The playing of music in vehicles used for public transport has been outlawed with the passage of a Bill providing for this yesterday.
All political parties in the National Assembly gave their unanimous support to the bill which inserts a new section in the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act that prohibits the driver of a bus or hire car from playing or allowing any music to be played in the vehicle while it is plying its route or parked in a public place.
Penalties for failing to comply include a fine of not less than $7,500 or more than $15,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction. A subsequent conviction is punishable by a fine of not less than $10,000 nor more than $20, 000 and imprisonment for a year.
Stating that the playing of music in public transport was a “burning issue”, Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, in opening the debate, said that there are certain technical, moral and cultural issues associated with the bill. “When looked at in its totality, obviously the bill is aimed at addressing loudness and…lewdness of this music as well,” he declared.
He noted that complaints have been “legion” and many expressed annoyance at the type of music being played in public transportation. He said that the objective of the bill is aimed at penalizing the driver of such motor vehicles which produces sound played in his/her vehicle.
The minister stated that it is recognized that the vehicles provide a service to members of the travelling public but it is important that those service providers recognize that the service must be provided with certain standards attached to it. “The standard associated with that service could never be music being played in a manner that is unacceptable in society as a whole”.
Stating that some may say that there is draconian strength in the bill, Rohee alluded to some drivers turning down their music whenever the police are around and turning up the volume when they are gone, making it difficult to address the problem. He noted that the current laws provide for police addressing noise nuisances but in reality, when complaints are made and the police investigate, there is no noise but the instruments are there.
“If we are to seriously address this problem we obviously have to deal with it in the absolutist sense, we have to make the legislation absolute”, he stated. He said that with the legislation it is not only a question of the nuisance value but also a question of public safety and security and making the roads more accident free. He declared that the music in public transport is obnoxious and unacceptable and further noted that public education would have to be undertaken so that all parties involved get on board so that the bill can be successfully enforced and generally accepted and honoured.
Speaking in support of the bill, PNCR-1G parliamentarian, Clarissa Riehl noted that noise nuisance is just one element of the lawlessness in the society. She read sections of letters published in the Stabroek News where persons had complained about this noting that “the problem is pervasive”.
Riehl pointed out that the most important part would be educating the people and enforcing the laws. Citing several incidents, she said that education would have to start with the police, as many times they themselves don’t see anything wrong with loud music.
She emphasized that another question is enforcement and the culprits being placed before the courts “or else we would be passing this legislation in vain”.
Minster of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy noted that loud music contributes to the carnage on the roads and declared that the party had no apologies for the draconian nature of the legislation. He noted that noise was an environmental health problem as well. Alliance For Change parliamentarian, Raphael Trotman as well as PPP/C member, Neil Kumar added their voices in support.
In closing off the presentations, Rohee agreed that the problem is usually with enforcement but recalled Trotman’s call for giving the lawmen “the tools”. He also agreed that more culprits needed to be brought before the courts.
(Gaulbert Sutherland)
They can’t police loud music, so they ban it. This administration is to #&$@#*. They don’t know how to get anything right. Couldn’t they at least say Radio only (maybe that would then be painted monopolistic but its their fault that we only have NCN!). Imagine I have to travel from Georgetown to Corentyne in quiet – I can’t survive.
Maybe this is a conspiracy with the electronic stores – portable radios here I come!
Get yourself a walkman or an ipod or use that quiet time for some positive reflections in your life
My friend it is not this administration.. the voting was unanimous. Everybody in parliament agreed. I am a victim of loud and excessive music on the public transport. I support it. I agree with you though that radio should have been allowed.
HALELUJAH! HALELUJAH! HALELUJAH! Good news, now I hope that they stamp out the indecent music to the ears of the school children. I am a very grown woman who everyone thinks is “down to earth” but most of the times I find some of the lyrics so offensive; whenever I hear it I would look around to see if children is on the bus.
This is draconian. All that was needed was to enforce the current ‘noise nuisance laws’
I hate the LOUD music emanating from these vehicles which assault one’s eardrums when being a passenger.
But entirely banning the playing of a radio/music is undescribeable. Why can’t passengers be allowed to listen to news and music at a ‘normal’ level? (Normal being that the people in their houses and on the roadways along the route must not hear it). This now allows the police to be ‘discretional’ and we all know what that causes.
Those supporting this bill like that need help!!
Draconian, draconian, you say? Where in NYC on the MTA, Long Island Railway, or even semi-private transportation like Greyhound that you hear loud blasting, for the most part, vulgar music?
If you use mass transit you should know that 9 out of 10 riders have ear phones plugged into their ears. I don’t know what happens upstate NY, but I can tell you that the Bloomberg will never allow those yellow cab drivers with that foolishness.
Just give us a break and get real now. You need the help, Ankooko!
