, Ache-De Goulard noted firework dangers still exist.“So if someone gets injured or killed, what will they do? Turn around and say ‘I’m sorry’?”