A parliament committee on Wednesday unearthed deep frustration over the regulation of noise pollution, with two committee members venting their own experiences and both the police service and Environmental Management Authority (EMA) revealing uncertainties clouding their operations.

The Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Local Authorities, Service Commissions and Statutory Authorities, chaired by Dr Varma Deyalsingh, interviewed teams led by EMA head Hayden Romano, Ministry of Planning and Development permanent secretary Marie Hinds, and police service ACP Collis Hazel and ACP Sharon Cooper.

The EMA are awaiting the Appeal Court's ruling on a promoter who won a case against the EMA in the High Court the JSC heard, while the police said they would be willing to relinquish their responsibility for noise enforcement to another agency such as the EMA.

Deyalsingh said noise pollution was "a public health hazard."

He said it can cause high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, insomnia, depression and anxiety, while harming children's academic performance.

Deyalsingh said noise pollution was an issue of environmental justice, with lower income and minority groups worst affected globally.

Hailing Germany for reducing its acoustic footprint, Deyalsingh declared, "We have to give citizens some relief."

Romano said noise pollution was "an area of tremendous concern", with 900 noise complaints to the EMA's hotline from 2018-2022. He said the EMA's remit was commercial and industrial noise, governed by the EMA Act and its Noise Pollution Control Rules, Summary Offences Act, and nuisance under common law.

Romano said the covid19 period had seen fewer noise complaints which have since risen. He said the EMA police have the powers of regular police. While previously the EMA police amplified noise events for three hours to assess, this period was now 30 minutes. Romano said the EMA wanted a ban on noisy fireworks, given their damage to human and animal health, as outlined in its 2021 position paper now on its website. He hoped the JSC sitting would kick-start a national dialogue.

Romano said the EMA can approve a noise variation to an event, but may later advise the volume be reduced.

JSC member Khadijah Ameen said the public wants to know how to get action against noise makers, saying people's numerous complaints to the police and EMA have brought no action in noise reduction nor enforcement in areas such as Trincity and Valsayn South. She urged bars in areas like Curepe have stipulated hours of operation such as up to 11 pm or midnight. "Who goes out, besides the MP and the councillor, when they (residents) are calling down our phone?"

Romano said under the EMA Act, the EMA may request a noise-maker to lower their volume, or otherwise register him in breach.

"The challenge with that is that it is not immediate relief."

Ameen remarked, "There is a perception that the EMA does not have the teeth to shut down events."

Deyalsingh suggested a ticketing system for noise polluters similar to that