There is at least one thing everyone expects when the New Year breaks and that is fireworks.
Fireworks company Caribe Fire FX was in the Bridgetown Market yesterday, loading boxes of the sparklers onto fishing boats.
“Shooter” Andy Clement is in from Canada, where the parent company Fireworks FX is located, to help set up the various venues. In addition to land-based setups, he said they would be firing from boats and a barge.
“We’re doing 22 different shows around the island so we need as much help as possible in order to do it all. We have local shooters helping out,” he said.
Local fireworks specialist Rodney Bend said he had been working with Caribe for around four years and he loved it.
“This is the action. I’ve been to Canada too shooting fireworks, it is exciting,” he said.
Bend said the major difference when using fireworks at sea was the movement of the boat but he said rocking did not faze him.
“The small ones don’t do anything but the big tubes will rock the boat but rocking or not, I will shoot,” he said.
Boat captain Curtis Bascombe will be one of the men sailing his ship out along the West Coast. He said it was his first time doing it.
“I push for all the safety qualifications since I’ve worked with Barbados Blue at the Hilton so the people asked me to help. It’s something nice for people so I am elated to be a part of it,” he said.
As for any concern for danger, Bascombe had this to say: “Nothing can be dangerous one you got it under control. We will anchor and them we will beautify the sky,” he said. (CA)
