THE EDITOR, Sir:

On Saturday, March 17, there was a "gospel concert" in progress at Hope Gardens. I live on Hope Boulevard and as the crow flies, I am at least a half mile from where it was staged. For hours I and others in the vicinity were obliged to hear every sound proceeding from the stage - both in the form of music and the spoken word. The noise pollution and the de facto invasion of privacy were just as great as that created by some of our notorious sound systems (against which I have made regular complaints). The fact that it did not continue beyond 11:00 p.m. does not detract from the reality that households in Hope Pastures, College Green, Mon and, no doubt, others close by were for many hours deprived of their right to have a peaceful environment. A call to the Papine Police station only met with the response that it would soon be over!

Worst experience

In over 30 years as a resident in this community, this was certainly one of my worst experiences It seems incomprehensible for persons who are assumed to be advocates of positive values and attitudes in our society to be so unmindful of the sensitivities and feelings of others. I appeal to those who sponsor and organise such events, as well as the authorities, to see that what is intended to be an activity to uplift and improve the moral well-being of people does not, in the way it is conducted, serve to glorify and perpetuate an undesirable culture of noise.

I am, etc.,

JOHN A. MAXWELL

3 Hope Blvd,

Kingston 6