Is noise pollution now endemic?

THE EDITOR: I am completely baffled by the Ministry of Health unquestionably and wholeheartedly accepting WHO recommendations and warnings about the covid19 virus, while the Minister of Planning and Development (and by extension the Environment) cannot, or refuses to accept the WHO's equally strict warnings about the damaging effects of noise pollution.

Apparently, it seems, one can cherry pick WHO warnings and advisories, picking and discarding as one sees fit at one’s leisure.

My grandmother, who lives on Quamina Street in St James is recovering from a heart attack. She has been told by her doctors, to rest and relax. Every evening, and during the entire day and night on Sundays, she has been assaulted by noise emanating from a house on Salazar Street, which is one street away.

She, like those living nearby, have not been able to rest or relax. The residents of that house play loud music till the early hours of the morning, disturbing neighbours both near and far. Even patrons of a nearby sports bar owned by a famous cricketer are also complaining.

To the Planning and Development Minister and to the EMA, you might be interested to know that the WHO states that, “Excessive noise seriously harms human health and interferes with people’s daily activities at school, at work, at home and during leisure time.

"It can disturb sleep, cause cardiovascular and psychophysiological effects, reduce performance and provoke annoyance responses and changes in social behaviour.”

Is it any wonder that members of the population are always angry, on edge and prone to outbursts of violent behaviour?

Unless and until strict laws are placed to curb this nuisance, nothing will ever change. Do we really like it so?

VICTORIA POLAND

Port of Spain