People of Sixth Street, Alberttown need their peace from a miserable neighbour

Dec 23, 2017 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I am a citizen of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. I was born and bred in the Alberttown community. I have achieved a business in this same community. This business is licensed and registered to operate in the context of the law with all stipulations being adhered to.
From September 2014 to now, a particular individual in Sixth Street (where the business is located) has been making the lives of residents in the community a living hell.
Persons operating other businesses are also feeling the brunt of victimisation at the hands of this disgusting neighbour. The community was accustomed to looking out for each other and living in camaraderie. No one knows what went wrong and why this neighbour became disgruntled.
It started a couple of years back. Out of nowhere, this individual placed big blocks or any heavy object or string board on the city council parapet so nobody could park there.
Junkies passed and removed these obstructions. However, it was reported to the Police Station that persons in my household had removed these blocks. Police harassment started because of this report that was not true.
My social life in my registered licensed business took a turn for the worse. From that report about bricks it became noise nuisance— report after report.
It was reported frequently that my business was playing loud music, disturbing this individual. However, police would drive up unexpectedly and always find that the music is not loud. They would however advise that we turn the music down further.
I even asked them once, if it meant that I should not play music at all but the officer advised that I turn it down further to be on the safe side of the law.
Being a law abiding citizen, and to be accommodating, I complied. Please note, that I am operating a registered licensed business and I must be given permission to play music at a particular level.
Every given day, from then to now, once that person is at home and the business is being operated, reports are made to various police stations. If satisfaction is not gained from Alberttown Police Station, Brickdam Police station is used. What a waste of taxpayers’ money, to have police drive or ride unnecessarily to investigate something that is not true for so many years. When is it going to stop?
Could someone use the police force for so many years without penalty, for their own wicked gains? Some ranks at both police stations are totally fed up, but they have to adhere to commands and orders given from their functional superiors.
This has caused my business to decline and customers are tired of the –”every minute” visits by the police. I was once told by one of the officers that the person is trying to close my business down. Why, I don’t know. I am doing a legitimate business with no illegal or clandestine behaviour. Many officers have asked to be transferred because of this wicked act. The records, if investigated would show and reflect such.
At one of our encounters with the police, a senior officer, who was dealing with the matter, told my son to be careful, because this neighbour has a personal vendetta, and is out to close the business. This was verbalised and reiterated by the said individual that that was the aim and objective. Could someone be so blatant in his act?
When I put on my radio, police would either drive or walk through the neighbourhood, because of the accusation of noise nuisance that is affecting one malicious neighbour, who is always affected. This problem has become intolerable and needs to be properly investigated. Sometimes police would ride through the street looking for this noise complaint to which they are responding. If this noise is so loud, you should not have to look for it.
Another neighbour accused this particular person of poisoning their healthy pit bull dogs. The owners went to bed after a confrontation with the individual, which subsequently ended in a court matter and the next day, found their dogs dead.
When is this going to stop? After several reports to the police stations, reports started to be made to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about more noise nuisance. The team arrived from that Agency and conducted the necessary test to evaluate the sound system.
Even at its highest, it was below their decibel and I was promised a letter from that Agency to reflect same, so that I could take it to the relevant authorities and the various police stations; I am still awaiting that letter.
I spoke with the Supervisor five months ago at EPA and told her of my situation, and to date, I am still waiting. The harassment continues. This letter is important because that information has to be given to the Albertown Police Station, so they could forward it to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). I am also in receipt of statements from other neighbours that I personally think should be documented.
In 2015, a police officer told my son that they have over one hundred noise nuisance reports for our business documented. Our struggling business is being victimised and our customers are being driven away. We are clearly the target, because as soon as customers are seen at the shop from the window, a report is made and police turn up.
Sometimes, if there are customers the individual would take out their picture with a phone or tablet and also take out and document their car number.
My son spent two nights in the Camp Street jail for aggressive language, a charge with no bail. Is it because of friends and associates?
This individual goes all over and complains about noise nuisance. This is their way of peddling lies.
I have no choice now but to plead with the Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan and Commissioner of Police, David Ranmarine (ag.) to investigate this matter, which is of utter importance to me and my family.
I have no other means of existence. I have been self employed all my working life. I have expressed in this letter what I am going through. This individual has taken several of the neighbours to court, some of them twice for noise nuisance. I state my case. This is the truth.
“Noise nuisance” is being misused. Another neighbour does handicraft. Steps and reports are being made to have that business cease and out of operation also for noise nuisance and dust pollution.
Environmental Protection Agency checked their machinery about three times. Nothing was found as was stated and reported. EPA made this entrepreneur seal the entire workshop and still complaints are being made. The relevant authorities need to look into this matter.
Last year, a police officer told me that he went into work at 5 o’clock the morning to check for noise nuisance. I asked him what noise, because I operate up to 11 p.m. and be in my house watching MTV late night edition.
All bars are allowed to operate until 2 a.m. but I cannot because of this burdensome situation.
This business knows about dominoes, pools competition, karaoke twice per week, fun day in the street and this individual was right there.
This person slapped my son. Why? — We had a Bar-B-Que and the individual’s tenant asked my son to take over some stuff for her. I did not want him to go over there but the owner (disgruntled individual) was not at home. The tenant had broken a leg. She fell on the bricks. The individual returned home when my son was coming out of the yard and blocked him from doing so.
She then verbally abused my son and ended up slapping him. A report was made to the Alberttown Police Station and records at the station could attest to this.
This episode lasted one whole year in the court. I could go on and on about incidents and catastrophes, but I close now.
Please advise what I should do and what next.
A fed up Citizen
S.S

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