Dear Editor,
Now that a re-energized Private Sector Commission has thrown down the gauntlet against inconsiderate and indiscriminate garbage dumping by the commercial business sector, (Stabroek Business September 4) perhaps they may consider scrutinizing a worrisome culture creeping into some sectors of the entertainment industry… excessive noise.
The Providence Stadium was developed primarily for physical sports, however residents in the immediate environs, and as far north and south as Nandy Park and Herstelling, have had to bear the brunt of serious noise pollution emanating from the occasional non-sport events staged there, such as more recently the Carifesta super concerts, some of which were extremely loud, raucous and disturbing. At the closing of Carifesta last Sunday there was a collective community sigh of relief when the final fireworks lit up the skies and the Caribbean contingents did their ‘las-lap’ around the stadium.
To our surprise and chagrin the peace and quiet of the neighbourhood were once again shattered from the following Tuesday with amplified instrumental rehearsals emanating from the stadium, and continuing through every afternoon from one to six, eventually culminating in another noisy concert on Friday, September 5, which ended at 2.50. The disrespect by the entertainers for rules and regulations and for the adjacent communities continues. And the business sponsors of these events are equally as responsible in perpetrating the train of corporate vulgarity, as the PSC so aptly described it. One would have thought that Carifesta had satisfied that appetite for quite a while. I wonder to what extent our youth is benefiting from this overdose of bacchanalian revelry. And where do they find the financial resources with the economy squeezing?
Music in mini-buses has been outlawed. I am not by any stretch of the imagination suggesting that super concerts be given similar treatment, but surely the authorities and stakeholders need to take cognizance of the deleterious effects that some of these extreme concerts have on the environments and communities in which they are conducted. In doing so ask the following questions:
-Why the maniacal screaming and shouting of the DJs or MCs?
-Why the excessive musical decibel levels, which have been known to resonate for almost a half- mile radius from the stadium?
-Why should sound systems for such small venues as we offer in Guyana be so massive, carrying powerful amplifiers requiring special transformers, and supported by up to 80 speakers?
-Are existing laws relating to time limits on concerts being recognized and enforced? (The Saturday, August 30 Super concert ended at 4.30 hrs)
-Do we need additional laws or regulations to limit decibel levels and thus protect hapless neighbourhood victims from stress, hypertension, sleeplessness, hearing disorders, and deprivation of peace and quiet?
Let us put some sanity and rationality back into our daily lives, and enjoy the stadium for the purpose it was built – activities promoting health, personal well being and good recreational fun. Noisy maniacal concerts do not fit that bill.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
