ON Thursday May 14 the Guyana Chronicle published a letter from Khemrak Sancharra, in which he writes in support of noise at Starlite. If he exists, we shall know for my lawyers, who insist that he has by “Innuendo” attacked the undersigned and religion, been personal and committed serious libel against myself and the lady Vanessa Devonish. They desire to take action. While I am not a court monger, I have been forced after a long time to resort to the courts because Starlite’s owner thinks he has a right to do as he wishes without thought of people and its effect of noise on them. I have been very careful not to say or do anything that could be considered as personal, not Mr. Sukhoo’s religion, his family, social status, wealth, nothing. It seems he and his friends want to turn this into something personal. I will not condescend to such a low state…sorry.

In addition, lies are being told over the telephone encouraging and even threatening people to withdraw their support against noise. All this is well documented and will be used accordingly. The people are smart and will not fall. The caller even used business blackmail and use relationships of relatives to create deceit and confusion. This is serious. I cannot discuss the matter itself as it constitutes an offence to do so, and to intimidate people. Tape recorders are being placed to record the calls and conversations to intimidate.

Now, more about the letter from Mr. Sancharra with his sarcasm and libel. Noise when a show is on is not for three, four or six or eight hours but at times for twelve and fourteen hours, when one calculate setting up and testing from 2 pm or 4 pm. Can people with sense imagine what this does to quality life and quality living? The letter writer seems to have been primed and prepared to write this as well as someone has been asking people to do, all will come out in the case as we proceed. Perjury (lying in court) is a serious offence and when exposed as lying would result is prison time, I hope those who are playing games understand the seriousness of this issue.

If Sancharra feels I am wealthy, thank god for this blessing, but he should ask my bankers about the debts behind it. A time comes when principle and comfort surpass the worth of money. If it is poor people, ordinary people enjoying, how come they have dignitaries there. This is funny Mr. Sancharra. Are you a spin doctor sir?

Do some people like chutney in Atlantic Gardens? Absolutely! I am also a music lover, but also respect the rights of others. Some of the lyrics are most vulgar and never should be in the public domain, even if disguised in Hindi.

The dignitaries the writer refers to take action when music is played loud on Sunday and holiday afternoons. I know a minister who on one Sunday afternoon, went out in his hammock after a tiring week, and a neighbour a few houses away took out his big boxes and started to bombard the airwaves, took action and stopped it. He was right. But similar kind of people like to go out and have their fun, not realizing what it does to people like us, and what it took to set the system up for several hours. I wish that the honourable dignitaries invite me to arrange a truckload of boom boxes near their homes or better just in front of it, including the owner of Starlite and I give them chutney for twelve hours, or fourteen hours from, 2 pm to 4 am free of charge, belting all the chutney sounds and lewd tunes for them and their families, and see what they say. Anyone of the dignitaries can take the challenge. Any takers please call for an appointment and I will take an oath to satisfy all of you.

What affects us the most is also the fact that the sudden shows damage peoples private dinners, parties and religious functions. This is important for the dignitaries and Mr. Sancharra to think of.

People plan their Holy Services for months in advance. Yes, they do. As it is I am planning a large religious multi-faith function and on another day within the week a non-alcoholic social function for the weekend near April 1, 2010 for my 55th birthday, so I can invite my overseas and local friends, relatives. Now imagine, a money making opportunity turns up for Starlite’s proprietor, and he accepts as he always does, and starts the blasting of unwanted sounds and damages this function.

A wonderful and most respected lady planned an important Hindu religious function last year, with a reputed pandit from Guyana and USA, dressed up her home and invited so many wonderful families and friends, only to have had the entire ceremony spoilt, drummed out with violent, crazy and lewd sounds from Starlite. It was a terrible hurt to this lady. I felt sorry for her. The pandit sympathised with her; no one could hear him, even though he had a small speaker system.

Noise makers are similar to heavy smokers. Smokers believe if they disturb one, two or three hundred people with their pungent and disease packed cigarette smoke, everyone should remove from the area and not him. This is the sick mentality that prevails with noise makers as well. They sadly cannot see the bigger, the brighter picture. This is so sad. If some people enjoy this music and the alcohol, they have no right to disturb others.

The writer accuses Miss Vanessa Devonish as working in cahoots with the undersigned. I have not till now seen this, wonderful, upright, and decent lady I would say. Now I am trying to make contact. She is an executive I was told and attends university, sacrificing for education, having to study at night. Obviously Mr. Sancharra and noise lovers cannot understand this.

Noise causes people to get disoriented, but the revellers are hardened with tobacco and alcohol. Recently, it caused a lady with a stroke who could not take the noise and vibrations in her house, to fall and break an arm. These people are considering a lawsuit. Noise could cause heart problems and heart attacks, nervousness, tension, hypertension (blood pressure), insomnia (sleeplessness). One wonderful gentleman has large glass windows (like glass panes) on his home; the vibrations broke the glass panes. Others suffer cracks on their buildings, children cannot sleep and get agitated and fret. But the dignitaries and the proprietor and Sancharra is not disturbed at all. It causes violence; as people not having proper rest become agitated and lose their cool easily; drivers can drop asleep on the wheel, it happened to me after one of the shows when I went to the airport next morning to collect my parents.

Sounds travel in patterns, like how oil travels in veins in a wave-like manner in the earth and air. The boom and shock, and yes awe!, is felt further away from the showplace, moving with the wind.

I am not looking for a fight, I am a man of peace, I strive for love and goodwill, and was quiet all along with periodic complaints, but now I have to do what I have to for the sake of my sanity, my children education, their health. I have no other choice. I am still prepared to work out a peaceful settlement that could be court arranged. For this year alone it has been about eight shows, I may or may not have missed one or two, or one or two less.

The show ended at 12:15 am Mr. Sanchara said, my advisor told me 12:40, but boom boxes were allowed to play until 2:30 am The injunction says no noise, disturbing noise, any noise into our homes are disturbing from anytime, and that is supposed to be 10 pm to 2:30am, no disturbing noise according to the injunction.

I have no war with no one; this is a matter of principle and disturbance. Stop making it a personal matter. Stop attacking people!! You owe Miss Vanessa Devonish an apology or maybe she will know what to do. Mr. Sancharra, why not come in and let us talk.
ROSHAN KHAN