BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WHILE there appears to be no immediate plan to ban the importation and use of fireworks and other explosives devices used in the celebration of Guy Fawkes, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force will be looking into greater enforcement of the imposed rules and regulations for the importation of these devices.
From time immemorial, there have been expressed concerns about the danger of these items as well as the use of them as a cover by those who wish engage in deviant behaviour.
About three weeks have passed since Guy Fawkes and still, ever so often, the sound of exploding fireworks rings through the air across communities on the island.
SKNVibes has been made aware of at least two past Commissioners of Police who have expressed concern about these explosive devices and who have suggested that, at least, the conversation about banning them should begin.
Current Commissioner of Police Ian Queeley, while speaking with SKNVibes, said the Police Force and its sister security organisations have been concerned about the Guy Fawkes celebrations.
“Over the years the celebration of Guy Fawkes has been a major concern for the security forces. I don’t think we have gotten to the stage of deciding on banning explosive devices.
“I think what was done in the past is that a list was prepared and circulated to all persons who are engaged in the practice of selling fireworks. So when people apply to bring in fireworks, that list is cross-referenced with our experts in the Police Force and Fire Services and only a certain type of fireworks are allowed to be brought in. That still stands.”
Commissioner Queeley indicated that notwithstanding that the list would have been prepared and circulated, the prohibited explosive devices are still being illegally imported.
“If a list is received, it is sent to the appropriate persons for them to scrutinize. But what we are finding happening is that other persons are, by illegal means, getting those loud explosives that we would have…not given permission to import…it could be they have in the past been used as cover for criminal activities that may have taken place during that celebratory period.”
Several years ago, a man was shot and killed in the evening of Guy Fawkes Day and the gunshot sounds were mistaken for fireworks. And only recently, a child who reportedly was around or was lighting fireworks, suffered burns on his right hand, his face and was unable to see out of his left eye.
The CoP said “the Police can make recommendations to the appropriate authorities to have the importation of fireworks banned. There is some commercial activity associated with it but a balance would have to be struck”.
In the meantime however, he suggested that “going forward, we would have to do greater enforcement and policing of the persons who have imported those fireworks. The persons who import those fireworks do not sell those with the big bang (the restricted ones). It is those who import them illegally. So a greater enforcement and policing of that would have to take place.”
