Dear Editor,

I write this letter not only as a concerned resident of Williamsburg, but also out of concern for the health of senior citizens like my 70-year-old mother. Recently, we saw the Ministry of Home Affairs taking action against noise pollution in our country and as such I would like to use your paper to inform the ministry and the Police ‘B’ Division of a situation that is affecting our entire community, especially children and the elderly.

Over the last year, a car wash business has become a regular promoter of outdoor events that includes the playing of the most vulgar of music at the loudest possible volume. The music could be heard as far as Albion in the west and Portuguese Quarter in the east. We, the residents fear each weekend and holiday as we are forced to be entertained by this unwanted music from about 2 pm to almost 4 am the next morning.

Our children cannot study for crucial exams, our pets are terrified, while we cannot even speak to our relatives in our own homes as we are unable to hear each other. My 70-year-old mother who is not in best of health on Saturday, July 5 had to be moved to my brother’s residence over a mile away because she was unable to bear the noise in her own home. The windows in the house and the zinc sheets on the roof were virtually shaking from the high volume of distasteful music.

We were unable to attend church on Sunday, July 6, because everyone in my household had a severe headache from the noise. And less than two hours night’s sleep. To make matters worse, patrons of these sessions take up positions all over the public road blocking traffic while their language is of the type not meant for the ears of children, while there is also the usage of illegal drugs. All of this takes place right around a church of worship, hundreds of residential homes, a clinic of the township and two doctors. To make matters worse, the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost is less than 200 metres away and they do nothing to relieve residents from this constant nightmare. We would like the Police Commander of Berbice to look into this situation as officers from the outpost can be seen regularly at the car wash consuming alcohol in uniform and even during these late-night bubble sessions.

The situation is now set to become worse as the car wash now has an outdoor permanent bar which was constructed recently. We would like the relevant authorities to look into the following:

1.  Why has the RHT Police Outpost not assisted fed-up residents in relation to this constant noise pollution?

2. The conduct of police officers in uniform at the outpost and at the car wash.

3. Did the Rose Hall Town IMC grant permission for the construction of the outdoor bar?

4. Did the police, EPA and other relevant bodies grant the car wash promoter permission for these sessions?

5. Even if permission is granted, why don’t the police stop our harassment at midnight?

6. Is the promoter paying VAT on these regular sessions?

Mr Editor, we look forward to an early resolution of this problem as thousands of our peace-loving and hardworking residents are affected.

Yours faithfully,
(Name and address supplied)

Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Mr Henry Greene, Commissioner of Police (ag), for any comments he may wish to make.