Dear Editor,
I am a lifelong resident of New Market Street opposite the Promenade Gardens. In the past, the only events held there were children’s parties and small ‘family oriented’ gatherings that did not disturb the peace and tranquility of this neighbourhood. That has changed and today the Gardens is a place of loud music played at the highest decibels, noise, drinking and dancing, especially at weekends. I have spoken to the person in charge of approving these events at the Mayor and City Council, called the Guyana Police Force to intervene when the noise is unbearable and even called the EPA hotline to make contact with someone, but nothing happens. Sunday night another event was held and once again it was ‘Deja vu’.
The music started at around 4:00 pm at a lower decibel but was soon turned up to maximum volume leaving myself and the other residents of the neighbourhood ‘tortured’ (according to one resident) and ‘traumatized’ (for lack of an appropriate word). The worrying part about this particular event is that three days before, I asked for, and was granted a meeting with the Mayor and City Council’s representative at this very location. I pointed out to her, and she agreed with me, that events such as those over the weekend should be held at another part of the Gardens, away from the residents that live just across the street at the North Western end. A promise was made to me that this would be done. Even more alarming is the fact that on the morning of the event, I went over to meet with the ‘event organizer’ when I saw at least eight ‘boom boxes’ being set up just where it should not have been. She assured me that it was a ‘togas and wine’ event (whatever that means) and that she will ensure the music did not disturb the residents. And then the music started…
I made several calls to the Police ‘Noise Nuisance’ hotline and spoke to a constable. The first call was made at around 8.30 pm and he promised to send out a ‘patrol’. At around 9.05 pm I made a second call to inform him that the music had not been turned down. He promised to send another unit but again nothing happened. At around 10.05 pm he called back to say that he had sent a second rank and that he had also spoken to another organizer of the event. At around 10.20 pm I again called him to request that he provide me with this organizer’s number. He agreed and transferred me to someone he claimed to be the organizer. That person said he had nothing to do with that event and hung up the phone. I called back and told the constable what the person had said. He told me that he did not understand why I was told that, because as far as he knew, that person was the organizer.
A subsequent call to the police hotline was made as the loud music continued and I was told that the constable was not available. I asked the person on the phone for a reference number for this particular report of noise nuisance and he informed me that I would have to go down to the police station in person to make a report (this was after 11.00 pm) and he refused to give me his name. I never heard back from the constable. A few months ago, another resident on the eastern side of the Gardens had written a letter to Stabroek News to complain about loud music. I foolishly thought that the matter would have been addressed then. In addition to these ‘boom box’ parties, other events including weddings are also guilty of playing music loudly. Why can’t those events that require the playing of music be confined to the ‘bandstand’ area of the Gardens that is far enough away from residents and with a member of the City Constabulary on duty to ensure that the music is played at an acceptable level?
I, along with residents of this neighbourhood will continue to highlight the problem of noise nuisance in the Gardens until the matter is finally resolved to our satisfaction. I am disappointed and angry that the Mayor and City Council, the Guyana Police Force and the other relevant agencies including the EPA have failed us. It is also disappointing that State House, the President’s official residence, which is just across the road from the Gardens has not publicly condemned this unacceptable practice.
Sincerely,
(Name and Address Provided)
