Govt bans parties, social events at Kingston beachfront

The time for frolicking and gyration at the Kingston beachfront area has come to an end following a Government-imposed ban announced by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) on Sunday.

In a notice published in the press, the MPI, under a ‘cessation on use of the Kingston foreshore for certain events and activities’ statement, made it clear that “approval will not be granted” for the area which lies between Fort Groyne and Camp Street to be used for activities that could generate noise above permissible levels.
The area will not be used as a venue for entertainment and/or social and other events which involve the use of loud audio and video systems, including those installed in motor vehicles; and for events “characterised by crowd generated noise”.
This is in keeping with Government’s recent drive to clamp down on operators and business owners who facilitate sounds that exceed the provisions stated in the Guidelines for Noise Emission into the Environment.
The MPI’s statement outlined that the organisers are now “duly notified” of the annulment of their approvals, and that organisers are “advised” to use alternative venues and operate with the relevant regulations for use in public spaces.
It has also been noted that neither members of the public nor Government agencies can use any sea or river defence reserve without first getting approval from the Sea Defence Board.
“All persons and entities, including Government agencies, desirous of utilising any section of sea or river defence reserve are required to apply to the Sea Defence Board for approval. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in legal action (being taken) against the violators involved, in conformity with Chapter 64.02 of the Sea Defence Act,” the MPI has noted.
During last month, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan posited that revoking the licences of some music operators was being considered. He said the Police should be targeting unlicensed operators, in keeping with the campaign to clamp down on noise nuisance. However, most places visited by Police ranks were reportedly licensed businesses.
Guyana Times reported that push cart vendors had protested the move, since their livelihoods would be in jeopardy. Nevertheless, the Public Security Minister made it clear that Government intended to take the profit out of “illegal activity”, those being the bars that play loud music; the carts which sell their video and tape recordings; and persons who play loud music from cars.
This clampdown comes against a 02:00h curfew wherein bars must cease operating and not conduct any business beyond that time.
The enforcement of these measures has not been sitting well with many sections of society, especially the business community which sponsors and hosts the very events that are being curtailed. In fact, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Deodat Indar, told Guyana Times late last month that he hopes the Police would be fair in clamping down on noise nuisance.
“If people are breaking the law (by) playing music to an unacceptable level of loudness, and are causing discomfort to the neighbours and people in the surrounding periphery, the Police have to enforce what the law is. What I’m hoping for is that whenever this does happen, it happens in an even manner, and not an uneven manner. If we’re going to enforce something, do it across the board. If we’re going to do it, I’m hoping that the Police, when they have to enforce a law, they do it across the board,” Indar had noted.
Owner of Seeta’s Bar, Seeta Gosahai, had explained that Police officers had visited her business place on Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown and she had been forced to close earlier that the normal time. She claimed that only her establishment had been targeted, and other establishments where music was being played louder continued playing their music late into the night.