Dear Editor,
Allow me to extend my full and whole hearted support to the Minister of Home Affairs for the excellent piece of legislation banning music in mini buses. This is something that has been allowed to go out of control for a long time, and now is a nuisance to the society.
No one can tell me that they cannot enjoy music if it is played quietly just for you to hear, without the person sitting next to you being disturbed by using an earphone , or your neighbours who live next door not having to complain that, they can’t hear their own voices.
What kind of discipline are we inculcating into our children and our society when you can hear juke boxes playing music in the wee hours of the morning ,so loud that residents streets away cannot sleep. It is time that the government should get serious with this lawlessness that have permeated our society
Not only should there be a ban on music in mini buses but also on loud music in our communities ,why should we play music so loudly that it disturbs other people from resting , why should liquor restaurants and beer gardens be allowed to function without a licence, and allowed to open and close their doors whenever they please ?
We all would agree that rum drinking and speed-ing are the main factors that contribute to fatalities on our roads , but what have the authorities done about this ?
Could the honourable Minister see to it that a monthly press release is made by the Police Traffic Depart-ment giving the public the number of offenders they have charged. This is revenue for the government and safety for the nation.
If we are to stamp out this indiscipline that has consumed our society , then we need not only to pass new legislation but to see that it is implemented. Why is it that illegal rum shops outnumber the licenced ones , why is it that they can open their doors and close whenever they please, and why is it that owners don’t close in the nights and blast their music till the wee hours of the morning? Is it because they have connections in high places?
It is time that a watchdog committee be set up to see that these bar owners adhere to the law and that police see that the law is implemented . For too long rum drinking has been allowed to ruin the lives of many families , leaving children without parents , without food and shelter, without an education. It is the major cause of domestic violence and family separation
I am not saying that rum should be banned ,since it is a top source of revenue for the government but it should be controlled, just as loud music and cigarette smoking. People should not be allowed to smoke in mini buses and public places , since they not only destroy their lives but the lives of others.
I would welcome if the Honourable Minister Mr Clement Rohee could intro-duce stricter laws controlling these three areas.
Yours faithfully,
R Singh
