The issue surrounding the matter of the national curfew being lowered from 2:00 am to 12:00 midnight was on Thursday clarified by Minister of State Joseph Harmon after being questioned by reporters on the government’s position on the issue, according to GINA.
The Minister was at the time speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency.
Sections of the media had reported that Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan has signalled his intention to bring the curfew down from 2:00am to 12:00 midnight.
However, Minister Harmon stated that, “sometimes I believe that we take Ministers’ statement and swing it in our own way, and swing it sometimes for purposes that are not wholly in the public interest.”
Minister Harmon pointed out that Minister Ramjattan is on record stating that religious organisations had approached him about changing the opening hours of night spots from 2:00am from to 12:00 midnight. Minster Harmon made it clear that Minister Ramjattan was at the time stating the position of several religious bodies, and pointed out that Minister Ramjattan did not take a policy position on the matter.
“Cabinet never discussed this matter about removing from two (am) to 12 (midnight). The Minister is very clear on that, and I would like to clarify this so that we do not spin things in a way when (a) Minister makes these statements,” Minister Harmon explained.
