A Monday news story carried an incorrect statement in which loud music at Admiralty Park was blamed on the Pembroke Community Club. Agriculture and Fisheries apologises for attributing the noise to people renting space from the club.

Music blaring from an Admiralty Park outhouse drove an angry neighbour to launch a blistering attack on the park's owners last week.

The Pembroke resident singled out the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Parks for blame for "handing out the keys to anyone'' and supplying the perpetrators with electricity. "You may not be able to stop nuisances from hanging out on your property but you don't have to supply them with electricity or a place to store these systems,'' he complained in a letter to The Royal Gazette .

But Agriculture, Fisheries & Parks director Mr. John Barnes protested the Department was not to blame. "We in no way aided and abetted the noise,'' he said. "It was not the fault of Agriculture & Fisheries. "Just because the noise was made in the park does not mean Agriculture & Fisheries sanctions what goes on or provides the electricity.'' The building, he said, was leased to the Pembroke Community Club and has one electrical outlet supplied by the centre.

Often, he said, it was used during the day for youth group activities. "They quite legitimately have permission to use the building but they do not have permission to make a loud noise,'' he said.

And he said he was not aware of any problems before or since the incident. But he warned the club could lose its lease to use the building if loud music continued to cause a disturbance in the evenings.

The complainant, who did not reveal his name, also criticised Police after he said his complaints fell on deaf ears. He said he made two calls but was told Police were too busy.

But Sergeant Roseanda Jones of Police Community and Media Relations admitted Police were busy that evening with serious crimes including an assault and armed robbery.

"We have to prioritise and we do attend to more serious matters such as assault first,'' she said. "When more manpower becomes available, officers then deal with the other complaints.'' But she said Police responded to each complaint within minutes.

Following the first call, Police arrived at the scene 15 minutes later and told the noisemakers to turn the music down. The officers remained nearby to make sure it was kept at an acceptable level, Sgt. Jones said.

Uniformed officers responded to the second call within just three minutes. But they said music was not being played and the group responsible was already packing up their equipment.