Let's Put an End to the Noise!
- by: The Undersigned and Charisse de Freitas
- recipient: The Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Tobago House of Assembly
Noise pollution has become an increasing and serious problem in beautiful Trinidad and Tobago. Apart from the loud music blasting from every direction these days and the loudness of car exhausts, the Holiday Season is a time when citizens have to also endure the constant and deafening blasts of fireworks, fire crackers, "scratch bombs" and the bursting of bamboo, among others.
There have been laws in place (for almost a century) that regulate the use of these explosive devices, yet law enforcement is nowhere to be found these days. The most vulnerable in our society, namely the elderly, infants and animals, suffer greatly from these unwanted, sudden blasts of noise pollution devices. The Holiday Season is supposed to be spent in joy and peace in the company of family and friends, without having to endure these constant loud explosions which are nerve-wrecking and detrimental to our hearing.
Please help us send a louder-than-fireworks message to our legislators: END the Noise Pollution NOW! Enforce the existing Fireworks Act and the Fireworks Permits Regulations!
Thank you for your help.
We the undersigned citizens and residents of Trinidad and Tobago petition you to ensure that the laws of the nation regarding the use of “fireworks” (which include “scratch bombs,” the “bursting of bamboo,” and “firecrackers”) be enforced from now on in both Trinidad and Tobago, in accordance to the Explosives Act of 1907 (as amended) and the Summary Offenses Act of 1921(as amended).
The Fireworks Permits Regulations (under section 101 of the SOA) specifies that a written permit from the Commissioner of Police (or a Superintendent with the authority to do so) must be obtained at least forty-eight (48) hours before the use of these explosives. This permit must establish the date and place where these explosives will be used.
Christmas of 2012 saw a huge increase in the use of scratch bombs and similar artifacts all over the country and there were numerous letters to the editor in complaint after the New Year. These have been recurrent through the following years and are getting more numerous as time goes by.
We demand that the authorities in charge enforce the law in the name of all citizens and residents of Trinidad and Tobago, but especially in the name of the most vulnerable in our islands, namely the elderly, the sick, newborns, infants and young children, and the confined animals that cannot flee from the painfully loud noise that terrifies them.
Thank you. To read the Fireworks Permits Regulations, please refer to page 77 of the following online PDF: http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/laws2/alphabetical_list/lawspdfs/11.02.pdf To read the Explosives Act, please refer to the following online PDF: http://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/Laws2/Alphabetical_List/lawspdfs%20/16.02.pdf
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