Sidewalk barbecues are to be banned from the Bermuda Day Parade, it was revealed yesterday.

Dwayne Caines, the chief operating officer for the City of Hamilton, said the ban was imposed on safety grounds.

Mr Caines said: “With the congestion expected on the sidewalks along the parade route, one must realise that the cooking of food, especially with an open flame, is a hazard.

“At the end of the event, those coals are still hot and if not disposed of correctly, can have serious consequences.

“We’re simply but firmly insisting that people leave the barbecues at home.”

Mr Caines added: “We have had discussions with the Bermuda Fire Service and any barbecues or open flames on City sidewalks or in City streets will be ordered to be extinguished and removed.’

He said: “A clean city is a safe city. We’re delighted to welcome people to Hamilton to enjoy the parade as they have done year after year, but we also want to make sure they exercise caution and act responsibly for the benefit of everyone.’

Mr Caines added that spectators, who traditionally line streets throughout the city to watch the parade, should also make sure to take their trash and belongings away with them.

He said: “The annual tradition of marking out family plots on the City sidewalks, while not endorsed by the city, is well under way and any string or apparatus that has been used, that might impede pedestrian traffic, will be removed.

“The city asks those members of the public who have used tape to mark spots, to please remove it after the parade.

“Any spray paint that is used will be removed prior to the parade and, if possible, persons responsible will be prosecuted for vandalism.”

• To view the press release from the City of Hamilton, click on the PDF link under “Related Media”