Abu Dhabi: As the country gears up to celebrate Eid Al Fitr, residents observe that the black market for fireworks is thriving despite repeated warnings by police.
Abdul Rahman Al Bastaki, a 51 year-old Emirati private sector employee and father, said firecrackers deemed illegal for private use are being sold and promoted through social media websites.
“Just the other day, I spotted someone promoting them through Instagram. Back in my day, in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the firecrackers we used to use were relatively smaller in size and the damage they could cause was a lot less. Sure, we suffered minor burns on our hands, but nothing as disastrous and irreparable as what some of the larger and popular firecrackers being sold now are capable of doing,” he said.
“The instructions they sometimes come with are usually in an uncommon language and that makes the guidelines difficult to follow. One time, one of the rockets went into my house and almost started a fire, because it was not clear in which direction it should be pointed,” he said.
Saeed Al Mannai, Director of the Activities Department at the Emirates Heritage Club, told Gulf News that using firecrackers and fireworks at home can lead to tragedy.
“Physical deformations are a common result of misusing these devices. The entire joy and cheerful atmosphere s associated with celebrating Eid is lost for children and families, who will be in a state of panic and worry. Some companies that manufacture these things are adhering to a rigid set of standards. These things end up being more like explosives than firecrackers,” he said.
Another reason why accidents occur when members of the public set off firecrackers or fireworks in their homes is that many of these products are smuggled into the UAE, which means their quality is not guaranteed.
“A number of professional companies are happy to help in setting up a display at big events. In order to ensure the safety of our children who we consider to be the future of our country, we need to use prevention and awareness instead of trial and error,” Al Mannai said.
Earlier, a man who was allegedly caught selling firecrackers through social media websites was detained and referred to the Court of Misdemeanours for the illegal possession and promotion of explosives.
The Public Prosecution has recommended that he receive a harsh sentence if found guilty of the charges against him.
