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A man fires up barbeque pits in Arnos Vale on Wednesday. Residents have complained about noise and smoke in the area. (IWN photo)
A man fires up barbeque pits in Arnos Vale on Wednesday. Residents have complained about noise and smoke in the area. (IWN photo)
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Head of the Democratic Republican Party (DRP), Anesia Baptiste, says that some businesses in Arnos Vale are being allowed to violate the rights of residents of the suburban area because their owners are connected to the government.

“… I know there are residents who are very concerned about the ways in which, it seems, some businesses, because of connections to certain people in government, seem to have been allowed to break the law and trample upon their rights and freedoms when it comes to issues like breaching the principles in the Noise Act and even participating in certain business activities which affect the very health and welfare of the people.”

Baptiste made the point while addressing a DRP rally in Arnos Vale last week.

Some residents of Arnos Vale have complained about noise emanating from watering holes, and smoke from barbeque pits along the stretch between the roundabout and the entrance to the Sports Complex in Arnos Vale.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has noted that the area — traditionally a residential district — is becoming increasingly commercial and has noted a need for balance but has not elaborated on what his Unity Labour Party government plans to do to address the situation.

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Speaking at the rally, Baptiste said:

“I know there are residents who are concerned about these things and I have investigated and I have found that there is too much lackadaisical attitude towards people breaking the law. It is as if there is one law for the politicians and his friends and his relatives and another law for the common man…

“With the DRP, it would not be so,” Baptiste told the DRP rally, which was attended by a handful of persons.

Several entertainment spots are located along this stretch of road in Arnos Vale. (IWN photo)
Several entertainment spots are located along this stretch of road in Arnos Vale. (IWN photo)

She said that under the DRP, there will be one law for the politician and the same law for the common man.

“Equality for all under law.  And the law must be respected and the rights and freedom of the people must be respected and will be respected under a DRP administration.

“If they break the law, let the police deal with them, regardless of who they are…

“So I will address those things that are not being addressed today,” she said.

Baptiste said that she will not tolerate wrongdoing by members of her government either.

“We were put here to serve you, not to trample on you, and you can be assured, I will not allow it to happen. And if it happens outside of my knowledge, I will deal with it and I will give you, the people, accountability, because you deserve it. We work for you, not the other way around,” she said.

The DRP, a fledgling party, has so far announced three candidates for the upcoming general elections, expected before year-end.

Baptiste, for the first-time, will contend the West St. George seat against the incumbent Cecil “Ces” McKie of the ULP, and political newcomer Julian “Jules” Ferdinand of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP).

The DRP’s Wendell Paris Snr will try to unseat the NDP’s Nigel “Nature” Stephenson in South Leeward, where political newcomer, Sen. Jomo Thomas, is carrying the ULP’s torch.

And in East Kingstown, Karima Parris of the DRP is running against Leader of the Opposition, Arnhim Eustace, and Luke Browne of the ULP.

Political observers say the DRP is unlikely to have any impact on the outcome of the polls, which they say will be a straight fight between the NDP and ULP.

2 replies on “Well-connected businesses violating residents’ rights in Arnos Vale — DRP heads ”

  1. Being “connected” to the government may hinder justice in some areas but the main impediment to gaining justice is police ineptitude.

    I have repeatedly complained about loud music coming from an NDP-supporter-owned rum shop in my community, mostly to no avail.

    The station police routinely send me to the Rapid Response Unit, even though this is not an urgent criminal matter. The RRU personnel are sometimes helpful, especially when a female officer is the reporting person. Although warnings are sometimes given, no fines are ever levied, contrary to the law. The police believe — wrongly and incompetently — that if a permission is given to play music for a particular event, as given by the Commissioner or his representative, then the music can be as loud as the sound system permits.

    As far as I know, there are no decibel recorders used or possessed by the authorities although decibel noise levels are prescribed in the legislation.

    As I and others have complained, ad nauseam on this site, much of what goes on in SVG is not victimization as such — without denying that such does regularly occur — but gross negligence, ignorance, sloth, incompetence, and indifference among the persons who make so-called police force.

    Welcome, once more, to the Third World’s Third World.

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