Publication: Daily Nation
Paper Section And Page: 9
Paper Date: Tue, Apr 10, 2001
Byline: Roy R. Morris
EVEN before I get into the heart of this matter, let me state up front that because of its nature I will be returning to this topic in the very near future. I believe that ventilation has to be comprehensive if the extent of the inconvenience and nuisance it causes is to be truly appreciated. It relates to the matter of noise pollution. In the first instance, a concerned resident of the Lodge Road area of Christ Church complained there was a church there which consistently placed speakers on the outside of the building to "broadcast" its services.
According to the complainant, she and other residents have no problem listening to the Word of God, but they believed they should not be compelled to do so at times when they didn't want to, and at decibel levels that drown out every other household activity. Efforts, they said, to get the pastor to at least lower the volume, have been unsuccessful, as he believes that the Word of God must be spread at all expense.
Residents in Haggatt Hall, St. Michael report that they have exactly the same problem. Additionally, a Westbury Road resident wrote me about his inability to get any meaningful rest between 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and 3 a.m. on Saturdays because of karaoke sessions at a nearby bar.
"I am a law-abiding citizens who has approached the proprietress ... who rudely allowed me to know that I'm old and we old people don't like to see young people enjoying themselves... Mr. Morris, I am old and scared and don't know what to do."
In yet another case a reader from Cane Vale, Christ Church wrote about noise pollution in Oistins: "No one minds the fish fry or even the music, but there is a limit. I live half a mile away ... but on weekends when I try to sleep all I get is the boom boom of the bass of the highly amplified noise from the DJ and his equipment, which goes on until the early hours of the morning."
He added: "Then to add insult to injury, karaoke has sprouted up in a gap not far from here, which is carried out in the open air with full volume, this time with the worst collection of singers this side of the Andes, and this goes on until at least 1 p.m. What is the law about decibel levels and noise disturbance?" he asked. The first response I got from the police's Press and Community Relations Department is that there is nothing they have found in any laws which suggest that churches have any special dispensation when it comes to noise disturbance.
Head of that office, Inspector Jeffery Howell, said that matter had been discussed with Commissioner of Police Grantley Watson and it would be getting the attention of the force in a much more direct way. In the meanwhile, Senior Superintendent in charge of the Bridgetown Division, Lionel "Bill" Johnson, made it clear that while the law was relatively weak on the matter of noise pollution, there was still action the police could, and did, take.
Under Section 37A of the Highways Act, it is unlawful for anyone to perform on any loud musical instruments on or within 25 yards of any highway, except within a dwelling house or enclosure and except within the terms of a permit granted by the Commissioner of Police. As far as Johnson is concerned, this covers the problems created by some churches, as outlined above, karaoke, and music sessions by a number of South Coast hotels that continue into the wee hours of the morning, despite complaints from residents, and other entertainment activities. He warned that placing speakers on the outside of any building, whether or not it is a church, would be viewed by police as a breach of the Highways Act, and appropriate action taken.
In the case of householders who disturb their neighbours with loud music, turn it down when police are called and then turn it back up after they leave, Johnson advises police that they should immediately charge such persons. He's also advising Barbadians who complain to police that they should not accept from any police officer, the excuse that "there is nothing the police can do". This should certainly make the 86 year-old woman from Black Rock who told me not so long about that when she called the Black Rock Station around 2 a.m. to complain about a neighbour whose loud music would not let her sleep, the policeman who answer the phone said: "You really believe I comin' down dey dis time a de night to tell somebody turn down music?"
But when all is said and done, Johnson shares a view expressed recently by Beverley Walrond, Q.C., that it is about time specific laws were enacted in Barbados to deal with noise pollution. She referred to Jamaica, where police have the authority, not just to bring charges against the offender, but to seize, on the spot, any equipment used to create noise pollution. She said: "I would suggest that this matter needs to be looked at urgently by the public authorities with a view to putting the necessary legislation in place as the problem is widespread and pervasive."
I agree 100 per cent.
However, it is really sad that one person
would be so inconsiderate to believe that he or she can carry on religious
or entertainment activities no matter the inconvenience to others. The irony
is that you don't have to be heard half a mile down the road to enjoy a
karaoke session or to lead a sinner to Christ. And how do you convert souls
when you begin by making enemies of them?
I BELIEVE this photo and information should
be of benefit to all groups in Barbados, including University of the West
Indies (UWI) students, just in case they want to peacefully protest
something in the future, and don't want to run into problems with the
police. It's a picture from the Associated Press and it shows member of the
Canada's House of Commons Security, right, looking on as participants go
through lessons on how to be arrested peacefully in preparation for this
month's Summit of the Americas in Quebec. The lessons were offered in the
Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, Canada.
A "ZR gentleman": that's how the caller described the driver of a route taxi when she called, believe it or not, to relate a pleasant encounter she had with him recent.
According to the woman, who asked that she not be identified, and who pointed out that she never got the opportunity to see the registration number of the route taxi, she was driving along near the junction of Golf Club Road and Rockley New Road and the ZR, which was behind her, drove up beside her on the left and "made sure he got my attention".
The ZR gentleman then pointed out there was a very pronounced bulge on her right rear tire and he feared it would burst at anytime and was therefore dangerous. He then allowed her to resume her position ahead of him. She immediately had the matter rectified by someone a tire repairman, who confirmed that it could have burst at anytime.
"I am eternally grateful because it is very possible that ZR gentleman saved my life," she said. Now you know that it is not true that I only report the bad things that ZR drivers do.