By Saskia Warrick, NCN News – December 30, 2024
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, announced that the government will continue using existing laws to address noise nuisance in the country until new legislation is introduced.
Nandlall acknowledged the persistent issue of loud music and disturbances, particularly from bars and entertainment venues, which frequently disrupt the peace of residents.
While residents have the right to enjoy music, Nandlall stressed that it should not infringe upon others’ peace.
He expressed frustration over the continued non-compliance and mentioned that his office regularly receives complaints through social media and other channels.
As a result, there is a plan to amend the laws governing noise nuisance to better address the concerns.
In the interim, penalties for noise nuisance remain in place under the Environmental Protection Act.
Fines range from $300,000 to $750,000 with a potential one-year imprisonment.
Additionally, under the Environmental Protection Regulations, fines range from $75,000 to $500,000 with a six-month prison sentence.
Nandlall also indicated that the Guyana Police Force will resume operations to seize loud music equipment from vehicles, as part of a broader campaign to curb noise disruptions.
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has set residential noise limits at 75 decibels during the day and 60 decibels at night.
The ongoing enforcement and upcoming legislative changes aim to reduce the impact of noise nuisance across the country.