Noise nightmare - Sound systems blaring beyond cut-off time since extensions
Published:Tuesday | December 17, 2019 | 12:22 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
Less than a week after the House of Representatives approved a relaxation of regulations under the Noise Abatement Act to allow for events to take place until 4 a.m. on weekends during the festive season, some Corporate Area residents are hopping mad.
Under the Noise Abatement Act, the cut-off time for events is midnight during the week and 2 a.m. on weekends. However, for the Christmas season, the law has been temporarily amended to allow persons two more hours to have public events such as parties, meetings or church events.
The temporary amendment will end on January 31, 2020.
However, veteran broadcaster Fae Ellington, who experienced night noise going well into daylight on Sunday morning, is among those questioning whether enough thought went into the amendment.
“I live in the Barbican area and Barbican has a particular set of problems in that when I am in my home, I can’t tell what part of the Barbican Square it is coming from,” she told The Gleaner. “I had to make note of it. At 20 to 7, the thing was still going and I think it went on ‘til 8 or after.”
‘Didn’t think it through’
Ellington questioned the capacity of the police force, which is already stretched trying to tackle crime, to monitor night noise and ensure that promoters follow the regulations.
“I think the minister was talking crap – excuse my language – because he can’t control it,” she said. “Are we going to post a police at every place where somebody is likely to be playing music? It cannot work. He probably means well, but he didn’t think it through properly.”
Business and media strategist Deika Morrison had a similar experience this past weekend in St Andrew.
Morrison tweeted: “It’s 6:30 a.m. On a Sunday morning. I’m hearing a lot of shouting and badwords from a selector. I assume it’s the same party I was hearing at 3:40 a.m. The new hours are 24/7? Round the clock? Genuinely asking.”
One promoter, Jason Rickards, who hosted an event on Saturday in the Maxfield Avenue area, said he wished persons were more considerate of non-partying residents.
“We glad for the 4 a.m. extension. I only hope the promoters whose events have passed (been approved) abide by it and don’t make it hard on us when it’s our turn. I can safely say some ‘garrison’ promoters have been working with the new lock-off time,” he said.
St Andrew Central commander, Senior Superintendent Jacqueline Coombs, in whose division the Barbican disturbance occurred, could not be reached by our news team.
National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang had warned that there would be repercussions when the Noise Abatement Act is reviewed if entertainment promoters breach the temporary ease in restrictions.
“This bill is a response to the call from the entertainment industry, the practitioners, community associates, and residents for there to be a review of the current Noise Abatement Act,” Chang said in Parliament last week.
The minister said that if persons disturb their neighbours, the police should not hesitate to lock down their events.