As noise nuisance complaints continue to pile up from citizens from all over the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) has instructed the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to take action against those verified to be in violation of the law and the force’s own co-op is among the offenders.
According to the MOHA, complaints continue to come in by the droves from senior citizens, the sick, working parents, students and several other law abiding citizens who are constantly bombarded by loud noises emanating from a variety of premises within several police divisions.
An advertisement in yesterday’s Chronicle stated that the ministry visited locations that were complained about and confirmed the validity of many of the complaints.
Some of the perpetrators include Buddy’s Pool Hall on Sheriff Street, Demerara Cricket Club in Queenstown, the Police Consumers Co-op Association on Robb Street, Baroom Bar on North Road and Nickey’s Fish Shop in Campbellville, all of which are found in ‘A’ Division. Within the jurisdiction of the ‘B’ Division were Angoy’s Avenue Swimming Pool and Sweet Lips Disco and for the ‘C’ Division, Club 65 of Enmore and a mandir at Strathspey were among those named.
All those named as well as several others according to the publication are in breach of Sub Section (1) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offence) Act as amended by Act No. (1) Of 1989 which states that no person is supposed to operate any noise making instrument so loud continuously and repetitively that it becomes a nuisance to occupants of the neighbouring premises. Anyone found in violation of the Act would be subject to penalties stated in Subsection (2) of Section 174A of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offence) Act as amended by Act No (10) of 1998 which requires validated offenders to pay a fine of at least $7,500 but not more than $15000 and six months imprisonment. If the offender has prior convictions, a fine of not less than $20,000 is required along with a mandatory 12 months prison sentence.
The ministry stated that it has supplied the information on the offenders to the various divisional commanders as well as details concerning complaints and they have been instructed to take action against the perpetrators.
