Q: What is the law on fireworks and bursting bamboo in Trinidad & Tobago? Secondly, I saw someone
with a flare and my cousin told me that it's illegal. Is
this true?
A: The use of fireworks isn’t illegal, but they
must be used in accordance with the law.
An “explosive” is defined under the Explosives
Act 1907, as amended as gunpowder,
nitro-glycerine, dynamite, guncotton, blasting powders, fulminate of mercury or
of other metals, coloured fires, and *every other substance, whether similar to
those above-mentioned or not, used or manufactured with a view to produce a
practical effect by explosion or a pyrotechnic effect; and includes fog
signals, **fireworks, fuses, rockets,
percussion caps, detonators, cartridges, ammunition of all descriptions, and
every adaptation or preparation of an explosive as above defined;
*The above definition would also include bursting bamboo.
**“Fireworks” is specified under the Summary
Offences Act 1921, as amended to include bombs, torpedoes, squibs, rockets and serpents;
Where it can be used:
The Summary Offences Act 1921, as amended
99. (1) Except as
prescribed by **Regulations under this Act, any person who throws, casts, sets
fire to, or lets off any fireworks within any town is liable to a fine of one
thousand dollars ($1000).
(2) In this section
and in sections 100 and 101, “town” includes the City of Port-of-Spain, the
City of San Fernando, and the Borough of Arima, and every part of the area
within two miles of the boundaries of such City or of either of such Boroughs,
and also any place or area declared by the Minister, by Order, to be a town or
to be deemed to be included within a town for the purposes of the said
sections.
100. Any person who
throws, casts, sets fire to, or lets off any fireworks into, in, or upon any
street not being in any town, or
into, in, or upon any place being within
sixty feet of the centre of any such street, is liable to a fine of four
hundred dollars ($400).
This means that the
use of fireworks without a permit can legally only occur in the most rural of
areas.
**Permission
to set off fireworks: Fireworks Permits Regulations
(made under s. 101 of the SOA)
If someone wants to
set off fireworks in one of the “banned” areas, permission must be obtained at
least forty-eight (48) hours prior, from the Commissioner of Police or a Superintendent
with the authority, which will be in
writing, prescribing the time and place.
