Uncontrolled noise in Los Arabos, Matanzas: loud music, exhausted neighbors, and deaf authorities

In Los Arabos, Matanzas, the music keeps people awake, but the authorities are indeed silent about the complaints. A resident reported the noise pollution they endure every weekend due to recreational activities sanctioned by the municipal government, and after more than five months of official silence, the only response was to justify the noise with surveys and generic regulations, without providing evidence or solutions.

Omar López Sánchez, a resident of Martí Street No. 35, stated that on October 10 Street, which surrounds Camilo Cienfuegos Park, the Culture House, and the Cabaret, “two kiosks were built a few years ago and that area was closed off to vehicle traffic to create what they call the Boulevard of the Arabs.”

In a letter sent to the citizen complaints section “Apartado 1433” of the provincial newspaper Girón, López reported that every weekend, the place “turns into an open-air nightclub from the afternoon until dawn, with music at high decibels, causing vibrations in the doors and windows of nearby homes. This makes it impossible to hear the television and to rest, as I work from Monday to Saturday.”

The man said he filed a complaint with the local government's Citizen Assistance office, but after more than five months he did not receive a response. Therefore, he decided to express his dissatisfaction to the media and make it public because -he stated- even though "I am writing in a personal capacity, it is the suffering of many people from Araba."

Regarding noise or sound aggression, such as loud and tasteless music in public spaces, López referred to Decree-Law 200/99, “which seems to be overlooked by the authorities responsible for preventing such situations in our municipality.”

The regulation in effect since 1999 includes a system of administrative measures that classifies noise, vibrations, and other physical factors above 65 decibels (a level deemed by specialists to be the most harmful) as violations. Offenders of this regulation may face fines ranging from 200 to 2,250 pesos.

Yaidiel Milián La Fe, president of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power, Almisaday Martínez Rodríguez, mayor of the Government Authority, and Wilfredo Alejandro Rodríguez Báez, deputy mayor of Programs and Objectives, sent a report to the section “Apartado 1433” in which they stated that “in the area in question, there are self-employed workers.”

They emphasized that "activities are carried out during the day and at night that have been approved and checked by the local recreation committee," and that for the kiosks, the schedule for playing recorded music was accepted until 1:00 a.m. on Fridays, until 2:00 a.m. on Saturdays, and until midnight on Sundays. "Regarding the volume (decibels), it complies with the established standards," they stated.

Local authorities argued that in "surveys conducted with young people in the municipal seat, they expressed their acceptance of what is happening on the boulevard as they consider it normal."

In contrast, they sought to discredit or downplay the neighbor's complaint, arguing that “near the disputed location and López Sánchez's home, there is the agromarket square, where similar events are organized; however, he has not raised any objections regarding what he considers noise aggression.”

"Up to this point is the response. As expected, the reader reiterated their dissatisfaction with the thesis of it, beyond the evident delays of those responsible for addressing their request. On the other hand, did they prove to you that the decibels are suitable?" noted the article from Girón.

And he concluded: “As long as that doesn’t happen, for him and for others, it will continue to be a flagrant noise pollution.”

For years now, debates and complaints about the high levels of noise pollution in Cuba have been frequent, concerning both the responsibility of citizens and that of state entities.

Although there is legislation against environmental noise, the population is skeptical as they view it as ineffective.

What bothers the public the most is “the loud music,” especially reggaeton, which can be heard in homes, buses, cars, plazas, and streets throughout the country at inconvenient hours: mainly in the late night to early morning on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

However, the Cuban state media has also expressed “concern” about the noise that tourists experience upon arriving in the country, overwhelmed by loudspeakers playing reggaeton, trap, and other music genres.

Frequently Asked Questions about Noise and Sound Pollution in Los Arabos, Matanzas