Dear Editor,
Minister Khemraj Ramjattan must be commended for the action taken on the closing of bars, night clubs, etc, at 2 am with respect to noise nuisance and late consumption of alcohol.
Noise nuisance continues to aggravate many as the law pertaining to the soundproofing of buildings where loud music is played is not being enforced.
There is also the need to rein in the disgusting decibel levels emanating from vehicles both public transport and private ones. They also contribute to accidents. The police should also clamp down on those motor cycles and other vehicles that seem to enjoy the noise created with muffler-less cycles and vehicles. Years ago the police were alert to bringing charges for such lawlessness, but now it seems a free for all.
A decision on the need to restrict or manage the permission to play loud music for weddings, birthdays, and other insignificant celebrations must be attended to, as the permission is abused. Why allow a few people pleasure and multiply others’ discomfort? In many cases there is no need for amplified music in very small buildings with few persons, but the authors seems to revel in noise as in mandirs, mosques, etc.
Permission granted to East Indian weddings, for example, entails almost three nights and two days of continuous, deafening and irritating loud music. This cannot and must not be allowed to continue in residential areas. A few persons are making merry and an entire village or town is being disturbed. Two weddings in Betsy Ground in two weeks highlighted the abuse clearly as music blared up to 2 am on Monday night, July 27 for a Sunday wedding on July 26. This nuisance started from Saturday afternoon. There must be an end to this lawlessness. Loud music also encourages robberies as it hinders the ability to hear screams and so on. If it cannot be controlled it must be banned.
Minister Ramjattan is urged to stamp his authority and ensure the lackadaisical attitude of the last Minister in this area and in general has changed with the change the majority voted for.
Not all decisions will be acceptable to everyone though.
Yours faithfully,
M Sookraj