Leonora under attack

Sep 05, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

Peaceful Guyanese are convinced that the relevant authorities are only lip servicing the noise nuisance issue in this country and that this problem will not die a slow death, nor eradicate completely, nor even experience a noticeable reduction. On the contrary, it seems as if the music was “pumped” up to deliberately aggravate the public, challenge the monitoring authorities and also compete with providers to outdo each other and “show off” their musical supremacy with modern gadgets and highfalutin electrical appliances!

As the agitators of the irritating perfectionists climb a higher crescendo, the cyclic effects of those responsible for creating this environmental catastrophe, have taken a toll for the worse, and now, the public is being attacked and their lives endangered by these despicable perpetrators. Take for instance the once peaceful village of Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara in the shriving Region 3. While Region 3, thanks to an ever-assiduous President Irfaan Ali, has been earmarked to ably assist in engineering the infrastructural growth of the country and augment the modern landscape of the beauty of this land with an economic thrust in the gas to shore viability, there has been a downside with legally challenged activities. Accompanying this enthusiasm is the affluence of welcoming visitors and at the said time, unfortunately, the influence of unwarranted demerits.

Over the weekend, as noise revelers continue to party in the streets of Leonora during the haunted time of after 3 o’clock in the wee hours Monday morning, students who have to wake up and go to first day at school from the summer holidays and workers who have to go to work early in the morning, were unable to grasp a good night’s rest because of the holistic noise nuisance.

When the bars and night clubs did finally close after 4 AM in the morning, some of the party merry makers did not venture directly home but convene in the street at a nearby food stall which is conveniently located to accommodate the spill overs and indulge the party mood. With the loud music, lewd conversation and thunderous laughter in their drunken state, their lawless behaviors left nothing for a naked imagination. A disturbed, distraught and devastated resident dared to witness this obscene scene from the safety of his yard and was immediately subject to a barrage of curses, insults and threats to his life and property. When the menacing aggravators realized that a picture was taken to capture the rowdy incident, they immediately closed up shop and drove off. A minute after, the very resident’s home was stoned with beer bottles as the culprit (s) attacked the resident from the side street.

The shocked resident frantically summoned the police for help. The female police officer who answered the frightened caller, promised to dispatch the patrol. Credit must be given to the operator because the patrol car came within 10 minutes, surprisingly. But then, readers wouldn’t believe what happened afterwards. The patrol car arrived, stop by the food bar for less than 15 seconds and drove off. Not a single officer came out to investigate the scenery, approach the caller who made the complaint, visited the house for damages, find out if there was any injury or to search the area for the vandals!

Is this the Guyana where law abiding citizens and tax payers have to accept mediocrity in absence of professionalism? Certainly, this is not the type of service advocated by the Ministry of Home Affairs who has recently highlighted curbing crime and corruption. Should we be questioning the effectiveness of trained investigation? Region 3 is crowned with an efficient and qualified Police Commander. Should there be any insinuation to amplify any aspersion in retrospective reflection in the work and duty of subordinates?

The frustrated villager called the station again and was promised the return of the patrol car. At the time of writing, he and his wife are in La La land.  They went to the police station at 5:30 am only to be greeted by an office without light to cushion the lone sleeping policeman at his desk! Annoyed by being disturbed from his beauty sleep, the poor guy took the complaint’s report, haphazardly and halfheartedly in a less than compassionate manner. So much for empathy. You can safely not even think about apology. There was no printer available so the report could not be printed to be signed. Does this spell out the opposite of being organized? How about being prepared like a scout? This is certainly a deflection of misappropriated positive attitude. A second visit in the latter part of the day to sign the report was an intrusion, not excursion, in futility. The adamant clerk partially shouldered to execute this simple exercise, decided to make the call that she had to leave and could not facilitate the “cumbersome’ request. Is the police station definitely one of those Government agencies who wish the public would mind their own business and do not encroach on the privacy of such a privileged premise?

That’s the nightmare not only of frustrated citizens in Leonora, but also other outposts and stations. Don’t let’s discuss unanswered calls from the police. The pride and dignity of many proud police officers bear, in performing their exceptional duties, is overshadowed by the shady accomplishments of the remaining few. Is or isn’t there room for importing important improvement and impeccable improvisation? How belittling is this to the Commissioner of Police who has an outstanding record for discipline and due diligence?

Will the noise nuisance be resolved with immediate remedial application? Why are bars allowed to be licensed in the middle of a residential area as is the case in Leonora? Why are bars allowed in close proximity to schools and churches as in Leonora? Why are bars and night clubs allowed to open whole night as in Leonora?

Why are food stalls allowed to do business whole night contributing to noise nuisance, health insanity, environmental problems and rowdy gathering, as in Leonora? Why are drunk drivers allowed to operate their vehicles after drinking in bars, as is in Leonora? Why are the streets dominated by customers of bars allowed to park their cars whole night, creating traffic hazards while blocking side street entrances and residents’ entrances, as in Leonora?

Why are patrons from bars allowed to advertise their privates and add to public obscenity as in Leonora? Why are customers from bars allowed to urinate in the streets and on people’s premises as in Leonora?

Why are peaceful citizens not allowed to enjoy a good night’s rest as in the case of Leonora? Why are people left unprotected and exposed to danger from criminals, as is the case of Leonora? Why do all the relevant agencies allow a monster to develop right under their eyes and noses as in Leonora?

Why do hapless residents have to feel helpless as in Leonora? Why do Guyanese feel that some are above the law as in Leonora? Why don’t all the relevant authorities take the bull by its horn as is not the case in Leonora. Who is really protecting who and against what and why, as in Leonora? It’s time Guyanese wake up and smell the coffee and unite to fight this oppression and depression. Leonora needs help, badly. Any volunteers?

Yours respectively,

Jai Lall

• compete, country, electrical, Guyanese, Jai Lall.