In November of 2023, MP for Gros Islet Kenson Casimir held meetings with residents of Gros Islet, who expressed concerns over noise pollution.
For some time now, many residents had been at odds with the perennial issue of loud music emanating from places of entertainment and during live concerts and events, which often went on until the wee hours of the morning.
The MP also met with Gros Islet’s commercial, tourism, and entertainment sectors to find a compromise regarding the noise levels.
After that, Casimir told reporters that the Attorney General’s Chambers was looking at existing laws “to find a modern and inclusive way to tackle noise pollution.”
In September of this year, the MP promised that the Attorney General’s chambers would have been ready to present a Bill on noise pollution at the next sitting of Parliament, adding that he welcomed comments from the public on the measure.
While the proposed legislation did not make it to the House then, during the last sitting of Parliament in October the legislation was presented for its first reading.
“…and so the document is ready for public consumption, everybody from the media can actually read through it,” Kenson Casimir told reporters Monday.
“What you will see is some sort of legislation, when it comes to decibel levels, which is what most of Saint Lucia is interested in,” he explained.
Casimir says, however, that he does not expect the bill to be popular.
“You can well imagine no other MP before me touched it, they left it. Because it is something with dire consequences, you may lose political influence, because you may be affecting one sector and being perceived as gravitating to another. But for me as MP, I didn’t come just to make popular decisions, I came to make decisions, so I will always speak my mind. I will always do what I think is best for the majority of people,” he expressed.
The Gros Islet MP urged the media and Rodney Bay, Bonne Terre and Cap Estate residents to review the bill.
Moreover, he indicated that the legislation was not just for Gros Islet but for all of Saint Lucia.
“But I am happy that we took the lead on it and now we finally have it as first reading in Parliament and so the debate will ensue,” he said.
According to Casimir, no legislation is perfect, and he has concerns about it. “You will hear from the opposition and some of my colleagues expressing some concerns but it is something we had to do and legislations are always there to be amended,” he noted.
The MP is hoping that the legislation goes through its second and third stages in Parliament so that, as he puts it, “everyone can have a peaceful Christmas.”
You are too full of yourself.That means someone had to do it whether now or in the future and it so happened to be you.Didnt just get elected to earn a salary so enough of the self praised.
My understanding is that the laws concerning noise pollution are already there, like many other laws in Saint Lucia, they’re just not being enforced.
Patently untrue. Castries MP Flood and Mayor Peterson Francis made some noise about the issue. But alas nothing came of it as there was no enforcement of laws. Just like this bill you’re passing, nothing will come of it as it will not be enforced.
Why only the media and residents from Gros Islet can read? This seems like a cop out and a failure right off the blocks. This scourge affects the entire country. There should be no compromise when it comes to that. Every citizens rich and poor must be able to peacefully enjoy their homes. No bar, rum shop or car should be allowed to interfere in this. This has dire consequences for people’s health. And we know the health sector is an utter mess already. Don’t add to the stresses.
Good governance is not always popular.
The issue may be enforcing the law , changing norms , habit …it’s happened in other areas of modern living, for instance motoring ,remember when one could park anywhere and did. It’s regulation no problem as long as it is fair and consistent.