Night Noise: A Public Health Emergency

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The issue of night noise is a public health emergency!  How can we speak about Jamaica as the choice to live, work, raise families and do business when there is a cavalier attitude regarding night noise?   Is it too much to expect that you can have undisturbed sleep in your own home? The interruption of one’s sleep with disturbingly lewd and vulgar music has become commonplace.  The lyrics penetrate the concrete walls finding its way into your house at wee hours in the morning. Who cares about the law-abiding citizens? So what if you have to be at work the next day. Those who contravene the zoning laws do get their sleep during the day. Is this fair?   Sleeping is a basic human need, like eating, drinking, and breathing. Like other basic needs, sleeping is a vital part of the foundation for good health and well-being throughout your lifetime. All aspects of one’s health are negatively impacted by sleep deprivation.  One’s cognitive performance is affected by inadequate sleep.  Additionally, sleep deficiency can interfere with one’s work, school, driving, and social functioning. It is very likely that you might experience trouble learning and focusing. In some instances you might find it hard to judge other people's emotions and reactions. Sleep deficiency can also make you feel frustrated, cranky, or worried in social situations.
FRUSTRATED
Sleep deficiency is linked to many chronic health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression. Who cares?  Who about the role of the State? What about the role of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation? What about my right to sleep? It cannot be that this lawlessness is allowed to continue.  There is a total breakdown of law and order. Is this any way to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #11 which speaks to sustainable cities and communities? Noise pollution as a result of a street dance, session, party should be criminalized. Who cares about the very young and the old?  What about those who are ill?  I am frustrated! I am making an appeal to the Prime Minister, Andrew Holness.  Just imagine being tortured nightly by coarse lyrics. Just imagine waking up with a headache each morning due to sleep deprivation. The situation is personal and beyond terrible and requires urgent attention.  In the words of Mother Teresa, we need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature, trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
waykam@yahoo.com

@WayneCamo

@AndrewHolnessJM  

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