Eastmond: Punish noise polluters

CONCERNED ABOUT the level of noise pollution in the country, Minister of the Environment Rawle Eastmond has called on the police to prosecute more people under public nuisance laws.

Speaking at a church service yesterday morning at St. Thomas Parish Church to signal the start of National Energy Awareness Week, Eastmond called on the community to "badger the police to enforce this law, as noise levels from loud music has become a concern". Before a congregation of 306 that included several officials from his ministry, including Permanent Secretary Atheline Haynes, Eastmond suggested that persons could be prosecuted easily as it was a crime of strict liability.

"Too often I see children with huge stereos in their hands that pump loud music, taking them to school and disrupting classes," he said.

Father Irvin Norville, deputising for rector Canon George Knight, who is overseas, endorsed the sentiments of the minister. "We must think of the elderly folk and neighbours who need to sleep at night. People must be more considerate," said the 74-year-old Norville in his sermon.

The cleric also spoke out against rampant littering across Barbados, adding that he was appalled at the irresponsible behaviour of Barbadians, despite our educational opportunities.

"We need to clean our environment. Do we need laws to regulate this? If we need to, do it. How are we treating God's environment that he has given us for our use? One of the major pollutants is the filthy, obscene language coming from the mouths of men, women and children. That is a pollutant we have to try and eliminate," Norville said.