JAIL THE NOISE MAKERS

Apr 02, 2014 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Repetitive loud noise from any quarter, be it music, sawmill, factory or revs of motorcycle and boat engines, can be destructive to health and mental stability of individuals.
Noise level is measured by units of decibels. Anything over 85 decibels can lead to hearing loss.  Most dangerous is loud noise to the ill and to children whose hearing nerve is extremely tender.
Sadly some parents leave children near loud speakers to harden their hearing, not realizing the destruction to the children’s hearing, and the possibility of speech impairment.
I know one top city jeweler involved in loud drumming, and even has his grandchildren involved with the noise, thinking that he is doing a good for society— create loud and repetitive pungent noise that creates health hazard to his own grandchildren and those he tries to entertain.
Otherwise this is great gentlemen and human being.  Unlike the human muscles which grow with stress exercise, it is the opposite with the hearing muscle and nerve. It gets weakened, and with the destruction of the hair cell, which never re-grows, deafness is the result.  Ears pain is second only to toothache in severity.
While the EPA is known to assist with investigating and recording, it does not have any form of enforcement arm, and depends heavily on the Guyana Police, which is also known to have prosecuted scores of individuals, and even getting convictions.  Sadly the magistrates do not use the imprisonment arm provided by the law, and usually institute fines of between $7000 and $20,000.
I challenge the Judiciary/magistrates to try an experiment.  Start imprisoning people for noise nuisance, and witness how the noise complaints will be reduced.  With this, the promoters of shows and owners of bands or dancehall, escape with a slap on the wrist, the fines being a mere joke to some of them, they do not realize that it is a criminal offence on their records.
Some believe that it is their democratic right to play their music regardless of how ugly the music might be to others.  Some intentionally play useless loud noise to irritate neighbors, and when they complain, they are known to irritate them even more.  I know one lady is now a virtual lunatic because of the constant noise, night and day in Garden of Eden.
Some citizens could be so cruel to their neighbours, it is a down right shame.  Some people are made suicidal because of excessive noise, and having no one to turn to, especially since they fear the noise maker.
At times some hard headed police refer to the music and noise as ‘culture’; obviously that is what they know of culture.  The more professional police blessed with leadership, and uncorrupted greed, and intelligence will perform their duties to help the aggrieved.
I met several at the Sparendaam Police Station Station who took action at Starlite Drive In, which eventually closed down.  But another friend who lives not far from the Sparendaam Police complains that when he calls the police about late noisy shows at the Community Centre near Goedverwagting, the police will tell them that it is ‘culture!’
Just opposite the Police Station in Springlands is a major noise culprit that sends the neighbourhood mad with uncontrolled hideous noise, but the people in the area are afraid to complain as they say the Police frequent the place; they are friends with the owners and they eat and drink regularly there.
People have to stop fearing and realize that the Police are there to serve them; they pay the police as taxpayers, and hence, have the right to demand service.  The Police must fear the honourable citizens.  Only criminals should fear the Police.
Occupational noise has been the most frequently studied along with its negative impact on society and persons.  But now social noise has the focus.  Not only is hearing loss, temporarily or permanently possible, sleep deprivation is another, along with proven serious health issues such as cardiovascular (heart) function, community annoyance, hypertension, creation of stress syndrome, inability to study, concentrate, and several other medical ailments possible, including stroke.
Noise can lead to performance reduction, due to lack of sleep. Even violence is possible as people become disorientated and lose control easily, which could create social havoc in a nation.
Sometimes Government may not understand why there is o much insanity, violence and instability.
A study conducted by Cornell University of the USA found that people working in a noisy environment can be less cognitively motivated.  Children growing up near airports tend to lose their hearing.
Sound pollution can trigger the body’s stress response, causing a disruption is sleep cycles, among others, causing a loss of productivity and ability to perform, and hence, employers, government or private sector suffer.  Chronic stress, which is caused also by noise, can lower immunity to all diseases, and hence, more people will fall ill, creating pressure on the medical budget and medical centers in a nation, no wonder why we are having so many sick people in our country.
Noise pollution is a general threat to health and wellness.
My call to the police is be most effective in prosecution, and the magistrates to start enforcing the imprisonment facility provided within the law.  This needs to be publicized and some warning be given.  But all of it become an exercise in futility if the people affected do not develop bravado, have the courage and patience, to make the report, and give statements, attend court, which could be a bit slow, fear no noise criminal, regardless, and also complain on their threats if any are made, until they are closed down or go to jail.
Having a licence for any show or any dance hall or barbecue gives no one the right to disturb another.  They can still be closed down, licence or no licence.
The National Commission of Law and order, on which I sit as a Commissioner, take Noise Nuisance and all Criminal and Law issues extremely serious.  It is chaired by no other than the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Clement James Rohee.  The Ministry has a hotline, and is known to publish all complaints, and instructs Commanders in all Divisions through the print media to take appropriate action.
Some people, Churches and some Mandirs, and noisy Mosques which blare the Azaan (call to prayer) are all illegal.
The Muslims need to use the ordinary voice, their minarets and the wind to share their call to prayer.  Their Holy Prophet never used a loud speaker, and he instructed how to do the Call without disturbing people.
After the shows, the promoters, go home, count their money, get their sleep, and the citizens are left in a daze, impossible to produce with disrupted sleep cycles, and maybe temporary or permanent deafness.
Magistrates please jail the criminal noise makers, or it means you are not fulfilling your mandate to the nation.
Sincerely
Roshan Khan
Commission Member
National Commission of Law and Order.

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