Police ranks across the country are to receive specialised training in handling noise nuisance complaints under increased collaboration between the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In a statement, the police said EPA representatives met Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken and senior members of the force yesterday at Eve Leary.
The engagement formed part of ongoing work under a memorandum of understanding between the two agencies and focused on improving the force’s ability to respond effectively to complaints about excessive noise.
Ranks will be trained in the proper use of equipment to measure and assess noise levels. The initiative is also intended to ensure that the equipment is properly calibrated and that the ranks assigned to use it are adequately trained.
According to the statement, training will begin this week in all 12 policing divisions.
The police said the collaboration was expected to produce a more consistent response to noise nuisance complaints and promote compliance with regulations governing permissible noise levels.
The meeting came in the wake of President Irfaan Ali stating that the government has established a task force to address noise nuisance countrywide amid widespread complaints about the failure of the police to respond to affected residents.
Speaking at a press conference on August 18, Ali said the issue had been raised at every community meeting recently held by the government and was affecting citizens’ quality of life.
“Noise nuisance is affecting the quality of life of people,” he said. “And we have to address it in a way that allows the entertainment sector and allows people to have a quality of life, but at the same time does not destroy the businesses.”
The President said the task force would examine the issue across all regions and work with the Guyana Police Force.
“One of the complaints is the non-responsiveness of the police in addressing complaints or addressing issues at the community level,” Ali acknowledged.
Critics have said that the government and the police force have failed for years to address the noise nuisance problem and it was unclear what will change.
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