We often here of so many people being held for guns, drugs, drunk driving, etc.
Can the police give us the statistics, if there are any, on how many people have been arrested and charged for setting off fireworks and scratch bombs for November 2015 thus far? The public needs to know how much of these offenders have been dealt with by the law.
We all know that it is an offence to set off these explosives in and around places where people live but one can do so in open areas like parks, savannahs, etc. Or, one can have a licence to do so.
It is nonsensical to have these laws and little or no one being held accountable. We, the majority of law abiding citizens, need the police and the law's protection from these inconsiderate "criminals" who continue to take advantage of us with such unnecessary noise pollution.
Where is the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) in this? Further, wasn't an Environment Police Unit established? Where are the local government police units, city police, borough police? Are they benefitting somewhere or just falling down on their jobs? Do they need a directive from the Commissioner of Police to uphold the law or can their oath of office suffice?
Why is no one doing anything to help us? Is it that they are awaiting for someone to trip off and do some other illegal acts and then we will see action?
Did the police form a task force, team or squad with plainclothes officers to go around communities and apprehend such people during the recent Divali season? This can be a "seasonal" unit established by the authorities.
We love to speak about joint arrangements with the police and defence force. Why not use the defence force in this area as well? This would have been an obvious thing to do. But do we turn a blind eye to the law and say "it is a Trini culture thing" and leave it alone?
I hope that with the onset of Christmas and New Year's that some action is taken by the authorities. Don't do us any favour. Just do your jobs and implement the law.
Rescue us from the demons of fireworks and scratch bombs!
Kevin Ram