Multiple warnings will lead to bars being shut down for noise nuisance – Min Benn

Excessive noise in discos, nightclubs, and bars across Guyana will lead to immediate closure by local authorities, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn said.
As a preventive measure, having two warnings for being above the limit, and three warnings for causing too much noise or not observing closing time will be enough to shut down nightspots with immediate effect.

“If we visit a place two times, on the third occasion with respect to noise or any other untoward activity, we’ll close them, we’ll have to close down the activity,” Benn said.
This decision comes on the heels of recent complaints made by residents in relation to noise nuisance from bars in their respective communities.
Minister Benn said it is difficult to deal with cases of bars that continue to violate the Noise Nuisance Act because Police officers are not proactive enough. He added in some cases, Police might have made repeated visits to the same location, and they refuse to cooperate.
As such, the Minister said they will be putting a brake on repeated visits, and if violated, the bars will be shut down. They are also planning to incorporate stricter penalties to deal with those violators.
“There are a range of issues where we are looking at increasing fines and other resorts. In a month or so, we’ll have the discussion with the Attorney General’s chambers [and] we will get back on that,” he underscored.
In light of this, Benn added that bars and entertainment spots should not be open beyond 02:00h. He said this poses a risk to people’s safety especially if they are under the influence of alcohol.
“There should be no real activity in bars and places of entertainment beyond 2:00am because it becomes very difficult, people become inebriated and they drive drunk… It’s too risky,” Benn said.
Only one day ago, Regional Commander of Police Division 4C, Superintendent Khali Pareshram insisted that his ranks are clamping down on noise nuisance incidents along the East Coast Demerara (ECD) corridor.
He had stated that statistics in his district have shown there is an increase in such cases for the year. He added that his Division has mostly been receiving reports of persons who are congregating and playing loud music in various vicinities.
He purported that this might be resulting from the recent removal of the national COVID-19 measures.
Pareshram has said the Force needs the support of residents in affected communities if it is to clamp down on noise pollution so that there can be a reduction in noise pollution cases.