IN breaking her silence on the 2:00 am curfew for bars which was instituted by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Tourism Minister Catherine Hughes said an analytical report measuring its impact on the tourism sector, and simultaneously its effectiveness in the reduction of crime, will be released within two weeks.Hughes was speaking at a press conference held yesterday at the Tourism Ministry, Colgrain House, Georgetown. She told reporters that, currently, her Ministry is in the process of collecting some “very interesting information” that would allow them to analyse the effects.

“I have spoken to a range of individuals, some feeling very strongly in support and some of course disappointed that it is in place,” the Tourism Minister said, as she made reference to the discussions she would have had with club owners. However, she pointed out that in several parts of the world, including the United States and the United Kingdom, there are regulations in place preventing the sale of alcohol after a certain time period. “So this is not unusual,” she emphasised.

In support of the Public Security Minister, Hughes said the curfew was implemented to curb the serious problems of crime. She pointed out that there were cases when persons, having partied all night into the morning, would have been involved in fatal vehicular accidents and major physical confrontations. “It is a difficult problem, and I don’t think that there is a simple solution; but what I would say is that we have been monitoring it.”

In July, Minister Ramjattan, under whose purview the laws governing music and dance licences fall, announced the enforcement of the 02:00hrs (2AM) closing time for bars and clubs in Guyana. However, he had said that it was not applicable to special shows.

“The regional and international shows will have its special permissions and the time period would be put on those shows too, but I don’t know necessarily if that will apply. If there is a special show that can go until 4am, then fine, we will deal with that, and that’s a show,” Ramjattan had told the press shortly after the curfew took effect.
WOMEN’S RIGHTS GROUPS

He had pointed out that the women’s rights groups were in agreement with the move, although he had been approached by proprietors and proprietresses of several clubs and bars to review his position. “I am getting a number of bars and restaurants already lobbying me, and I will not, in any way, try to retract and renege on that. It is also a legal requirement under the licensing arrangement that they bring a halt to their activities at 02:00hrs in the morning,” Minister Ramjattan had said.

He went on to address the issue of spending, stating that people who are in the habit of drinking after 02:00hrs are spending too much money that could have been spent more wisely.

According to Ramjattan, the abuse of alcohol has a direct relationship to domestic violence, and is a major contributing factor to a number of traffic offences. These developments, he stated, have a direct impact on the economy as it were. He reiterated that he wishes to see all clubs and nightspots closed at 02:00hrs. He was adamant that the law will be upheld and there will also be sanctions, suspensions or revocations of licences if these laws are breached or violated.

By Svetlana Marshall