DEH: Public should refrain from nuisance noise

| 26/03/2024 | 65 Comments
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(CNS): After receiving a number of complaints, the Department of Environmental Health has issued a notice advising the community that all residents and visitors should refrain from noisy activities in close proximity to schools, healthcare facilities and residential premises. The notice was issued to the press moments after CNS posted a report on the lack of redress for homeowners over the noise and light pollution they are having to endure from a neighbouring construction site.

The story revealed how the residents near a construction site on North West Point Road in West Bay have been impacted by work conducted in the early morning hours. People in the community complained that relevant government departments and the police told them they were not in a position to address the problem, leaving residents to suffer sleepless nights. Some who spoke to CNS about the nuisance noise and light said the DEH also dismissed their concerns.

But in the release, the DEH said it had conducted several investigations following a number of complaints about noise from large events, vehicle repairs, gym activities, homes, churches and loud music from vehicles, as well as from construction or renovation activities,

While there is considerable confusion over who can hold to account those who are causing excessive noise and light pollution, the DEH said that a failure to comply with an environmental health officer’s request makes the offender liable under The Public Health Act (2021 Revision) under the nuisances section. This covers noise or vibration, which is a statutory nuisance. The Town and Communities Law also gives environmental health officers the authority to require that a noise nuisance be abated.

“Any person who generates noise or is the occupier of premises from which such noise is emitted in excess of the prescribed levels shall reduce such noise to within such prescribed levels if required to do so by a constable or an environmental health officer,” officials stated.

The DEH said there are concerns that in addition to the direct effect on hearing, there are other related health conditions, such as sleep deprivation/prevention, which is particularly dangerous for individuals who are unwell and professionals such as pilots and surgeons, for whom a specific amount of sleep is required to allow for optimal functionality. It also affects mental health.

“Additionally, social activities may be affected and students (at all levels) as well as persons working from home may be disturbed and this is undesirable,” the DEH said.

Anyone who becomes ill from these activities is encouraged to contact their medical provider immediately.

For more information on this matter, contact DEH environmental health manager or officers at
949-6696 or by email at dehcustomerservice@gov.ky


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Category: Environmental Health, Health

Comments (65)

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  1. Cayman Last Generation says:

    Cayman imported the problems they now have to put up with ,simple as that ! STOP Importing them Cayman?

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  2. Chris Johnson says:

    I once held a party at my home in Mount Pleasant in the 70s when a very unpleasant neighboring policeman came to my door and said my music was too loud. No one else complained.
    Matter was easily resolved when one of my guests volunteered to take care of the problem. None other than Commission Ron Pocock.
    Life did seem a bit easier in those days.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Whether a business or a neighbor, that’s all it takes. Just keep it down to a moderate roar. The later it gets, the lower the music should be. That used to be the standard — from 10:00 to 12:00 it was loud and then the party wound down. That is the way that reasonable people conduct themselves, with respect toward their neighbors.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I’m afraid that sounds like a typical “entitled expat with friends who are other expats in official positions” situation that was all too common in those days, Mr Johnson. Life was indeed easier in those days….for some.

  3. Elvis says:

    Someone please kill the roosters too maybe?

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  4. Anonymous says:

    those companies sending guys out to use leaf blowers before 6am should face immediate jail time.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Perhaps they could go and listen to the noise being caused by illegal quarrying off the Queen’s Highway every single day?

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Enforce Jake brakes.

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    • Anonymous says:

      We would need legislation to specifically address it, and nobody has the will to do so, or the desire to enforce it. Why? Because our legislators don’t have to suffer these noises. It’s all ‘noise theory’ to them.

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      • Anonymous says:

        We have it. Traffic Regulations (2022 Revision)

        https://legislation.gov.ky/cms/images/LEGISLATION/SUBORDINATE/2012/2012-0042/TrafficRegulations_2022%20Revision.pdf

        see:
        §17 Unsafe Loading and “Nuisance”
        §23 Diapproval of Accessories and 1 (a) “unsafe” and (b) “likely to be a nuisance to the public”

        Several years ago the then Police Chief reiterated specifically that jake brakes were not to be used at all in the Cayman Islands due to absence of road grades where they might be necessary (ie in Jamaica, Honduras etc).

