Biabou woman hopping mad over bloc-o noise

PARTY ANIMALS

Get police permission, set up a bar, hire a popular or even an ok Dee Jay, and a tidy night’s earning is yours.

The problem is, however, that in many communities, people have been lodging complaints about the noise that comes from these events, sometimes up to 4 a.m.{{more}}

One upset resident who recently built her home in Biabou told SEARCHLIGHT that she is fed up of the many Thursday nights that she has been unable to sleep because of the popular block-o that is operated out of the Cha Cha’s Go Go Club over the last 18 or so months.

The Thursday night party has quickly become a weekly staple for partygoers and persons from all over the country who flock to Biabou weekly.

Certain undesirable activities which have occurred apart, scores of people from all walks of life have religiously embraced the Go Go club’s Thursday night party.

The lady, who wishes to remain anonymous, however, is not amused.

“The young officer told me that they have had many reports, and even tried to shut it down already, but people higher up don’t want it closed. He said that the police hands were tied,” the lady said she was told by a young officer at the Biabou Police Station recently.

The irate lady said that Biabou deserves the same respect as people in Villa.

Constant complains about noise from the owners of Young Island Resort have seriously hampered nightlife on the Villa strip.

“So the people on Young Island need their rest, but it is ok every where else,” she asked.

“It is unreasonable. Entertainment is needed yes, but what about the people who don’t want to go to your fete, who can’t sleep? It is unreasonable,” said Vidal Browne, Co-owner and a Director of Young Island Resort.

Browne told SEARCHLIGHT that he knows that many were upset over his stance regarding popular night clubs in the Villa area, but said it was a simply a matter of kill or be killed.

He said that his resort had to deal with countless upset visitors, who could not relax and enjoy their vacation.

Browne said that he believes that these night spot operators show a lack of courtesy, and suggested that with a spirit of compromise there could be proper co-existence.

He said that a case in point is a situation that his 80-year-old mother is dealing with at Mt Coke. A nearby pub recently started using amplified music on Saturdays.

“I want my Mother to live another 20 years. She has been living there for many years, and now, even if she closes all her windows, she can’t get a good night sleep with all that noise,” Browne said.

“I don’t think if they go until midnight or 1 am people will complain as much, and the music doesn’t have to be as loud as they usually have it,” Browne said.

Meanwhile, veteran entertainment promoter Randy Dopwell told SEARCHLIGHT that he believes that when the noise act was enacted entertainment was killed.

According to Dopwell, 20 or so years ago, young entertainment businesses were up and running, a lot of sound systems were being bought, but then the industry crumbled.

“I had a place in Ratho Mill…Ocean View, then people in the area started complaining, and it shut down; it didn’t make sense.”

Dopwell, however, said that with the laws, it is a battle that promoters of these types of entertainment can’t win.

He said that in order to survive, unless they could afford to purchase a property, and have it sound proofed, dialogue will have to be the key.

“Dropping the noise level, closing off sessions early, those are things that will have to be done,” Dopwell said.

He noted that there is also need for much community outreach, so that the people affected would be willing to endure the periodical discomfort in the interest of community development.

The idea of compromise was also supported by Minister of Tourism Glen Beache. He told SEARCHLIGHT that there is a need for entertainment, noting that while some tourists come to the country to rest, others prefer going to parties, enjoying the local party scene.

He, however, said that people’s rights must also be respected, saying that there is need for much give and take on the issue.

Meanwhile, recent communication from the police indicates that a stricter enforcement of the noise act is on the cards, which could spell trouble for many places of entertainment.

Commissioner of Police Keith Miller told SEARCHLIGHT that the police have been getting a lot of calls about the situation. He noted that even if someone has been granted a class six or eight licence, which permits them to operate later, the entertainment cannot disturb citizens.