Dear Editor,

I sympathize with the people of Bel Air Gardens, Bel Air Springs, Subryanville and communities around, because of the Sunday evening and holiday street lime permitted on the seawall along that stretch of the East Coast Highway called Clive Lloyd Drive.

I have noticed several complaints in the press, and whenever we pass the area on these days, it is with fear of blasting music and the possibility that a child or adult will run across the road and get hurt.

The above listed locations are decent, residential communities, where diplomats, expatriate consultants, entrepreneurs and many ordinary but decent and good people live. I can imagine the horror and pain of these people when Sunday evening or any holiday arrives.

They cannot have a peaceful dinner with their family or decent light entertainment with their friends, due to the huge boom boxes that cause the highway to tremble, and the homes of people to vibrate. Just imagine the human eardrum reacting with migraines, and the people with a sleepless Sunday night being unable to work Monday morning and contribute to the nation.

Now, I am not one to criticize or condemn a thing without an idea as to what to do to solve the situation. Bearing in mind that I used to go and relax on that seawall stretch on Sundays and in the evenings, even taking our home-cooked meals and turning it into a pleasant and cool picnic, and can no longer go − some people do not like large crowds.

There are those who have learned to make money, and lots of it too. Food is sold by all and sundry, whether hygienically prepared, certified cook or not. Some sadly have been allowed to get accustomed to the income, so they will cry foul! Honest living! etc, etc, etc, and the authorities will get a good cuss-down, though in my opinion they allowed the lawlessness to flourish.

Hence, the authorities should allow the people to congregate, sell food, but no alcoholic beverages, and most important, no music. No music, is no music! No excuses, just like the initiative taken against minibuses with music.

The use of alcoholic beverages causes people to urinate, and they do it everywhere and anywhere − on the parapets where people have to walk with their children or play games. There is a time for everything. It is time for the nonsense to stop.  It is time for the government and city council to act.

There, you have it, the trade continues, the relaxing continues, but no alcohol and no noise. Result: everyone happy.

Yours faithfully,
Roshan Khan