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        • Anonymous says:

          I agree with you, however your view requires the enforcement officers to have the same vision. The truth at this time is that our enforcement officers seem to choose the least of the regulation, because we lack a decibel measurement. We desperately need the decibel measurement, and we don’t have to reinvent the wheel — we should quite obviously mirror UK noise code. It will work for virtually every facet of “statutory nuisance” or noise problems in the Cayman Islands.

      • Anonymous says:

        Sad that in our community we should be considering laws to ban people from being a nuisance to their fellow citizens and neighbors.
        Guess we have imported so many lawless Jamaicans, that the concept of “quiet” does not exist.

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        • Anonymous says:

          The noise I had to endure from constant loud music all day and night every weekend was from Cubans. Who literally admitted to the police that when asked to turn their music down they turned it up!

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          • Anonymous says:

            Yup..same dog puppy.

          • Anonymous says:

            Try again. Expat kids are the worst in apartments.

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            • Anonymous says:

              I will never rent any of my apartments to Caymanians again.
              dont pay rent on time and absolute pigs.Complaints from neighbours about noise, dogs, drugs and harassment..

              3 times. 3 problem tennents.
              nope i would rather rent to indians.
              ok you have to paint once they leave to get the curry smell butthey cause no problems.

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          • Anonymous says:

            Cubans are the worst, but these men with their sound systems in their cars! No one wants to hear your music! And these loud mufflers gearing up, gearing down. Noisy vehicles should be banned!

        • Anonymous says:

          This is so true they just can’t help themselves

  7. Anonymous says:

    Did DEH send the memo out to the chickens? Can’t sleep with windows open for friggin roosters crowing all hours. Surely DEH must realise these pests are a noise nuisance.

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    • Anonymous says:

      ZZZZZX….

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    • Anonymous says:

      You think this is a DEH action item? Make a trap. Kill them and eat them. Problem solved. Sometimes problems should be handled on our own level.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You might be eating some real nasty stuff they’re feeding on or picking up in the soil. You go right ahead be my guest.

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        • Anonymous says:

          I gave you a thumbs up, because I have and I will continue to, because no matter what horrible toxic nastiness the chickens eat will never compare to the antibiotics and growth hormone of your basic store chicken.

          The exception is those chickens that are grown and harvested from Jamaica. NO nasty stuff in them. Nossir.

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        • Anonymous says:

          You’re right. I’ll go get some of that yummy turtle meat from the farm instead.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Someone tell Sandbar.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    I have called the police twice this year for loud music late at night of my neighbors. Both times they were required to turn the loud music down. You might call that low-hanging fruit and there were likely several others around me who also called, but I can personally attest to a timely and direct response.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I had an ongoing issue with loud music from 2020 to 2022 when I left – they would play music from 10 – 11am and by 5pm my windows and hurricane shutters would be shaking. It reached the point of me having to stay with friends at the weekend as I couldn’t relax in my own home. The police were spectacularly useless and refused to come out until after midnight – said people have a right to have a party. What about my right to be able to enjoy my own home? Every single weekend.

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      • Anonymous says:

        You should have written letters. The written word is recorded and thus must be addressed. Do both, but try following up your experience with your complaint in writing.

        Another note: Don’t try to go too far up the RCIPS hierarchy. Just to the supervisor of your immediate sector. You try to go too high and that complaint will just be sent back down to the person you should’ve addressed in the first place, only now, you’re trying to get help from the person who you tried to go over their head.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Exactly the same here. Police told me the constant noise loud enough to shake my windows wasn’t loud enough to constitute a nuisance. And they yelled this at me in my home so they could be heard above the music.
        DEH reps came out. They could not accept audio recordings of the noise to take it forward. Said it had to be a video recording of the nuisance proving it was my neighbors, and a signed log of when it was happening that I would have to testify to in court. Only with video evidence would they take it further. They also admitted they did not have the necessary equipment to measure the noise.
        Said I should buy the equipment needed, keep a 24hr video my neighbors in their yard playing the music to prove when it was happening, and keep a diary to submit to court.
        However the police told me it would be an offence to video my neighbors in their property and said I could be prosecuted for doing it.
        In the end we just were forced to move and now someone else has to put up with it.

