National Security Minister Gary Griffith is concerned about minors who attend all-inclusive fetes and play in semi- and all-inclusive bands in which their alcohol consumption is not monitored. This, he says, is against the law and someone must be held accountable.
Speaking during a media briefing at the National Operations Centre (NOC), Port-of-Spain, yesterday, Griffith said he was expressly concerned about this trend, as a review of last year’s celebrations revealed that young people were not able to control themselves after consuming alcohol, which led to an increase in fights and other incidents.
“It is unacceptable that you can have persons under 18 years old in Carnival bands, and then they call the bands all-inclusive, and the minors are being given alcohol by persons on trucks because they have a wrist band,” Griffith said. He said that “something needs to be done about this.” Griffith said the authorities would now be working with band leaders, fete promoters and event co-ordinators to reduce such incidents.
Urging band leaders, promoters and co-ordinators to contact the NOC to discuss security arrangements for their events, Griffith said: “We all have a part to play.” The NOC can be reached at 623-5202 or 624-5316. He sought to remind them that they had a responsibility and obligation to adhere to the laws of the country, and that although minors could attend their party or fete, the people behind the bar did not have the right “just to hand over alcohol to minors because they have a wristband.”
Griffith said: “It has to stop.”
He warned that if minors attempted to enter Port-of-Spain and other carnival venues with alcohol in their possession, it would be seized and they would be disciplined. Griffith said: “It is not going to be accepted in any form or fashion and if it is that you want to hide behind the cloak of ‘I am not selling the alcohol to the minor,’ you are breaking the law and somebody will have to be held accountable for it. Whoever it is going to be, whether it is the fete promoter or organiser, we cannot and should not be giving alcohol to minors.”
Further, Griffith said, they were exploring the possibility of banning the use of glass bottles—at least during the J’Ouvert celebrations. Griffith said the decision would be confirmed within the “next few days,” as they were in the process of liaising with the relevant stakeholders including suppliers and vendors.
Former Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee-Sing had called for such a ban, but Griffith yesterday explained that there had not been enough time to ensure the proper legislation was enacted. However, Griffith said: “We did our homework and we have confirmed that glass bottles have proven to be something that has caused many incidents during the J’Ouvert period.” He added that while such a ban was critical and warranted, it could not be done without stakeholder input.