THE CHRISTIANA police must be commended for firmly enforcing the Noise Abatement Act on New Year's Eve. At the receiving end of the law this time were members of a church who attended a Watchnight service and gospel concert.
The gathering filled the town's taxi stand and spilled over into the main road, creating yet another problem for those who may not have wished to be unduly disturbed or hindered by the gathering and joyful noise of the faithful. The event was hosted by the Spaldings Ministers' Fraternal and so came with the blessings of the church organisation.
Organisers wisely advised patrons that they would be conforming with the instructions from the authorities as the Noise Abatement Act was a law of the land and should be observed by all, including the church. One minister present noted that the church should set the example for others to follow. It is just a pity that the example was not set before the intervention of the police to instruct that the concert be wound down by 2:00 a.m., well beyond the specifications of the law.
Like other just laws, the Noise Abatement Act, seeks to balance the interests of all parties. The loud enjoyment of one group cannot simply be forced upon others indefinitely. There are sentiments on the secular side that the anti-noise law is designed to cramp the pleasures of the poor in street dances. Elements of the church also seem to believe that the mission of saving sinners provides special privileges to be loud long into the night and anywhere.
The services of many churches have been disrupted by the incessant playing of big sound systems in their vicinity night and day. So the church itself has been a victim of noise. Non-participants in secular noise-making or religious noise-making have suffered much and long. And the law was intended to balance interests and rescue sufferers.
Mayor Desmond McKenzie and the KSAC have defied the pressures and pushed for the enforcement of the vending regulations over the Christmas season in downtown Kingston. Other users of the high-density shopping area benefited greatly from the clearance of the streets. It is very well known that the enforcement of these so-called lesser, quality-of-life laws has a positive effect on controlling harder and bigger law-breaking. As the nation casts around for solutions to a level of crime and violence which has left nearly 1000 persons dead last year, let us consider the importance of enforcing the 'little' laws firmly and consistently.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
