While many masqueraders and revellers are experiencing Carnival tabanca, residents of Woodbrook are breathing a sigh of relief after enduring an intense two weeks of activities.
Some may argue that Woodbrook and St James are synonymous with Carnival, but Ashell Waddell, of the Woodbrook Community Council, said yesterday that while residents appreciate the cultural aspects of Carnival, they want some consideration from revellers.
Waddell told CNC3 there is no longer any respect for rules and regulations and property owners continue to suffer from noise pollution and losses due to damage inflicted by masqueraders during the season.
She said residents were given notice of just two events and were even given complimentary tickets, but most Carnival events and the accompanying noise came without any notice.
“We are not asking you to mute it, if you mute the music, you are probably going to start a riot in Woodbrook, because Woodbrook residents like their Carnival. It’s just the excessive bass and the excessive noise, that can’t be healthy for anybody,” she said.
Waddell said while Woodbrook has always been one of the main areas in Port-of-Spain for Carnival events and it is on a parade route, the equipment now being used is more powerful, and there is no longer any respect by bandleaders for the rules and regulations.
Waddell said signs posted in some areas about regulating the noise levels were ignored and the perimeter walls of homes were used as public toilets, not just on Carnival Monday and Tuesday but during pre-Carnival events.
She said the Woodbrook Community Council is asking for more dialogue with the relevant authorities and bandleaders in the future.