Police should take action against those who let off squibs

Dear Editor,

I wish to thank Commander Pareshram of ‘G’ Division for taking the initiative in sending  out his policemen to neighbours to get a written ‘objection’ or ‘no objection’  before he issues a pass for any fete, dance or party, during the Christmas holidays. In the past revellers held parties until the wee hours of the morning disturbing the peace. The sick had sleepless nights when these parties went into the morning with non-stop loud music. I welcome this move by the commander; after all, most of these parties are using big boom boxes so the music vibrates in your house.

I have nothing against parties, but sometimes this high-decibel music goes way beyond midnight. Another thing the police should look into is those thunder squibs which find their way into the markets and shops. These squibs are harmful to health, life and limb. At night young people shoot off these things over your house which can cause a fire. In addition the dogs run mad in their kennel and the babies cannot sleep. The police patrol needs to deal with the people who use them and bring them before the court. This will set an example to the rest.

I remember one Christmas when the GNCB Bank was robbed at Anna Regina by bandits and shots were going off in the bank. All the residents in the village thought it was squibs. I myself thought so too. I was lying in my hammock under my house when I saw a woman who lives near the bank running on the public road going south. I suspected that something was not right in the village, and when I asked her why she was running with such haste, she told me that bandits were robbing the bank, and they had held all the staff and the manager hostage.

I saw hundreds of people looking on from the road and side street leading to the sea shore. I decided to venture further since I saw Cpl Richard Faikall shooting at some of the bandits waiting in a boat in the sea. I was next to him with some boys from the village when he was fatally shot and fell down on the sea dam. He was risking his life with no back-up and he was fighting the bandits in the open air; he had no cover to protect himself. Squibs can mislead policemen in the event of a robbery. That is why the police need to take firm action against the law-breakers.

Yours faithfully,

Mohamed Khan