Hon Fraser made the call as part of his statements delivered under Private Members Business, at the continuation of the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly on September 2, 2019.

'Nuisance' - Hon Fraser

“We have been careful in making sure that people can’t have loud music and other noises beyond a certain time at night, but what about this nuisance that we have called construction on Sundays in neighbourhoods where people live?”

In calling upon the Attorney General, Hon Baba F. Aziz to take a closer look at the Act, the veteran legislator said citizens in residential areas have been putting up with noise all throughout the week; however, Sundays especially is bothersome.

“I know we put up with it, we tolerate it, Monday through Friday even Saturdays and into the night But when Sundays come… Members of this Honourable house need to take a closer look on how our people treat their neighbours in what’s good and right in that regard,” he said.

Under the Noise Control and Abatement Act, persons are required to obtain permission in order to amplify sound of any kind beyond the confines of personal space anywhere in the territory; however, this act does not cite instances of Sunday construction.

Act Covers establishments

While Hon Fraser’s call is not new in the territory, under normal instances, an advance letter of request would normally be made in writing to the Commissioner of Police to obtain a Noise Exemption Permission Letter for certain categories of business.

Under that law, bars and restaurants and other categories of licenced establishments can operate up until midnight, Monday to Saturday, with the exception of Sunday, where a closing time of 9:00 pm is standard unless permission is granted to operate beyond those hours.