About time. Some of these drivers play their music so loudly, the car parks sound like a dance club. I’ve had to cover my ears just to get through the ride. Mostly, I’d wait for the boring drivers with no music. I cannot comprehend the level of noise in Guyana. When did we become so inconsiderate? People playing their music full blast till all hours of the morning, music blasting at 6 am on the weekend. It’s ridiculous. The cops do nothing. In some places, it’s very hard to get to sleep.
Well said.. now they have to work on the car and bus parks to regularise them. the parks need some form of order.
I would like to congratulate the Honorable Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee, for passing the following legislations/laws:
1. Banning of mobile phones while driving
2. Limiting the amount of alcohol that a driver can consume by introducing the use of the Breathalyzer
3. Banning of music in public transportation
While these laws are long overdue, better late that not at all.
People will now be freed from the garbage that some of the minibus and taxi drivers usually play.
On behalf of myself and whoever else support these actions by the Honorable Minister, congratulations once more and a colossal thank you for taking these actions.
I agree its about time.
this is one several steps backward for Guyana. i do agree that loud music do has its disadvantage. i even agree that it should manage by the protective forces.
But baning music in public transport is really rediculous. what about the poineers of music and how it easy the mind and refocuses taught for so many. more when being transporting people on stressful route. This is indeed a sad day for Guyanese, even for us that living aboad. now i have to wonder that the people that are choosing to lead a country are not very wise. So im now wondering what else they have in store for this truly beautiful country Guyana. Here in trinidad music as highly reconize in public transport and is manager nicely. On a rather finical view…what effects would this foolish move has one radio stations that broadcast their music as a form of service to capture addience as to gets their advertisment out? What about saftey messages that may need to broadcast to the public in case of emergency, alerts and even newcasts. I already acknowdge that Guyana leaders are taking our country on a backward turn. Im not impressed.
I don’t know about you but I understand “music” to mean music, not newscast. Perhaps we need to get a little more detail on this Bill.
I don’t know what happens in T&T public transportation. But I support the ban.
Ban they skegs man!!
Since when having peace and quiet whilst travelling a backward move. darcman yuh need to travel in one of dem buses with music sounding like the earthquake system in a fairground.
The average traveller need not to be forcefully subjected to the musical taste of the driver or conductor.
You may not remember the days when travelling in the buses and trains gave folks to time to take in the scenery and contemplate.
darcman, you seem to have grown up in an era where to think is a crime.
Thank you Mr. Roohheee , I hope Comrade GGreeene can enforce it.Passing the is half way done, enforcing it is the HARD HALF!!!!!! good luck.
Truth be told it’s impossible to please everyone.
I am in full support for this ban.
Draconian – yes, (or maybe), but we have had far too many years to get it right.
Most of these drivers showed wanton disregard for the traveling public.
I personally witnessed a minibus driver telling passengers “if U don’t like ma music get out de bus” (and this was on the Linden highway).
I even recall visiting Guyana and stopping a taxi only to discover that the driver was playing a pornographic DVD in plain site, and was agitated when I asked him to turn it off.
For those who criticise this move I challenge them to offer a more practical resolve.
To Ankoko I ask, how do you define “normal level”? and to darcman I say that if Trinidad has succeeded in “managing nicely” then hats off to them, but we are talking about Guyana here.
And what about babies and infants? has you guys even considered the pain and discomfort they endured in these vehicles?….gimme a break people.
My only regret was that the Minister had to take this “Peter pays for Paul” stand, but what else could he have done?
Congratulations Minister Rohee
Give them it man lol a good lesson for them
Read my comments again!. I defined “normal levels”. Just in case you missed it. It is the exact opposite of the assault on the eardrums as done by most of the bus operators!
I would add that it is impossible to read anything jammed up in the vehicles, add to that the dangerous manner in which most of them drive and the potholes. Wish someone would show me how to read anything under those conditions. ipods? Hmmmm Now you got something else to lose your life for!!Something should be done but at this point it seems as always “It is what the administration says it is!”
I totally agree with optimistic pessimist
I agree i do’t want to hear ” DIGOUT YOU RED ” Let them play Radio .
Minister Rohee is not my favourite politician, but Congratulations are in order the only sad part is that it is 15 yrs late after we have lost half of any entire generation to this callous lawlessness.
To those who claim it is part of “our” (adapted) culture, Jamaica where the lewd music originates from don’t allow it on public transportation, likewise the Maxis in T’dad.
For those who, can’t travel from G’town to the C’tyne (by the l originate from there), what happen to the good old fashion conversation or better walk with reading material a book, magazine, the daily newspapers or use your power of observation and enjoy the sights along the way, know your country by learning the place names etc.
l have had countless first hand experience over the years with the rotten minibus/taxi culture since the drivers interchange. The lyrics of the music glorifying guns, violence and immorality are the first things passengers and schoolchildren are greeted with in the mornings and have contributed significantly to the decay we are experiencing now.