Dear Editor,

The Noise Abatement Act (NAA)has come up for discussion once again. This statute has not met its objective in curtailing loud noise. As structured, it has given rise to corruption and other malfeasance, especially in the police force.

What we have under the Noise Abatement Act (NAA) is that some entertainers and promoters of party events will be shut down at the 2:00 am cut-off time, while others will go on until daybreak. The question is, how come?

You will be told that the promoters pay the police to go beyond cut-off time, or that the promoters are members of the security force or have political connections.

This story is the word on the street.

Some event promoters who get permits think that being armed with a permit authorises them to pump up the decibel of the music. Some churches abuse the NAA. It is now fashionable to use loudspeakers to ‘reach unto the lord’, as if the NAA does not apply to them. There is no consideration given to those citizens who are affected by this noise pollution.

Now, Entertainment Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange says she is optimistic about finding solutions to address the growing rift between the police and event promoters impacted by some of the provisions in the Noise Abatement Act.

Any discussion on amending the NAA should not only involve the Government, the police and entertainers/promoters, but also the wider community that will be affected by the noise.

I strongly believe that the granting of permits should be taken out of the hands of the police, as it often causes conflict when party promoters are not granted permits in a timely manner and leads to corrupt practise. Ask event promoters. They even explain that often the security concerns offered by the police for not wanting to grant permits have no merit.

We hear talk of entertainment zones. This is good, but entertainment zones must also have rules governing them. Say the noise/loud music emanating from these entertainment zones disturbs others, shouldn’t the music be turned down? Or will it be that entertainment zones do as they please?

Entertainers/promoters, after acquiring permits, must be made to go to the police in the area with the filled out prescribed form they get with the permit, which will state the date, time and venue of the event; as well as the name of the sound system and the operator(s).

The present cut-off times for weekdays and weekends make no sense. Revellers now go to parties at 2:00 am. What is more important is that the music must be turned down to acceptable levels so as not to disturb others.

The police must be armed with equipment to test the decibel and, after confirming reported complaints, must shut the event down and prosecute the promoters and the sound system operators.

This is as I see it.

Authnel S Reid

reidaut@icloud.com