The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF), law enforcement, emergency services and support services of Carnival have once again focused their efforts on enforcing a policy that makes no compromises on safety and security for the upcoming Carnival season.
The aforementioned parties met on Friday last to go over details for the upcoming season and to ensure that all are on the same page in terms of regulations and safety procedures. All other stakeholders, such as band leaders, booth holders and troupe leaders, will now be apprised of the rules and regulations with regards to safety and security in respective meetings.
Among other things, discussions centered on band truck inspections, the mandatory availability of fire extinguishers on these trucks and in the booths, access for the ambulance department, outlining of the jump-up and parade routes etc.
Represented at the meeting were the Fire Department, Ambulance Department, the Ministry of VROMI, the entity responsible for the Festival Village Stichting Overheids Gebouwen St. Maarten (SOG-SXM) and board members of the SCDF. The Police Department could not be present on this particular day, but there will be a follow-up meeting.
“Basically we went over details that worked well for us in 2011 and discussed some things that could be improved upon for this year,” SCDF President Stuart Johnson said.
“We hope by now that everyone realizes that we will not compromise on the safety and security of Carnival participants as well as the general public. Regulations are not in place to be a nuisance to anyone, but to protect them. All of the services that met on Friday is on the same page in this regard and we look forward to the kind cooperation of all Carnival stakeholders again this year,” Johnson added.