Dear Editor,
THE residents of Sparta want the public to know of an intolerable issue that has been plaguing them for a number of years, and which the authorities seem not to care about.A certain mother (named) and her son (also named) of Middle Dam, Sparta have (allegedly) been a constant source of noise nuisance to the entire community for over (15) fifteen years. First, they play their music extremely loud at any time of the day or night. Anytime really means ANY TIME. For example 9:15 hrs, 13:00hrs, 18:05 hrs, 21:00hrs, 23:10 hrs, 1:30 hrs, 2:45 hrs, 4:25hrs.

It begins very loud and sudden, plays for fifteen minutes to half an hour, stops suddenly for a while, then resumes in the same manner. The music is played solely for disturbance of residents. It ranges from Hindu bhajans to other kinds of Indian music, and even includes vulgar and derogatory music.

The sudden noise can be heard in the entire village, even in the neighbouring villages of Windsor Castle and Danielstown. Some people would get a difficult time obtaining a permit to play music for specific functions, but it seems as if this mother and son have obtained a permanent permit for 24 hrs a day for seven days a week for the rest of their lives.

The sudden loud music would disturb residents from their sleep and give severe headaches to some. The perpetrators seem not to care for the lives of anyone. They do not care if their villagers are sick, have to get to work early the next day, have newborn babies, have to study for Grade 6 or CXC assessments, have lessons being conducted after school or on weekends, have a religious function or even a funeral.

Can you imagine a FUNERAL being conducted not far away and Soca music being played in its fullest capacity? That is completely preposterous. Also, if there is a wedding in the area, they would compete with the music played by those who have obtained a permit.

Furthermore, when public announcements are being made or religious groups are visiting residents, the music is always playing until the announcements and visitors have gone.

For instance, a Hindu family had chowtal at their residence a few nights ago. The people could not hear their own voices because of the loud music emanating from these two persons.

They seem not to have lives of their own. They have made peep holes on both sides of their house to look at their neighbours, so when a mother is putting her baby to sleep, that is when they play loud music. They peep to see who visits, then torment the neighbours. If it’s a male, then it’s another man for the female neighbours. If they think it’s someone important, they would not have any disturbance until the person leaves.

Sometimes they would also leave their premises with the music playing loud, and return hours later. Why do infants and innocent people have to punish at their pleasure while the law does absolutely nothing?

For the above reasons, there are numerous complaints at the Anna Regina Police Station dating back to many years. Statements were given by many different residents. For the last reports and statements given, residents were promised by the police that the perpetrators would be arrested and the residents would be called to court the following Tuesday. That was since October of last year.

Can you imagine a police officer taking two hours to write a statement? We guess they want us to give up the case. The other thing they would do is ask you first: “Would you want to go to court?” as if to scare the residents off.

When the music is being played, we have called the police but they have never reached to hear. The officers of the law have asked us to call when the perpetrators leave their homes, which we did on many occasions, but yet they were not apprehended.

We know that noise nuisance is a serious crime, so we cannot understand why the police are not doing anything about the issue.

We believe that the constant loud music has caused this woman’s husband to drive her out of his home in West Bank Demerara, where she disturbed the residents as well. So he visits once or twice a month.

If the Regional Democratic Council is giving this family financial assistance in any way, it should investigate further, since the husband provides, and they are not disabled in any way.

The perpetrators were spoken to by many residents in a peaceful manner to desist, but they still continue, saying the residents would provoke them first. It is important to note that when there is ‘blackout’ in the area or when they are not playing the loud music, they would find other amazing ways of creating noise.

The residents closest to them would be the victims of loud ‘busing’ and ‘cursing’. Of course, indecent language to the extreme is always used. They call everyone passing ‘antiman’. On the contrary, this woman would sing bhajans karaoke-style through the loud speakers. In addition, they would call their dog through their house to the top of a shed (at the back of the house) and prompt it to bark all the time.

Furthermore, they would slam their door three to five times in succession. Moreover, they would hit zinc for about 15 minutes; but the classic ones would be when they would bang metal basins together within the hours of 2 to 4 in the morning, or pelt stones on the neighbours’ roofs.

This mother seems to be very talented with the use of a ‘sling shot’. We hope you can just imagine the disturbance we have to endure every day and night, especially when we are startled out of our sleep.

An amazing fact that you should know is that the mother and son would lock themselves in their yard. Their gate is always padlocked, and when the police went some years ago, they did not come out of their house. On three occasions, this mother went out and pretended to be mentally unstable, acting insane and talking gibberish. However, when the police left, they laughed heartily. If they prove to be insane, they should not be living in a normal society, moreso disturbing the lives of the entire village. Does Guyana not have a special place for the mentally unstable?

We want you to know that the noise nuisance created by this mother and her son has really become intolerable and frustrating. The surprising thing is that they seem to find pleasure when they disturb others.

Besides, for their irrational behaviours, no one, not even their relatives, communicate with them anymore, since they have created such animosity.

This situation has truly reached its climax, and residents are beyond frustrated.

Maybe it’s a joke for the police at the Anna Regina police station and the councillors at the Anna Regina Town Council, but innocent people are suffering.
Regards,
CONCERNED CITIZEN