THE EDITOR, Sir:
I live in the Kingston 20 area and recent experiences with night noise have forced me to write this letter, hoping I will be able to get some answers from the relevant authorities. Recently, but on separate occasions, dances were held on Dennis Avenue, Silverdene Drive, Chinchona Avenue, the Glendale Housing Scheme and of course, Maverley.
My concern is whether these dance operators had sought and received permission from the police, which, I understand is a basic prerequisite for putting on dances. It is my understanding that even when permission has been sought and received, the dance operator has up until 2:00 a.m. to end the dance. None of those dances I earlier mentioned ended anywhere before or even close to 2:00 a.m. They all started about 7:00 p.m. and ended between 4:00 and 7:00 the following morning. That's when many of the persons who actually work to keep many of the dancers and their families supplied with health services, educational services, water etc., would have been on their way to work without the required hours of sleep or rest, due to night noise.
How, therefore, could permission be granted to community members and worse non-community members to 'keep' dances in residential areas such as Arlene Gardens, Three Oaks Gardens, Pembroke Hall, Maverley, Glendale Housing Scheme and Hughenden? Granting permission to hold dances, is in essence saying to all students, teachers, police, civil servants, managers, nurses, clerical workers, pastors and of course the very sick etc., you cannot begin to sleep until just after 2:00 a.m. (if you are lucky).
It is not humanly impossible for the average student to perform adequately under those conditions - vibrating buildings and the constant pounding of music sets in their ears.
The police need to be more decisive in how they deal with night noise. They cannot, on the one hand, let the dance operators feel they are winning the 'battle' and on the other hand, they cannot let communities feel they are losing the 'battle' to the dance operators or worse colluding with them.
LAW MUST BE AMENDED
In sum, the law must be amended to have dances kept only in certain designated areas (provisions can be made to have house parties for some limited time, 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. perhaps) A law designed to subject a country's most productive hands and minds to torture and sleeplessness is not developmental and will therefore, negatively impact this poor, developing country. That apart, the playing of music beyond your own space is not civilised and is an invasion of another person's space. Let us help to cultivate the right values, and they (the police) can play a major role in this regard.
I am, etc.,
JOHN BUSCAT
Kingston 20
