In light of the recent incident where a man collapsed and died following an argument with the conductor when he asked for the music to be turned down, we asked members of the public to share their views on loud music in minibuses.
Seeraj Ramcharitar, gardener,
`The loud music in minibuses is disgusting and the police should stop it already. It is affecting the drivers, passengers and even other road users. Operating a bus is not just about collecting money, but it is about providing a service to the public. Drivers and conductors need to show more respect to passengers because they have to depend on them to earn a living. It is their duty to ensure that the passengers are comfortable. The conductor did not have to argue with the man and then injure him because he spoke for his rights. I hope that the music was removed from that bus immediately. In fact, it should be removed from all the buses that have larger speakers than is required.’
Sundaslall Jitpaul, fisherman,
`The music is affecting some of the passengers while some of them want the drivers and conductors to play it loudly. The schoolchildren especially would demand the music in the buses and they want sheer vulgar music. When the drivers can’t play the music they refuse to go with the bus. It seems as though these schoolchildren are controlling the drivers. The drivers need to consider that other people are also travelling in their buses and don’t force them to listen to the same music. That is not right! I was travelling in a minibus from Georgetown the other day and the music was blasting in the bus. When I looked around most of the other passengers were sleeping. They are not on the alert in case something should go wrong.’
Vanessa Wilson, labourer at GRDB,
`I do not agree with the loud music in minibuses because it affects me. But some persons, especially the schoolchildren would enjoy it when it is playing in that manner. I think that they can play the music but they should turn down the volume. I like music in minibuses but it should be moderate. Many times the music is so loud in the buses that when you tell the drivers where you are dropping off they do not hear. The other day I was going to work and when I tell the driver to stop at Burma Road, he passed and went a far way. I was very angry but I just sucked my teeth and walked away.’
Sadiek Ishmael, teacher,
‘Generally loud music in the buses distracts the drivers. Also the content of the music is damaging to the society morally. Schoolchildren are travelling on a daily basis and it would distract them. You find that the type of music that is played is vulgar and generally it destroys the morals of the children. The drivers need to realize that elders also travel on a daily basis and they are affected by the noise. It should be mandatory for conductors to go through a period of training to obtain a licence. The training should help them to deal with passengers and treat them with some amount of courtesy. I also believe that the training would help them to provide a better transport service. Basically some of them would go into the licence office, get a licence and operate just like that, without knowing basic ethics. They need to develop respect and know how to deal with children and elders.’
Ramkissoon Ramsaywack, pandit
`It is not good for these minibuses to have such loud music because if something is going wrong with the minibus, like a knocking, the driver cannot even hear it. The loud music can also distract drivers from concentrating on the road and that too can result in accidents. Also, if a siren is coming from behind the driver cannot hear and can prevent an emergency from going safely. Sometimes the passengers are not well or have a headache and then the loud music irritates them and makes their travelling uncomfortable. Some passengers would go in the buses and tell drivers to put on the music loudly but that is wrong. If they want a little music, it [volume] should be low.’
Camille Semple, hospital staff,
‘The loud music is so disgusting and most of the song that they play is so shameful and degrading to females. And you can see some of the female passengers shaking their heads to that type of vulgar music; it is not looking good. I don’t hear the buses playing music about males like that. The next thing is that the driver would get angry when you ask them to turn it down. They would only turn it down if another minibus shows them sign that the police are on the road. I think the government should impose stiffer penalties to prevent such lewd and loud music. The conductors need to be more courteous and they should dress properly.’
Jillian Carmichael, health centre attendant/leader for church,
`I am fed up with the loudness and vulgarity of the music that plays in minibuses. It is so disturbing to the community, to the ears of human beings on the whole, especially children. It is not healthy for them. I think that something should be done about it, like some sort of rules should be put in place. I don’t think that banning it completely would work because I believe the government had tried that already. They should be prosecuted and a high fine be imposed which they cannot afford to pay. But the drivers know where the police would be and they would turn it down then. I think there should be more prayers and spiritual guidance and the young people need to know their values. The songs that the young men are singing against the young women are really terrible and somehow I feel that young men no longer know their values…’
David Ross, pastor,
‘I don’t think the loud music should be banned really. The minibuses need to have music systems that can only go up to a certain limit; it should be moderate. This way, passengers can talk to the drivers and they can understand without having to shout. There should be special devices that would help to control the volume. People listen to all types of music but for me as a pastor I listen to gospel music. But if I have a minibus I cannot play gospel music alone because you are dealing with society; you are dealing with the wider world. Young people would like to hear all kinds of music and sometimes the drivers have to please them so they can have an enjoyable trip. I believe that the ‘customers are always’ right and if I ask drivers to turn the music down they should because they don’t know my medical condition; they don’t know what I am suffering from. I may be going through a little stress and I need some quiet music. Bus drivers need to adhere to the passengers’ requests because they depend on the passengers every day. In the case of the man who lost his life; that could have been avoided if the conductor had listened.’
Ramanand Phagoo, minibus driver,
`I am a minibus driver for over 40 years and I do not believe in playing loud music. When the passengers tell you where they want to drop off you can’t hear. And then there may be sick people travelling in the bus too and the loud music can disturb them. I would not play music all the time, only if the passengers ask or if we have a private outing. But even then, I would play it softly. As a driver, I respect the passengers and make them comfortable all the time. The type of music that some drivers play too is not acceptable at all.’
Amorine Ross, community police,
“I believe that there is something that can be done about the loud music and that is to ban it completely. Sometimes drivers don’t want to listen when passengers tell them to turn down the music so it is a nuisance. They get very angry when you tell them anything and they think you are old-fashioned so I think the traffic police can do something it. They should take the big speakers away completely and charge the drivers and impose high fines to prevent drivers from breaking the rules.”
