Residents of a section of Campbellville are at their wits end with regard to the noise pollution that emanates from nearby business places, but mostly from a night spot operating from a caravan that seems not to have a closing time.
The residents noted that before the Covid-19 pandemic, noise was emanating from various entertainment businesses, however it was moderate. The current nuisance is a caravan bearing the name Lisa’s Restaurant and Bar, located at the corner of Fourth Street Campbellville, which operates throughout the night and long past dawn the following day.
Within the period of 2020-2023 several authoritative departments were contacted via phone, visits and letters. A total of 16 letters were sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during 2020 and 2021, and other reports were made via phone with videos as evidence. The EPA sent a letter of acknowledgement in 2021, which stated, “officers of the EPA conducted investigations on May 31st and August 14th, which concluded that the nature and time of activity at the aforementioned location may pose a risk of noise disturbance to residents in the immediate environment. Given the collaborative efforts and joint mandates of the Guyana Police Force and the EPA for the noise management, Sergeant Daly of the Kitty Police Station has highlighted that her office will monitor the operation for any future complaints of noise disturbance and to institute enforcement action as may be applicable under the Police Act cap. 1601, Laws of Guyana, the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, CAP, 8:02, Laws of Guyana and/or any other relevant legislation.”
Other reports were made to the EPA during 2022 via phone since a contact number had been provided.
Several reports were also made to the Kitty Police Station and some residents described the treatment they received there as disrespectful. They said they would be insulted by police officers, who would usually end the call when they became familiar with the report. Letters were sent to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Commissioner of Police.
Pearl Lewis, in an interview with Stabroek News, explained that some of her reports to the police had seemed to be progressing as sometimes the police officers would sit and document her report. However, it appeared that they became annoyed by her frequent reports.
Lewis added it was not just a matter of people playing music, as if it was moderated it could have been acceptable. From videos she recorded, the music session could begin as early as 6 pm and last until 10 am the next day.
The woman has two grandchildren, ages seven and eight, who are also victims of the noise nuisance. The music penetrates the room where they do homework through the roof, resulting in an annoying vibrating sound, making it difficult for them to focus and by extension; sleep comfortably.
As some of the reports circulated on social media platforms, another resident took the opportunity to emulate the caravan, but during daylight hours. A report was made against this resident at the Kitty Police Station. Lewis explained that after she made the report, some officers she was not familiar with, accompanied her to the man’s home and cautioned him. He complied, but later that evening he went to her home with a cutlass and threatened her life if made any further reports against him.
Nandini (another resident of the area) said she was also threatened with a cutlass over the same noise nuisance report. She was later bombarded with explosives that were thrown into her yard. Several calls to the police proved futile.
Other neighbours said they are now fearful about the outcome of explaining their trauma. Some have resorted to using earphones to help block the music.
Meanwhile, Nandini explained that her five-year-old grandson suffers from autism and is usually awakened during the night by music from the caravan. When this happens, it is very difficult for him to return to bed. Nandini’s two granddaughters and grandson live with her.
In addition, she said, some nights, cars would usually park in front of her yard and play music all night. “So one night like around 12, I come outside after three cars and a 4×4 did open them doors and playing music in front by me… I get some cuss, but how is man I want and how I need to go in me bed and the others, girl I can’t tell you, it’s nasty. Them does even ask me if I want them to come in here. When I call the police nobody don’t come, them never get vehicle. What these people doing to us eh?” she asked, rhetorically.
“We calling the police. We calling 911. Nobody don’t come. I suspect the police have these people that doing their business number, the patrol don’t come but I monitor them. When you call, five minutes after, you would hear the music gone down and the police didn’t come. By time ten to 15 minutes again, the music gone back loud. This lady and we went to court like a year back and she sign a peace bond that she won’t play the music hard. By time the night it went just the same way.’’
The woman added that not only Lisa’s Caravan would play loud music, however, the others are not as often as Lisa’s Caravan. “It got a bar name Platinum, when they start all yuh ornament does fall down; the rum shop; the two supermarkets and Buddy’s [PoolHall] workers with them cars that they would open up and sport,” she said. “But listen, these places get a close up time; Lisa does be whole night till next day clean.”
A letter was also written to this newspaper highlighting the issue.
Meanwhile, Lewis displayed 11 empty Nutrophos tonic bottles that she used between 2021-2022 to assist her sleeplessness.
The residents have sent many recent updates on the recurring issue.
There are two business places carrying the name Lisa’s Restaurant and Bar; the caravan and one attached to a hotel. The hotel owner who has been renting a section of the building to Platinum Bar explained that his business place was also listed in the noise nuisance complaint. He added that the EPA recently visited his business place and conducted an evaluation on the impact of the music emanating from the bar. He further stated that most of the time, the music seeming to emanate from the caravan was from cars that were parked there. The man said that often the loud music was from cars parked on Sheriff Street and not the business places.
Georgetown police commander Simon McBean told Stabroek News on Tuesday that the Guyana Police Force would usually engage with the EPA and respond swiftly to noise nuisance related reports. He added that the reports are attended to as soon as possible.