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        • Anonymous says:

          🤨 Catch 22.
          By the way DOE has no equipment to measure anything. And if they had it, they would not know what to do with it. They are 50 years behind in everything.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Can DEH also remove their extra loud alarms from their reversing dump trucks that wake up the whole neighborhood at 4am? lol

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  11. Anonymous says:

    What about the ridiculously loud leaf blowers that blow dust and fumes everywhere? Surely there must be a quieter and more environmentally friendly option that can be used?

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    • Anonymous says:

      It’s called a rake.

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    • Anonymous 22 says:

      Sure, they should shut down the gas leaf blowers. The same People that complain about leaf blowers then start up their gas-powered pressure washers, chain saws turn up their music and Burn brush. Yet they only worry about leaf blowers. Is it the noise our pollution these hypocrites are worried about.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Yep, it’s called a rake. But it takes more elbow grease to use one.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Electric versions have been available for years. Many cities (in the real world) long ago banned 2 stroke garden equipment.

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  12. Anonymous says:

    Midnight construction can continue all night, dump trucks can Jake brake, and yardies can blaze and crank up their machinery before dawn…but the trying to sleep public? They have to pipe down. Classic CIG.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    Why do we even have police? And that they flaunt the title of “Royal” is an insult and an absurdity.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The prefix Royal was granted to the Cayman Islands Police Force by Queen Elizabeth II during her 1983 Visit. There no quotation marks around the word. It is not a title. Or an insult or absurdity. It is the name of our police.

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  14. Anonymous says:

    what about dogs that are tied up and bark 24 hours a day…deot. of agriculture says nothing, no call backs…nothing. owner of dogs is happy with them barking all day. who do you call…Ghostbusters….probably a better response from them. troubled island with lawlessness becoming the accented norm.

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    • Anonymous says:

      What do you suggest DOA do? Storm in an euthanise the dogs? DOA doesn’t have the ability to write tickets. I think if we FINALLY establish an acceptable decible level, it can be applied to ALL parameters: Construction noises, thumping car noise, bar noise, dogs, parties, whatever. Copy the UK legislation, it’s not difficult. Then, the RCIPS have a standard they can MEASURE. Get it now? The standard right now is subjective. It needs to be measurable. Then, if you cannot get any relief, for whatever the governmental entity, you can purchase your own decibel meter and then sue the offending party OR the GOVERNMENTAL entity that refuses to enforce it.

      We can call the police and complain, but when they have a measurable standard to enforce, then and only then will it be done.

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  15. Anonymous says:

    laughable suggestion…pure lipservice

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  16. Anonymous says:

    “Prescribed decibel levels”. Let’s start there. Let’s start by actually prescribing some. Something measurable, so there is no question; it exceeds the prescribed level or it does not, and anyone who cares to can acquire a device to measure that level. Most of us already have a device nearly permanently attached to the end of our arms for recording video.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Interestingly, the mostly absurd “Music and Dancing (Control) Act (2019 Revision)” was revised as “The Music and Dancing (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2022, repealing the earlier section 14 which made reference to regulations prescribing noise levels and noise measurement devices to measure noise in terms of decibels.

      It’s almost enough to make one suspicious that one or more in Parliament are working against the public interest. /s

      • Anonymous says:

        They really haven’t been in our corner, even from the beginning, have they? Such a simple thing, but then business owners cry, ‘why ya wan’ make me turn mah music down and cost me money’, and that’s what our MPs hear. Not our cries, nope. We don’t matter, unless we contribute somehow to the government coffers.

  17. Anonymous says:

    It will be news when the DEH or police actually take enforcment actions.

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  18. Bigly says:

    Laws are just suggestions in this territory. Trump would do very well here.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    Wrong. The enforcement arms of these departments should do their jobs. End of story.

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