Successive governments have failed to effectively deal with this scratch bomb scourge. They refuse to outlaw it probably because it will interfere with the earnings of some private enterprise.
There is a clear distinction between fireworks and scratch bombs, the latter is too loud and explodes close to the ground.
Having refused to deal with scratch bombs, successive governments have burdened the police service with the task of dealing with errant vendors. Wouldn't it be easier and a more conclusive solution to ban the importation of these devices?
Some scratch bombs are so loud they leave me with an appreciation of what a war zone sounds like. It's ridiculous that these very large, powerful and loud scratch bombs are being sold to Tom, Dick, harry and their children. How many more injuries, traumatic nights and stressed pets must citizens endure before a government will ban these devices.
We have to endure this not only on Old Year's night, we are subjected to it on Divali, Eid and few other holidays. It's ridiculous. If a government can't or refuses to deal with an easy-to-solve issue like this, how do they intend to deal with larger public order challenges?
Keegan Denny
San Fernando