Dear Editor,
The letter (‘Intolerable noise levels from a wedding celebration,’ SN, July 24) speaks volumes, but I am afraid that Mr T Jadunauth, the writer, is just one of those destined to suffer. I have big issues with this noise factor, and it is an evil that will only be addressed when it engenders the wrath of innocent sufferers. Our noise culture is just like the road one; some kind of drastic situation must come about, before due attention is paid. Then, when the dust is settled, things go back to the negative and illegal norm.
Where noise is concerned, it is coming from a number of places: vehicles (private ones, taxis and minibuses); rum shops; rich show-offs; and Indian wedding houses. When I think of the common quality of these people it is that they are mostly non-educated.
Take a wedding house and do a check. The noise is before and after the actual wedding ceremony and this goes on for days. During this time, life is indeed hellish for people who want to sleep, read, study and go about life in a simple uninterrupted manner. How unfair it is to have a group of revellers disrupt the peace of a neighbourhood!
Usually the revellers have nothing to say. They are incapable of uttering anything of substance. Also, when they have to make any request, they have to bawl for the food or whatever to be given. When the authorities allow these kinds of scenarios, they are saying a number of things: we give up; we are impotent; we don’t care; we will come when a big fight ‘buss out.’
It is time to wake up. Peaceful villagers should not have to call and complain; and when they do, it is quite a battle to get through and then answer to frivolities.
If a police visit is made, we are lucky. Still yet, if the noise abates we are even luckier.
I feel sorry for Mr Jadunauth and he like me, will perhaps urge people to leave Guyana. At least the basics of a good soviet will not be slighted in the USA, Canada or the Caribbean.
Yours faithfully,
Matt Singh