Officials at Firepower Fireworks in Charlieville say fireworks are being used and abused and that more must be done to educate the public on its safe use.
Extending a hand to the authorities yesterday, officials said they were willing to work together to create a public safety campaign which they hoped would reduce the negative incidents which resulted from the inappropriate use of fireworks.
In a release on Wednesday, the Police Service urged the public to remember fireworks must be used in accordance with the law or it could lead to serious penalties if that was not done.
Acknowledging fireworks were often used to mark various celebrations, such as Divali, Christmas, New Year's and birthdays, officials sought to reinforce the regulations as outlined in several pieces of legislation.
The Explosives Act, Chapter 16:02, defined an explosive as “gunpowder, nitro-glycerine, dynamite, gun cotton, blasting powders, fulminate of mercury or of other metals, coloured fires and every other substance, whether similar to those above-mentioned or not, used or manufactured with a view to produce a practical effect by explosion or a pyrotechnic effect and includes fog signals, fireworks, fuses, rockets, percussion caps, detonators, cartridges, ammunition of all descriptions and every adaptation or preparation of an explosive as above defined.”
A licensed dealer and operating since 1995, Firepower Fireworks officials compared the use of fireworks to that of driving a car.
One official said yesterday: “The problem is the misuse and abuse of fireworks by the public.
“It is just like a car, there are instructions on all of our packages and staff is always present to demonstrate how to use it safely.
However, there are people out there who want to be cool and do stupid things. They take it for granted and then it can become harmful.”
Appealing to the public to become more responsible for their behaviour and recognise the potential danger, Firepower Fireworks said while the company did insist on all customers being 18 years and older, often times, parents were the ones purchasing fireworks for children who may not always heed their warnings.
Pressed to say how they could assist to educate the public, officials said they were willing to provide videos on the safe use and handling of the various products they offered for sale.
WHAT THE ACT SAYS
The Summary Offences Act Chapter 11:02, under the heading Firearms and Firework in Towns - sub-section 99 (1) states that under this regulation, “Any person who throws, casts, sets fire to, or lets off any fireworks within any town is liable to a fine of one thousand dollars.”
Also set out under (2) in this section and in sections 100 and 101, “town” refers to the City of Port-of- Spain, the City of San Fernando, the Borough of Arima, and every part of the area within two miles of the boundaries of such City, or of either of such Boroughs, and also any place or area declared by the minister, by Order, to be a town or to be deemed to be included within a town for the purposes of the said sections.”
Sub-section 100 of the Summary Offences Act stated: “Any person who throws, casts, sets fire to, or lets off any fireworks into, in, or upon any street not being in any town, or into, in, or upon any place being within 60 feet of the centre of any such street, is liable to a fine of #$400.”