Dear Editor,
It seems that the pandit and the persons responsible for the noise nuisance emanating from the Hindu Temple located close to our house at Mon Repos are so above the law that I have to write to the newspapers again.
Why I say this is due to the following events:
a) Last year complaints were made to the police at BV who took no action.
b) A letter was sent in July 2006 to these persons by a lawyer who was one of those listed in your standard editor’s note to letters about a noise nuisances as being willing to take action against those committing noise nuisance. After this letter, the persons did lower their sound system to a level where the noise did not disturb us.
c) At the end of August 2006, the noise nuisance started again and has since continued unabated despite calls to the police at BV.
d) On January 26, 2007, I wrote a letter to the Commander of C Division, no acknowledgement letter was sent to me and no action was taken. I followed up with several phone calls which elicited replies such as “the matter is under investigation, go to BV police station and speak to Sergeant Harte or Inspector Charles”.
e) On February 22, 2007, I went to BV police station to bring Sergeant Harte to the Mandir so she can talk to these people. To my utter disgust, a male police officer there tried to dissuade Sergeant Harte from going and berated me for complaining against the noise nuisance by the mandir “saying there is freedom of religion”. The issue here is not anyone’s religion but noise nuisance. By the way Sergeant Harte came, but the persons in the mandir did not put the volume of their sound system to the highest level they usually do.
f) On February 26, 2007, I faxed a letter to the acting Police Commissioner, Mr Henry Greene and this letter was copied to the Police Complaints Authority. Even with all these letters being sent to the relevant authorities to take action, the persons at the mandir continued with their noise and some of their actions seem to be petty and vindictive such as (a) at any time of the day or week persons would go in the mandir and turn up their sound system very loud. (b) their sound system now during their regular services on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings is turned up to the highest volume; they know it induces migraine headaches (c) On March 4, 2007, at 4:45 am persons in the mandir made a lot of noise through their loudspeaker system. The neighbours who last year your reporter had interviewed, and who for some reason had said the noise did not bother them, all started yelling at these people.On March 8, 2007, I am not sure if their speaker system was not working but the sound was at a bearable level. What or who gave these lawless persons the right to disturb the peace and tranquillity of our home. My sister who came in from New York, had surgery done here and was subjected to loud noise by these uncaring people who it seems have no respect for the rights of others or compassion. My little nieces are constantly subjected to this noise nuisance when they have to do their homework, or go to bed early.
What is so difficult for undercover police to come to our house and see what we have to endure? I say undercover, because for some reason, when persons are here to observe these people, the volume is lowered to an acceptable level.
During this week, I received letters of acknowledgment from the Police Complaints Authority and the Commissioner of Police dated March 12, and March 15, 2007 respectively. The Police Commissioner in his letter stated that the matter has been referred to the Commander of C Division for action. To date, the only action I have seen is that the sound system has been cranked up to the highest volume since Sunday. During this week though, no persons have randomly gone in during the days of the week to do what they usually do. Last night, the noise was unbearable, that is why I am writing this letter since I am not going to allow anyone to trample on my rights.
I have noticed when you live in the country areas (rural) in Guyana, when a person reports crimes or problems no action is taken and the perpetrators are allowed to be as lawless as they can be, while you the person reporting the crime or problem are victimized and subject to petty and vindictive actions.
It seems most of Guyana has descended into a culture of lawlessness where anything goes.
Yours faithfully,
Bibi Khan
Editor’s note
Those who run religious institutions, like other citizens, are required to comply with the law. If the police fail to take any action we suggest you ask the lawyer you had first consulted to prosecute those running the mandir. Unfortunately, other mandirs, mosques and churches insist on using microphones at services which disturbs their neighbours. Given the prevalence of noise nuisances it is regrettable that the police have consistently failed to take action.
