In Trinidad and Tobago (TT), the annual tradition of fireworks, intended to symbolize joy and celebration, has instead become a source of widespread distress and danger. The Editor of Newsday, Jeff K. Mayers, highlights the severe consequences of this practice, which affects everyone from the elderly to infants, and even pets and wildlife. The trauma caused by fireworks is not an isolated issue but a systemic failure that demands urgent attention.
Historical incidents underscore the gravity of the situation. In 2019, ‘Joey,’ a kangaroo at the Emperor Valley Zoo, died from shock following a fireworks display. In 2015, Arjun Maraj, a 54-year-old from Freeport, suffered severe hand injuries from a scratch bomb during Divali celebrations. On New Year’s Day 2022, a fire sparked by fireworks in Port-of-Spain left 23 residents homeless. A 2020 survey by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) revealed that 79% of nearly 3,000 respondents reported negative effects from fireworks, including panic attacks, hypertension, and distress in animals.
Despite repeated calls for action, successive governments have failed to address the issue decisively. The EMA has advocated for a ban on noisy fireworks and proposed limiting sales to ‘noise-reduced’ alternatives under 100 decibels. However, no significant measures have been implemented.
Other countries have already taken progressive steps. Ireland, the Netherlands, and many Chinese cities have banned consumer fireworks, reserving displays for licensed professionals. These nations demonstrate that celebrations can be both beautiful and safe, without causing harm or pollution.
The Editor argues that true progress is measured not by GDP growth alone but by the happiness, safety, and well-being of the population. Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Index serves as a model, emphasizing community welfare over commercial spectacle. TT, the Editor suggests, should adopt a similar approach.
The call to action is clear: ban the importation, sale, and use of fireworks by the public, reserving displays for licensed professionals under strict regulation. This would foster a culture of compassion, creativity, and care for all living beings, ensuring a safer and happier society.
The time for half-measures has passed. It is time to make TT fireworks-free, prioritizing the safety, sanity, and well-being of everyone.