It’s not about religion, but about noise nuisance

Dear Editor,
I am also a Christian, and I respect everyone’s right to religious freedom and worship. The complaint about loud music at a church in Moruca is not a religious issue, it is a noise nuisance issue.
I was born in Moruca, Region One, and attended nursery and primary schools in Mabaruma and Moruca. I grew up as a member of the Santa Rosa Roman Catholic Church, until I left to go and further my studies and work in regions Two and Four.
I returned to Mabaruma in 2012 with my wife and son, intending to start a small business in a building owned by my father, situated in what I would consider the commercial district of Mabaruma.
My wife and I had always had the goal to own our own home, and in 2015, we had finally saved up some money to purchase a piece of land in Mabaruma Settlement, on which we started construction of our home. In February 2017, we were finally able to move out of the shop and into our semi-finished home. After acquiring the property, there had been no conflicts between me and my neighbours, and we had been able to enjoy the tranquility of our home for seven years.
However, in February 2024, I started to detect loud music coming from the home of my neighbour, whom I know as Miss Santiago. This noise would occur four to five times a week. One night during these loud music sessions, my son was
very ill, so I approached my neighbour and asked if she could kindly lower the volume of the amplifiers, as my son was very ill. She informed me they were having a birthday party.
This issue of loud music continued four to five times a week from 6:30pm to 10pm, and sometimes even to 11pm. I
approached them twice thereafter and asked them to please have consideration for the neighbours, as the noise was affecting my wife’s sleep, and that was affecting us psychologically and also affecting my son’s studies.
My requests were completely ignored.
The fourth time when I approached them, I asked them to kindly lower the volume during the month of March, and I was met with hostility, so I chose not to approach
them again. We have since been trying to endure the loud music, even to the point of leaving our home on many
occasions and waiting in the car on the roadside till after 10pm on some nights.
For the first time in his life, my son’s academic achievements have severely declined, and I blame this on these disturbances. This claim can be verified by his school report card. And my wife and I are having our psychological health severely affected by the loss of sleep.
After watching my family suffering from the loud music for so long, it finally became overbearing and I went to the police to ask for assistance in the matter. The police later told me they visited and warned the music technician of the complaint, and asked them to lower the music system volume. That request has been completely ignored, and my family and I continue to be bombarded with loud music and heavy bass.
Several times thereafter, when the music and shouting got overbearing, I went and
asked the police for help, and many times I have been ignored. I have also been confronted at my place of business by the music technician of the church, who told me he had information that it was me who called the police to report the noise nuisance, and he wanted to let me know that bigger music systems are coming in and there is nothing anybody can do about that, as he is protected by the Regional Chairman. He has since made good on his threat.
I was also approached while I by my gate, and had insults hurled at me by the father of this music technician and some other men who purport to be members of the church. I have never responded at any time to him or his father, but I have reported these matters to the police.
Getting no help from the police, I decided to write the EPA, in March 2024, for help on the noise nuisance
issue. After waiting several weeks with no response from the EPA, I went to the police commander and pleaded with him to please look into the matter, which he promised to do. That attempt was also futile. I made contact with
the commander several weeks after, and he told me he was out of the region; I also reminded him of his promise to look into the matter, and he again promised to do so.
On August 1, 2024, a police vehicle showed up at my home, and the officer informed me that the commander was requesting my presence at the Mabaruma Police Station at 1pm for a meeting with the
pastor. The meeting was kept in the commander’s office, and a sergeant was present. During the meeting, the commander informed us of the laws of the right to worship and the laws of noise nuisance, while I made myself clear that I have nothing against religious worship.

