Thread by @LoungeTania

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- THREAD -

Dear Mayor @PudenceR, Dear CEO @cakamanzi,
our restaurant @LoungeTania was closed yesterday, August 12, by the @RemeraRwanda E.S. for apparent "#noisepollution". #Kigali #RwOT #Rwanda

We are located in a commercial area in Gishushu (with little to no residential presence) and have been operational since February 2020. We have been organizing events on our front yard (mainly acoustic live band or DJ) since October 2021.

In May 2022, we received apparent "noise pollution" warnings/a 150K fine. Since June, we moved our events at the back, facing offices (M&M Plaza, Tele 10, RDB etc). Yesterday, @RemeraRwanda decided to close the restaurant after a complaint from a citizen living in Nyarutarama.

We wish to be guided/have clarification(s) on the limits within which we can still have performances without disturbing the neighborhood. We managed to host 20+ events before the first complaint (in May...after operating 7 months) while playing on our front yard.

Since we moved our events to the back, we also managed 20+ events (in the past 10 weeks). That's a total of 37 events out of 40 that went on with no complaint. We believe we can still operate without nuisance.

On May 28th 2022, CEO @cakamanzi mentioned that @RDBrwanda, @CityofKigali & @RwandaLocalGov were finalizing new guidelines regulating noise pollution in open space. We are yet to receive them, and clear the current ambiguity (2 months+ later).

https://twitter.com/isatitou/status/1530476086856925185

1. @RemeraRwanda Since closing us yesterday, we are yet to receive details on what is next.
2.@RemeraRwanda Is closing an entertainment business on the eve of a long week-end the best approach, considering the economic climate we are currently facing?

3. On the eve of #CHOGM, @CityofKigali requested of our entertainment field to keep #Kigali vibrant. Is it still the case, or was it a one-event exception? Because we assure you that we are trying to do just that.

4. How can a citizen in Nyarutarama (according to @RemeraRwanda) hear with precision noise coming from XYZ place in Gishushu, since we are not the only event venue in the area.
5. Why is the @Rwandapolice measuring noise with mere ears, instead of using monitoring devices?

@LoungeTania has repeatedly given a platform to established and up and coming local artists. Closing down the venue goes against the promotion of our culture/music industry, and negatively affects our entertainment business.

Again, @LoungeTania adheres to the idea of good neighboring practices. We intend on resuming our activities, which, at the moment are affected greatly by the @RemeraRwanda decision. We look forward to a fair and constructive resolution to the issue.

We would like to announce that we shall reopen from tomorrow