SOCA SHOW GOES ON

Soca Broadway, a new all-inclusive venue for promoters to stage their events was served with a Notice of Violation (NOV) for failing to comply with the Noise Pollution Rules. Woodbrook residents have also lodged several complaints to the EMA on the excessive noise from Soca Broadway every weekend.

An official from the Environmental Police Unit (EPU) attached to the EMA, told Newsday they could not stop any entertainment events for the season, but stressed that certain standards still had to be met. The official said the EPU was present at the four fetes held at Soca Broadway which were monitored and found to be above noise levels. Those fetes were held on January 1, January 7, January 13 and 14. The EPU official said the complaints from the Woodbrook residents only helped to strengthen the need for action, especially since a manager of a nearby hotel complained that the noise was turning away guests.

Representatives of Soca Broadway who received the notice from the EMA will be required to appear before EMA directors within the next 14 days, to discuss the violation of the Noise Pollution Control Rules (NPCR).

In a release issued by the managing director of the EMA, Dr Dave McIntosh yesterday, it was made clear that while the EMA is sensitive to the fact that this is the Carnival season, the events taking place at the National Stadium have been creating undue anxiety to the affected residents.

McIntosh also stated that the EMA will be seeking enforcement action against other venues who are in breach of the Noise Pollution Rules, and as such causing stress and anguish to residents. Efforts to contact Soca Broadway organiser Neil Iwer George proved futile, while other officials attached to the venue did not wish to touch on the issue.