Some government officials and organisations think people should be allowed to enjoy themselves through music and are thinking of reviewing the Noise Abatement Act.

The Act so far prohibits the playing of loud music and and there are regulations that music at dances or other places of entertainment must be turned off after certain hours at nights.

It would seem an amendment of the Act to extend the hours for dances, and for such dances to be kept at certain locations, is to come up soon for consideration.

But a student from downtown Kingston is not pleased with a review or amendment of the Act. She said stiffer penalties should be meted out to those who breach it.

"Yes, I hear the news that there is likely to be a review of the Noise Abatement Act, but people must bear in mind that people who live in the ghetto want some peace and quiet.

I live with my parents downtown, and many nights I cannot study because most nights there is some dance or someone playing loud music in my community.

"If I really want to study, I have to go to the home of friends who live in residential areas, just to study in peace. A home is a home and wherever one lives, there should be peace and quiet, and people should respect that.

"How could a person be playing loud music at all hours of the night and day, and that can be acceptable?" "If people are keeping dances, they should turn down the music to a tolerable level and it should end at a certain time of the night. Dances in my area are kept from early evening to almost daylight.

"People can enjoy music without turning up the volume to deafen or disturb other people, especially children who have to study, and working people who are tired after going out to work all day. Then what about those people who are ill, and would like a good night's rest?

"My view is that the police must be more vigilant in turning off loud music because many people are suffering because of it," the student added.

You have raised some very important points and you are right that people should respect people's right to peace and quiet. The Noise Abatement Act was passed to curtail loud noise both day and night and it includes loud music at dances and the police should take steps to ensure that the law is obeyed.