President of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) Gregory Aboud is calling for a ban on the sale and storage of fireworks in Port of Spain.
He also suggested that gasoline tankers avoid using Henry and Frederick Streets to deliver fuel to gas stations on the outskirts on Port-of-Spain and the tankers that supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to neighbouring restaurants not drive through the city when it is populated with shoppers.
Aboud made the call yesterday, one day after police swooped down on street vendors in downtown in search of unlicensed fireworks retailers and illegal scratch bombs.
The exercise, which came after weeks of lobbying by animal welfare groups, NGOs and a government minister for a ban on sale of scratch bombs, led to the arrest of a female vendor and confiscation of the items she was selling.
Weighing in on the issue, Aboud said Doma had failed in its past safety and security efforts, not only with the sale of fireworks but also gasoline tankers driving through the city.
“We do not think it is a good idea for businesses in densely populated areas of the city to be storing large quantities of fireworks on their premises,” he said.
He felt this was an oversight by the authorities which remains uncontrolled.
The Doma president added: “We stand firmly behind the view that fireworks should not be sold or stored in the city centre. It poses a hazard, not only to the public, but to the fire officers and those who might be responding to any episodes involving emergencies in the city.
The question of selling fireworks on the streets is obviously a great concern to anyone who is interested in safety and understands the dangerous exposure that these inflammable and explosive items can create for citizens.”
While there have been calls for street vendors to be left alone, Aboud said society cannot function on such principles. He argued that the rules should be clear for everyone.
He said he was baffled as to how illegal scratch bombs enter the country.
“I don’t know why scratch bombs and fireworks that make those loud noises and explosions are being allowed. What we have here is another uncontrolled episode of national life,” he said.
Aboud said there have been occasions where people lit fireworks on the Brian Lara Promenade, posing a threat to businesses, motorists and pedestrians.
“That is where the trouble is. I would like to suggest that someone in Government . . .some authority . . . take the bull by its horns for those persons who do not understand self control. We can’t allow for this to persist.”