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Public Security Ministry relaxes 2am curfew
Guyanese at home and those returning for the 50th Anniversary of Independence celebrations, will be
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan
allowed to party up to 04:00 hours as the Ministry of Public Security is relaxing the enforcement of the 2am curfew for bars, night clubs and other places of entertainment.
The relaxing of the business deadline is consequent upon the Ministry being inundated with requests from businesses and the general public seeking to fully celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
To this end the Ministry announced that in conjunction with the Guyana Police Force, it will temporarily relax the enforcement of the curfew.
Members of the Diaspora, who are returning to be part of the independence anniversary celebrations and even those of the business community, had their fingers crossed in hope that Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, would have extended the curfew.
Earlier this year when the matter was brought up again, Ramjattan had said that while he will continue to “stick to his guns” on the matter, he will keep an open mind.
“I would want a collective decision to be made on this matter. I am pretty strong about it. Our celebrations were not meant to have huge drinking all over the place, and I have been informed by a lot of members of the religious community that it should not be relaxed.”
“But I could understand a number of other opinions that the event is a celebratory one so I am going to call upon Cabinet to help me in deciding on whether we are going to relax it or not. It is going to be considered there.”
In the end the decision was taken to extend the curfew.
“It is a time for celebration and knowing the Guyanese spirit, the Ministry has seen the need for this relaxation. The period during which the 2 a.m. deadline will be extended to 4 a.m. is from Friday, May 20 to Monday, May 30, 2016,” the Public Security Ministry stated in a press release yesterday.
The Ministry, however, cautioned businesses and individuals that the Guyana Police Force will continue to investigate and prosecute noise nuisance reports, drinking and driving, and other offences during this period.
“The Ministry takes this opportunity to wish the citizens of Guyana an enjoyable Jubilee Celebration and urge everyone to be particularly safety-conscious during this busy season, especially on the roadways.”
When the 2:00 am curfew was first implemented last year July, it sparked an intense debate. Even the Private Sector Commission (PSC) had spoken out against it.
The Commission said that the curfew for nightclubs over the past few months seems to have taken such a toll on the sustainability of businesses within the entertainment industry and called for a revision of the imposition. It wanted the curfew to be extended to 4: 00am.
The PSC said it observed and received reports from its membership that the enforcement of the 2:00 am curfew closure for bars and night clubs is having a significant negative impact to such an extent that some are faced with the threat of closure and downsizing as a result of this decision.
It said that it is also concerned that this could have a long term negative impact on the country’s developing Tourism Industry.
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