Dear Editor,

Has there been a relaxation in the law that bans boom-boxes from minibuses? Almost every minibus that I enter or that passes on the road has loud music booming out from high-decibel loudspeakers, and most passengers sit silently and suffer in noise. In many instances I have had to forcefully and loudly insist that drivers turn down the volume.

Last Sunday I boarded a minibus and told the driver to lower the volume and he complied.

In the vicinity of Bush Lot he began to race with another minibus and I had to shout at him not to race. On the return journey in another minibus, the boom-box was on but it was not very loud. I was tired shouting at drivers, so I held my peace and simmered slowly. When he turned up the volume I told my wife (gentle spirit) to ask him to turn it down, as I would have yelled at him. He turned it down a wee bit.

About a quarter mile from our destination at Port Mourant, I told the conductor and driver where to stop, but the driver drove past. My simmering pot boiled over and I did what I hate to do – shout: “All the way you were playing loud music. Are you getting deaf? You’ll be deaf by the time you reach 40.”

It is nerve-wracking having to shout at people in trying to protect my health and life, but I will do so if necessary. But then why should I do the job that the police are supposed to do?

The police are supposed to take stern action to fully enforce the law against boom-boxes and other loudspeakers in minibuses.

The police must ensure that these noisy devices are removed from minibuses. And ensure that all drivers attend driving classes and obtain their licence in the legal manner.

Our tax dollars pay the authorities to do their work protecting our lives. They must do so.

Yours faithfully,
M. Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett