IT seems rather disgusting that despite all the pronouncements by officialdom, the vexed question of noise nuisance continues to stalk this nation.
The people believe that it has now reached a stage where it is getting unbearable and out of hand. We are now at a stage in our society where silence is no longer a golden rule.
Today, more than ever before, the noise nuisance is exceeding acceptable proportion in almost every level of society. So much disturbing is the situation now that we are obliged to enquire how effective are “no horns and silent zones” signs.
We recall in the past that signs to these effect were prominently placed in the vicinity of hospitals, the law courts and other places or areas that demanded quietude and decorum.
Sad to say that if these notices are in place, then they are honoured in the breach. If, on the other hand, they are not in place, then they should be installed immediately, as one does not understand the enormity of the problem unless one experiences it.
We wish to refer specifically to the Magistrate’s court in Georgetown on Croal Street. A visit to that court house would give one a feeling of remorse for especially the Magistrates that have to face the ordeal of noise nuisance on an everyday basis.
Those of us who are au fait with the functions of the Magistrate would appreciate that in the course of a trial, that Magistrate is required to take notes which aids him or her in the decision making process. But how could this happen when the noise that emanates from the street drowns the proceedings in the court room at times?
There are several court rooms in that particular building on Croal Street and we could well understand the daily ordeal magistrates have to endure, especially the one that sits in the courtroom nearest to the street.
We believe this is wrong and call on the police high command to put appropriate measures in place so that our Magistrates could work in a more conducive and friendly atmosphere. This man-made plague of noise nuisance does not only  affect Magistrates and court houses and hospitals and churches around Georgetown, but indeed the population across the country where the music sets in private cars and taxis and minibuses to a lesser extent blare their music to deafening levels.
As if to say that the people are not enduring enough, those people that advertise events by way of trucks and big music sets also join the noise pollution gang. Also the lyrics of some of the songs played during the advertisements are a whole lot of bunkum.
We recall that last year, the Guyana Chronicle dealt extensively with the sore issue of noise nuisance in editorials, letters and news reports. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), noise causes a wide range of health effects including sleep disturbance; cardiovascular effects; damage to work and school performance; and hearing impairment including tinnitus.
The WHO also points out that noise has negative impact on cognitive performance which could lead to reduction in productivity at work and the learning performance at school.
There are no ‘ifs and buts’ about it, noise nuisance has grown to unbearable levels throughout the country, and this gives rise to question the effectiveness of the measures introduced last year by the Ministry of Home Affairs in efforts to put the brakes on the scourge of noise nuisance. These exercises must not be a one-night affair, but must be sustained for results.
We are aware of several campaigns against noise nuisance, but none of them seemed to have worked as the monster is still rearing its ugly head.
We are not against playing music, but they must be played at the acceptable decibel level. We believe that only by maintaining this level, we would be able to truthfully put the brakes on noise nuisance and at the same time have respect for those signs that caution about no horns and silent zones.