EVEN though squibs and other firecrackers have been banned, they have found themselves in the hands of many persons once again.

On Diwali night several East Coast villages were overwhelmed by the loud, crackling sounds of squibs, flares and other explosives, scaring the life out of animals, including dogs, while assailing the ears of citizens.

On the night of the Diwali motorcade, the prevalence of these explosives was observed and even in the presence of the police, both children and adults were openly igniting these explosives, with some throwing them into groups of people who had gathered to view the motorcade on the East Coast corridor.

Although squibs pose a hazard to children, they were nevertheless in possession of large amounts of these explosives and were noticeably unsupervised, setting them alight.

The Whistling Thunder, Colour Flower and Thunder King among others, when ignited, would cause huge explosions shattering the tranquility of the night and terrifying animals, especially dogs.

A worrying trend has developed in which person (s) are in the habit of causing it to go off over the roofs of the houses of residents.

Police yesterday said that it is still illegal to have firecrackers, but they found that many people are in possession of them somehow and would ignite them mostly at nights. If found in their possession, the transgressors will be charged and the GPF is urging law-abiding citizens to report incidents of noise nuisance by the use of firecrackers and other explosives.

When the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was contacted on Friday, no one was available to comment on the importation and sale of firecrackers and other explosives.

(By Michel Outridge)