By Tamica Garnett
ACKNOWLEDGING that noise nuisance is a particular bugbear in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region, Regional Commander, Errol Watts, said the police in that region have been making active steps to tackle the situation.

As such, Watts said the police was collaborating with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and a number of ranks recently benefitted from training in noise nuisance monitoring. The Commander is also expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the EPA soon.
“We have had a collaboration with the EPA where they trained in excess of 50 persons in noise nuisance training. That was done on the 18th and 25th of November, and, based on the training, we are seeing the confidence of our ranks in dealing with all forms of noise. They also went through practical sessions in use of the decibel meters,” Watts shared in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

He added that: “We’re hoping now that the force can collaborate with the agency to create a MoU so that the force can sign on and we can charge persons under the EPA Act, which would have a stronger and more deterring effect than our Act; that is a positive that I see.”

The Police Commander explained that while the police are able to charge persons for noise nuisance under the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, it provides for a fine of $25,000 to $55,000 and imprisonment of six months to a year. However, under the EPA Act, persons can be fined over $300,000.

“When we bring in the EPA now, the fines are greater, it’s $380,000. Now charging under the EPA Act and fining someone $300,000 plus, how many times they would want to be charged? Not many, so that’s better to encourage them to conduct themselves professionally,” Watts contended.

Watts noted that since assuming the post of Regional Commander in August, it quickly became apparent that there is a significant issue with noise nuisance in Region Three.
“We are inundated with reports of noise nuisance in different forms. So what we’re doing, we have our patrols and we’re trying to maximise our effectiveness to deal with noise nuisance all over,” Watts said.

Watts said since realising the high number of noise nuisance complaints, the police have been actively putting measures in place to tackle the situation. He said the police have visited a number of noise nuisance hotspots and have spoken to proprietors of these establishments.

“We went into the communities and visited all the shops and public places likely to make noise; we created a miscellaneous contact book for some people and when we receive reports, what we do, we call them up, alert them to the report and ask them to turn down. And if we still receive a report after that we would take condign action,” Watts explained.
He noted that offenders are usually given a chance through a warning to be mindful of the disturbance they cause other residents. However, in cases where there is no adherence, the police must act.
“If they don’t adhere to that caution, the law empowers us to seize the equipment and arrest the person causing the music to be played and bring them before a court of law to answer to the violation,” Watts explained.