AN inquiry is being launched into complaints by residents of a Bahrain neighbourhood that authorities were not treating their fear of snakes entering their homes seriously.
In the latest incident, a Sanad resident said he had to cut off the head of a 130-centimetre snake that had curled itself around the doorknob of the house’s main door.
This follows complaints from other residents in Sanad about snakes, especially a black one they claim was dangerous, spotted crawling about near their homes.
According to the people, the Civil Defence said that since the issue did not involve rescuing an animal in danger it was the Health Ministry’s responsibility since it was in charge of pest control.
However, the Health Ministry passed the responsibility on to the Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE) claiming that snakes were not categorised as insects or rats, with the SCE responding that the Civil Defence was responsible whenever people’s lives were in danger.
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah said someone needed to step up, assume responsibility and resolve the issue, maybe with help from others, if needed.
“The three bodies passing responsibility to one another has not led to a solution and people are panicking,” he said.
“As far as I know there are no poisonous snakes in Bahrain, with 90 per cent of snakes across the world not being poisonous.
“But, again, I am not an expert and people’s lives could be genuinely in danger in Sanad or nearby areas.”
Mr Tarradah said an inquiry would be conducted into the situation hoping that a similar case does not arise involving reptiles, mammals or any other living creatures on the loose endangering people’s lives.
“We want clear responsibility to be determined and from similar experiences worldwide such duties should come under the Civil Defence as they should be assisting in protecting lives from any danger,” he said.
Responsible
“But again they may have a point and existing legislations and rules make others responsible.
“It doesn’t matter to us; we want someone to step up and handle such cases whenever they occur – the panic people are now living in at the moment requires immediate attention.”
He said that all possibilities needed to be explored including potential dangers and hazards.
He added that the Sanad incident would help determine whose responsibility it was to handle such cases.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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