Dear Minister Greene,
Last weekend, I had the privilege to listen to you quite tentatively on the most popular & interesting radio program, the Browne & Browne show.
I will admit, that I was certainly taken back when I think I heard you alluding to, you not being in agreement with the actions taken by the Dock Yard police, of granting permission to the restaurants owners within the nearby vicinity to have their DJ’s playing music at such high decibels until the wee hours of the morning, throughout the week and on the weekends.
Infact, if not mistaken, you also went on to say, that the matter has been so troubling & disgusting that you were forced to send a message to the PM, who is presently overseas on govt business, to have him intervene in the troubling matter when he returns.
Of course, I am sure you are aware that the playing of loud music within the neighborhood is not only taking place in your constituency but it is also happening throughout the island especially in St. John’s where bars, house parties, fetes & night clubs are very popular.
The entertainers / promotors of these functions seems not to have any respect for those persons who live within the neighborhood. In addition, the patrons have a tendency to leave behind their empty bottles, marijuana stumps etc etc, thus littering the properties of the surrounding residents.
Interestingly, I can recall using this same medium, requesting for the authorities to get involved in a similar matter concerning some elderly persons within the Ottos neighborhood who were facing challenges to sleep because of the profane language, the scent from the marijuana smoking and the loud decibels of the music. Surprisingly, not a drum was heard or any action taken by anyone in authority, including you.
Ironically, the shoe is now on your foot squeezing you and your constituents, hence your voice is now heard. Sadly, I did not hear you make reference to the other constituencies or neibourhoods. Bob Marley once said in one of his songs ” when the rain falls it does not fall on one man’s house top”.
Of course, I will join with you, that matters like these concerning noise pollution is really a vexing issue and needs to be dealt sooner than later. However, it is my view, that the culture that many of us have adopted of acting or saying something only when it affects me, needs to change.
The government needs to implement a policy to control these musicians especially when they are engaged in the residential areas. The police tend to be very complacent in relation to such matters.
With your voice now been heard & hopefully the intervention of the PM, I do hope that residents throughout will get the respect they truly deserve within their place of residence…
Alex.
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They have a point
Again this points to a total lack of planning by all the different governments we have had. Areas must be designated as residential etc. How the hell does DCA allow bars/restaurants to be sited on the bends/junctions of major roads? Look at the situation on the Pigotts Main road where a bar with loud music and parking all over etc has been allowed to operate on a junction of an extremely busy main road.
And on the topic of noise pollution, it is not only bars but also clap hand churches, which are located in the middle of communities and unlike the traditional churches have loud, amplified music 7 night a week and all day Sunday. Noise is noise.
It’s not only a disturbance, it is a harzados to one’s health. If we cannot be reasonable then Parliament will have to introduce the necessary laws to protect us. If we cannot be considerate of each other and understand what the health hazards, then necessary laws will have to be introduced.
I am not alone then! Because the biggest nuisance is that bar on Friars Hill road next to Digicel that on Tuesdays and Weekends (from Sunday afternoons Right down until 3:00AM, nonstop blaring music. Clearly the owners do not live anywhere near so they do not care. Forget getting sleep on Sunday night. You going to work looking haggard! No care for the residents whose homes are in the vicinity. I understand that it’s a business but when there are homes directly around (for those who are not aware) some are literally 10 feet away from that bar, there is no conscience. None. No issues with a business, but when one cannot hear themselves or have a conversation in their own homes for HOURS until the following morning, almost time to go to work, HOW is that fair?
There is a Noise Pollution Act, so the need to bring it to the attention of the PM is curious. Seems it is Police matter.
And yes DCA has some responsibility to ensure the buildings the approve as completed are indeed designed and built for the purpose stated in the planning application!
Really quite simple
The lack of respect and no discretion for the residents is definitely outrageous by these bar & restaurant owners. It’s all of self.
It is full time for the govt do something about the noise pollution and give the neighborhood more respect
Could ANR consider posting the contents of this “Noise Pollution Act”?, or maybe one of the regular contributors could post it in the comments or (if it’s too long) an article. Inquiring minds would like to read it.