He made some suggestions to the pastor on how the issue can be mitigated, such as using a smaller music system and possibly facing the speaker boxes in a different direction. He also suggested that I donate to the church to help with the construction, to which both I and the pastor agreed. We shook hands, and the commander also requested the sergeant do a follow up to ensure both parties are satisfied.
Shortly after the meeting, my family and I left for to spend a few weeks in Georgetown. Upon returning, we were disappointed to find that the pastor had not upheld his promise.
On September 11, 2024, I received a call from an EPA officer, informing me he was in Mabaruma to investigate a noise complaint I had made to the agency, which I confirmed having made. He informed me that when he was ready to visit the location, he would call me to accompany him. He then called me back and asked if I would be available after lunch to do the visit, and I told him yes. I never received another call from this officer.
On September 12, I called the EPA officer to inquire about the status of the matter, and he told me he had given the pastor some suggestions to mitigate the issue. He also informed me there was no sound testing equipment available in Mabaruma, so he could not do testing. I then asked him if I could purchase the equipment and have it calibrated by the necessary authorities. He told me I would have to contact his supervisor, for which he provided a cell number and asked that I send video evidence to the same number.
The pastor is claiming that the EPA officer did testing at the church and my home in my presence, which is a complete lie. At no time was I ever in the presence of the EPA officer. The loud noise from the music remained unchanged throughout this time.
On Thursday, September 19, at 7:30pm, I made another report at the Mabaruma Police Station about the noise nuisance, and was told by the rank that nothing could be done because the sergeant was not in. The following day, I returned to the Mabaruma Police Station to report the noise, and was again told by the rank that nothing could be done, as the sergeant was not available. I then related to the rank that I would sit in the station until the sergeant returned, as the psychological torture from the noise was unbearable to me and my family.
While sitting on the station bench alone, I was approached by someone who identified himself as the new commander for the region, and he asked me what my problem was. I explained the situation and the duration of the ongoing issue, and also explained that I don’t have any issue with the church, just the loud music and shouting over the microphone. I was told to give the police a signed statement.
While giving the report, I saw three males coming into the station. One of them immediately started making derogatory remarks to me, suggesting I was abused as a child and probably had bad parents growing up. I did not respond to any of those remarks.
I learnt the next day that the individual making the remarks to me was a pastor named Rockey Ramdeen. After
giving my statement, I asked the police if I could leave, and they told me I could.
On September 20, 2024, I contacted the EPA via WhatsApp, told the officer the level of noise remained unchanged, and also provided him with video evidence. I received a WhatsApp message in reply saying recommendations were given to the pastor to mitigate the issue, and a letter to this
effect would be sent to the pastor.
On Saturday, September 21, while in my home, I heard Pastor Ramdeen preaching loudly, calling my name many times provocatively, boasting of his political connections to the Vice President, President, and Regional Chairman, and insinuating the use of those political connections to victimize my business by blocking me from getting Government contracts.
All of this has been recorded.
I find his behaviour very disrespectful of these leaders, and that it can lead to the tarnishing of reputations and public image.
On September 22, I was alerted to videos on various social media posts made by Pastor Rocky Ramdeen, accusing the police of taking bribes and suggesting the police were in the narcotics trade. He is also accusing me of bribing police officers, dealing with evil, having a baccoo, and suggesting I should move out of my home. He is also saying my home is over two thousand feet away from the church, which is a complete lie; the church is less than four hundred feet from my home. He is also saying that this is only a crusade, which is a lie. This music is blasted five times a week every week.
I find these accusations very repulsive and damaging to my reputation, which will in turn affect my business and family. On September 23, my son came home from school and told me his classmates were asking if his father deals with evil. I have always had good relations with everyone I interacted with throughout this region.
It was quite shocking to some of my neighbours to see a post on a video claiming I’m trying to fight them down, when I have always assisted when asked.
It has also been observed that people on social media are making this a political and religious issue when it is not. There is also a lot of deliberate misinformation being shared to gain political mileage, accusing me of having ties to political parties when I have no such ties. I have never been involved in politics, and have no intention of ever being so involved. I have never even exercised my right to vote. I challenge anyone to prove otherwise.
This is a noise nuisance issue, which has been affecting people throughout this country, with many people being afraid to voice their plight due to fear of being victimized and categorized as is currently happening to me. I hope that someday these matters can be dealt with without people being demonized and attacked.
I believe that people should be free to worship as their choice of religion dictates, but I also believe that the right of other citizens to not be disturbed by such worship is also enshrined in the Constitution. I’m just asking for some peace and tranquility — which I think everyone deserves — so that my family and I can enjoy our home and family time after working all day.
I hope this issue can be dealt with fairly by all parties involved, without involving religion and
politics; only dealing with the issue at hand, which is noise nuisance.

Thank you,
Sheldon Baharally