Cops equippe pollution
-following seminar
Popular bars around Georgetown last night closed unusual early and some turned off their music as ranks from the Guyan Police Force (GPF) carried out noise pollution testing after com pleting a one-day training programme.
Yesterday morning over 50 ranks were encouraged b Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan to utilise th one-day Noise Management Course to “understand the vario compartments under which certain rules and regulations apply a Department of Public Information (DPI) report said.
After the training, the ranks were taken to test out their equi ment last night at various nightspots around the city. They we set to visit Station Street, Kitty, where there are more than fo nightspots that residents have complained about for playing lou music.
However, before the ranks and staff of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) – who conducted the training course could spring into action the nightspots, including Seeta’s B turned off their music and closed their doors from as early 8:50 pm, an occurrence which residents said left them speec less.
As a result, the ranks were taken to the Plaisance Line To where there is a cluster of nightspots that would normally b blaring loud music every Thursday night. However, after th ranks arrived and did their initial tests from some distance aw the music was turned off.
The scene went from being polluted with loud music to abs lute silence, and even the patrons were not talking loudly.
However the ranks still completed their exercise, which Dillo Chase, an EPA environmental officer, said was only a simulatio and that no one caught breaking the rules would be penalised b only warned.
The ranks were also taken through demonstrations and le tured on the correct procedures of taking readings and what mu be done to them.
According to DPI’s report, Executive Director of the EP Aminah McPherson-Damon, who also serves as the Agency Legal Corporate Secretary, said that they are aiming to have population that is environmentally conscious. She also said th despite a sound framework, more work remains, hence the ne to equip ranks with the legal framework and technical comp tence to deal with issues surrounding noise pollution.
The ranks were also given an overview of the EPA’s role noise management, noise control case studies, noise regulation effective noise management through the Noise Task Force, ev dence-based and enforcement of noise regulations.
While declaring the event open, Ramjattan said that the trai ing facilitates the fact that “a policeman is more than just policeman” and said that as society becomes more complicate the roles of police officers will expand depending on the circum stances.
He also reminded the ranks that under the Environment Protection Act and the Noise Management Regulations perso can be prosecuted. However, the report said, he noted that giv the ever-evolving nature of society, the time has come to impl ment more effective prosecutions such as seizing equipmen revoking licences and increasing fines.