The Ministry of Public Security has announced the formation of a task force to tackle the growing problem of noise nuisance across the country.

In a statement the Ministry said that it will be working along with  various stakeholders who have all recognised the right of citizens to live in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity, and free from undue discomfort.

The Task Force will be an Inter-Agency Task Force and will be headed by the Public Security Ministry.

Coordinator, Mr Deonarine Ramaroop, said the main goal ‘is to ensure a greater enforcement of the laws/regulations on noise nuisance which in turn will reduce the discomfort caused by noise pollution across the country’.

The Task Force currently comprises of representatives from the Ministry of Public Security – (Coordinating Agency), the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Prison Service, the Guyana Fire Service, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of Communities, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the Central Housing and Planning Authority, the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown and the Guyana Revenue Authority.

According to the Ministry, the key objectives of the Task Force include:
1. Enforcing existing (or create new) rules governing codes for all building that caters for the use of amplified sound equipment.
2. Enforcing silent zones.
3. Eliminate the proliferation of loud music in public transport vehicles.
4. Recommend amendments to laws that allows the use of available technology to establish and measure noise levels for the purpose of compliance and prosecution.
5. Curb random and spontaneous open air and roadside “boom boxes.”
6. To Examine complaint made from industrial noise and take necessary action as deem fit to eliminate or reduce the level of noise discomfort.

The Ministry of Public Security is urging the members of the public to work together to ensure that the environment is free from noise pollution. There have been various attempts in the past to tackle the noise nuisance problem. Many campaigns were short-lived.