Letter of the Day | Hearses have become a source of noise pollution

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Have you noticed that hearses have become a source of noise pollution? I have noticed a pattern in which hearses arrive at churches for funerals with religious music soaring at high decibels.

I have also seen and heard hearses travelling from Kingston to Meadowrest Memorial Gardens and Dovecot Memorial Gardens playing religious music loudly. Even on entering these cemeteries, the hearse drivers often take a long while before they lower the volume or mute the loud Christian music they play.

Sometimes these cemeteries are transformed into a noise festival. It is nothing strange to hear two or three hearses blaring their loud music at the same time in these cemeteries. Such noise in a cemetery does not reflect the reverence and sacredness that ought to be evident as one prepares to bury the dead.

Sometimes the loud music coming from these hearses are such that they could rival the popular sound systems around town.

Accordingly, I am inviting the directors of funeral homes to instruct their hearse drivers to cut out the loud music. It is not necessary. In the meantime, let us all strive for a kinder, gentler and quieter Jamaica.

MARK DAWES