The EPA reeks of incompetence where noise nuisance is concerned

Jan 01, 2012 Letters

Dear Editor,
The further decadence to which our society is sinking was indeed evident through the ruckus and noise caused by several music sets along Main Street, New Amsterdam on Christmas Eve night. Churches which had Masses in session were heavily affected by this insensitive display of arrogance.
It was worse than previous years. The music was so loud and was rebounding within the walls of the Roman Catholic Church, located at the corner of Main and Pope Streets. Midnight Mass- goers could have hardly heard anything during the service, more so the priest’s homily, which ironically had a lot to say about the confusion in the world today, our country included.
The same was experienced at the Anglican Church, just a few blocks away. And churches were well- attended on Christmas Eve. It is good to know there are still persons among our midst who understand what Christmas is truly about.
But shouldn’t the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have a say in these matters? When my church wants to host events and use a music set or generator (whether for a parish fair or concert), we have to go through a lengthy application process and fill a five- page  complex application for permission to be granted. Where is the EPA when neighbourhoods and churches are being disturbed and the general peace and quiet of the holiday season becomes bombarded with noise pollution?
The EPA ought to have more consideration for the people of this country especially our religious organizations that only want some silence and peace around them when they are holding their prayers and services. The EPA, when applying for using musical sets and generators and other noisy equipment, want to know all sorts of information in the application.
The application requires one to state what is situated North, South, East and West of the building that will be using the music set or generator. They want to know proximity of residences, places of worship, schools, hospitals, etc. They want to know sound volume levels and frequency and duration of sound. They want to know capital investment in the project/event/activity; expected turnover of activity; justification of the need for this activity/noise making equipment being applied for. They want to know the possible/ actual effects of the project on the physical environment for all stages of the project and existing mitigation measures for each impact.
The EPA, in its application for noise- making, wants to know the impacts on health, as well as impact on cultural sites, religious places of worship, schools, organizations, peace and amenity, community practices, etc.
What is the EPA trying to show by requesting so much information in their application forms? Guyanese know the disregard for peace and quiet that they are faced with on a daily basis whereby it is a luxury to be in one’s home nowadays and not being bombarded by some wedding house or some other social event.
When you call the police station, either they do not have patrols to send or they go and warn the persons, only to have the music turned back up when they (the police) have left. This is what the EPA should be addressing.
I think the EPA reeks of incompetence. A few months ago, I made a noise- nuisance complaint to the EPA in writing. You know how they dealt with the matter? They passed it on to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council. Then the NDC, in return, related to me that they have no authority to deal with the matter and “wrote back the EPA”. I haven’t heard from the EPA since.
Worshipers deserve peace and quiet within their hallowed halls in which they should enjoy the sanctity of their religion. The world—Guyana—is fast becoming a very noisy place, and this is now seeping into our religious places of worship. The same thing will happen on Old Year’s Night while services are going on. This time, the wider Christian community will be affected.
Leon Jameson Suseran