Antigua-Barbuda medical officer issues 'stern' Carnival warning

Specific public health and safety concerns are in focus ahead of Carnival 2017, according to Antigua and Barbuda’s acting chief medical officer.

Excesses consumption is one of them, says Dr James Knight, and the other is the lack of adequate safety measures in the street parades.

“Altogether, there are probably thirty annual pre-carnival fetes. Most of these are nothing but rum fetes, and are actually advertised as such,” Knight said.

“They are also all-inclusive so that for the cost of the tickets, young people go to these sessions with the notion that they can drink their full money’s worth.

“The same all-inclusive packages are offered for carnival mas players. They can drink as much as they like from the troupe’s bar while on the road.”

No serious national discussion on alcohol abuse among young people can take place unless these fetes are examined, Knight believes.

One suggestion for dealing with this issue is the exclusion of alcohol from all-inclusive offers, or a ticketing system that allows a limited number of drinks.

“After all, in some countries, there are regulations for the responsible serving of alcohol. One breaks the law by serving alcohol to anyone already visibly drunk or drinking irresponsibly,” Knight said.

“Bartenders receive training and certification for that.”

Truck safety

Unlimited alcohol and dangerous circumstances are a “lethal mixture” during Carinval, the acting chief medical officer has warned.

In particular the risk of people falling under the wheels of parade trucks has been highlighted by the Ministry of Health.

Despite repeated public information advice given to parade organisers, wheels can often be found only covered in plywood, which can then trap people who may have fallen.

Dealing with this risk has been supported by the director of the National Office of Disaster Services.

“What’s really needed is a simple device to prevent people from falling between the front and back wheels, and being rolled over by the latter,” Knight said.

“Even with such a measure, there are risks that people can still take, but the overall danger is greatly reduced. As a matter of fact, the greatest remaining danger would be the lack of judgment by persons who have had excessive alcohol. “

The Ministry of Health and the Environment have appealed to the public to “exercise responsibility and caution, even in the absence of regulation.”