The Citizens Against Noise Pollution in Trinidad and Tobago (CANPTT) has welcomed the recent amendment to the Summary Offences Act Chapter 11:02 that introduces a system to regulate the use of fireworks. However, they say enforcement of the law regarding noise pollution remains a major challenge.
In an interview with TTT News, CANPTT Representative Donald Redmond explained that the organisation met with the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to plead its case but they learnt that legal enforcement is beyond the EMA’s jurisdiction.
“We were surprised when the EMA actually informed us that they never really had the power to deal with our main contention, which is neighbourhood noise, etcetera. They told us that it has always been and continues to be under the purview of the Police Service, and I found that to be rather startling, because even today if you call a police station to complain about noise, police officers are still telling us to call the EMA, and that has to stop.”
Vice President of the organisation, Tamara Chatar, said that while they received backlash over support for fete restrictions at government sporting facilities, they believe that it should not be seen as an attack on culture, but rather a public health crisis, which has led to some of its members experiencing serious medical issues.
“We talk about revenue. We understand that the country needs revenue, right? And we ticket for road traffic offences, we need to make it an audible clause. You cannot have every single police officer armed with a measuring device on decibels, right? You have to make it where an officer of the law is empowered enough to hear music and say, ‘Listen, this is wrong, you need to shut down now, and here is your ticket.'”
The latest suggestion by Citizens Against Noise Pollution in Trinidad and Tobago to the government includes the use of ‘quiet time laws.’ They hope to meet with the Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander, in the future.