Noise nuisance an irritant to residents

The constant buzzing of kites in at least one St Michael district has residents at their wits’ end as they attempt to work and study at home.

Following numerous failed law enforcement attempts over the years to control the disturbances, some of the Bayville, St Michael inhabitants are appealing to the goodwill of the culprits living in surrounding districts. Others want “noise pollution” to be criminalised.

Barbados TODAY investigations revealed that three massive kites have been annoying persons living in St. Luke’s Avenue, Chelsea Gardens, Browne’s Avenue, Clarke’s Avenue and Palm Tree Place – just a stone’s throw away from the Geriatric Hospital.

“These kites are flown 24 hours a day, all day, and it’s even worse now that the country is facing this pandemic,” resident Richard Doyle told Barbados TODAY.

Candi Nurse points to a kite stuck in a tree at Luke’s Avenue, St Michael.

“I’ve been to and have called the police countless times and all I usually am told is that many reports have already been made. It’s as though the police are powerless,” he added.

While, Candi Nurse, a resident of Luke’s Avenue for the last three years understands such activities are popular around Easter, she is disgusted that the practice of “staking out” kites appears to be a year-long activity.

“A kite never affects the person that has staked it out. It always affects persons who are further down in the district. I am opposite the Geriatric Hospital and I think it is sad that the elderly people have to endure that noise every night.

“If I want to go into my patio at night, especially now that everything is supposed to be quiet because of the curfew, there is this constant, overbearing noise. Sometimes I go inside and try to close the windows and turn up my television a little louder than normal, but when it’s time to sleep, it’s just very overbearing,” she added.

As she pointed to cord and ‘tail’ from fallen kites in her yard, she compared the annoyance to a neighbour “illegally” blasting loud music next door.

“I think if it’s an offence to blast loud music without a permit, then this kite flying crime should fall under the same category.

“It is already hard to concentrate when life is going on around you at home, so imagine a kite balling in your ears while you are trying to focus on adjusting from a work environment to a home environment, or trying to study or listen to classes,” she said.

The manager of the Geriatric Hospital declined to speak with Barbados TODAY, but workers revealed it has long been an annoyance for them.

Another resident, who has lived in Bayville his entire life said after years of enduring the nuisance, his ears have grown immune. He however added his voice to that of his neighbours.

“There are others that the kites will affect and we could sometimes have a bit more of a conscience,” he said.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb