PUBLIC Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan remains adamant that the curfew with regard to places selling alcohol opening until 02:00am stands. He has said that this law will be upheld, and he has threatened to revoke or suspend the licences of those businesses which do not comply with the law.

It has been almost two months since the 02:00hrs bar curfew was implemented, and in all that time, it has faced an outcry from bar owners.

Ramjattan has, however, made it pellucidly clear that if any changes are to be made to this law, it would be with regard to implementing the curfew time at midnight, instead of at 02:00hrs. This would essentially mean that the hours during which the curfew takes effect would be extended instead of reduced.

Addressing a post-Cabinet news briefing on Friday, the Public Security Minister challenged those who are not in favour of the law to “set up a petition.”

While acknowledging that the law is an “unpopular” measure in combating crime, Minister Ramjattan explained that there is a correlation between heavy drinking at 02:00 hrs and after and accidents and domestic violence, among other crimes, in Guyana.

He pointed out that the law at present states that the sale of alcohol MUST be stopped at midnight. He opined that because Guyanese have been breaching the law, the country is at its current state in relation to road accidents, violent crime, domestic violence, et al.

“We have to set standards here, and the law is that we [places selling alcohol] must close [at the stipulated time]; otherwise, we are going to have young people more out on the streets late at nights, drinking and misbehaving,” the minister was convinced, although unable to provide empirical data.

Whether the bar owners are dissatisfied or the crime rate has been profoundly increased, Minister Ramjattan disclosed that many wives and women have expressed their satisfaction at the law being implemented, since it has caused their husbands to return home earlier with “a little more money” in their pockets.

Aside from the entertainment industry, the tourism industry has expressed worry that the curfew will hamper its scope, but Ramjattan has clarified that the same law provides for high-ranking hotels such as the Pegasus to close at 02:00hrs.

Approximately two months ago, the minister implemented this curfew, which seeks to close bars, nightclubs and restaurants across the country at 02:00hrs; and although the intention was to assist in the reduction of crime, the crime rate has evidently increased significantly, as reported by sections of the media.

The business community has reportedly remained steadfast in opposing the minister’s move since its inception; but Minister Ramjattan has committed himself to reducing the upsurge of crime in Guyana, if necessary by means of “unpopular” measures such as this one, although he has admitted that reducing crime is not like playing ‘T20 cricket.’

By Shivanie Sugrim