By Jomo Paul
![Seeta's Bar on Station street Kitty after 2:00AM on Sunday morning [iNews Photo]](https://i0.wp.com/www.inewsguyana.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_00000221.jpg)
Despite the criticisms and negative reviews from stakeholders, Ramjattan on Friday, July 03 made it clear that the law would be enforced beginning Saturday, July 04.
On social media and in the general public, a spirited debate ensued with persons advocating for the advancement of the policy and others downright rejecting it, stating that it is an infringement on their fundamental rights.
In the wee hours of Sunday morning, iNews visited some of Guyana’s more popular late night hang out spots, some of which were still opened for business, defying the 2AM rule, while others adhered to it.
Along Sheriff Street, both Clubs Monaco and Liquid Vibe were closed with not a person in sight, but it was not the same for Buddy’s and a Chinese restaurant nearby.
Both entities were opened, with patrons moving in and out of the premises. At the Chinese Restaurant, a small group had gathered and was playing music while imbibing in alcohol.
In Station Street Kitty, Liquid Love was closed in time as stipulated in its license but just next door at Seeta’s Bar the party was raging on in full swing.
The club’s opening was accompanied by its customary traffic build up and crowds in the street; it took place despite police officers being just a stone’s throw away on Vlissengen Road.
Though Gravity Lounge’s owner had publicly raised strong objections to the enforcement of the law, the club closed off its operations promptly, just minutes before the 2:00AM hour.
![Baroombar [iNews Photo]](https://i0.wp.com/www.inewsguyana.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_00591.jpg)
Palm Court on Main Street was also closed in accordance with the law.’
The Guyanese public still has a mixed view on the subject. On www.inewsguyana.com website persons have been commenting either to show support or reject the enforcement of the “archaic” law.
“While I am not in agreement with the curfew, I can see the unmentioned logic behind it all. When one wants to squeeze toothpaste from its container, you squeeze the bottom… hard. The entertainment business in Guyana is part and parcel of a number of illegitimate and illegal businesses and operations; while some try to keep things above board, a number of hits have originated from among the ‘monied’ members of this section of our business community,” one commentator stated.
However, another person stated that “the night club owners are concerned about one thing only; that is to milk their patrons of their cash without regards how they got it. They have no policy with regards to responsible drinking. They will sell, sell, sell as long as the profits keep soaring…many acts of violence are triggered during or after binge drinking in the presence of other patrons but no one would volunteer to give evidence as to exactly what transpired when there is an investigation.”
“How is Night clubs being opened late directly linked to the crime situation happening presently? Last time I checked most criminal activities such as robberies and murders happen in broad day light. Now I am all for change but positive change and I need to see the data which supports the minister’s reasoning behind this step. Minister you can’t just say these things and not show proof. Show me the proof and I’ll be 100% with you. Now you also say that people need to spend their money more wisely and with this i also agree, but again this is not your decision to make. However someone chooses to spend what they earn is entirely up to them. Sir don’t go down this dictatorship road, show us the data/ proof behind your reasoning,” said another person.
On Facebook, social activist Ferlin Pedro stated “This proposed law which is actually the law but has not been enforced, is a regulatory condition on club operations to halt at a specific time. That means you are still free to drink and waste yourself away anywhere else you want, for instance, on the roadways or at the seawall. Your freedom to get drunk till sunrise is still intact.”
You have mentioned Canada has a 02:00 closing time. Canadians are not Guyanese, the latter will always find ways of flouting the law. The RCPM is not like the GPF, the latter being synonymous with bribery and corruption
Discipline within the GPF is at rock bottom and that is a direct result of the sloppy recruitment process. Most are the bottom of the academic barrel recruits hoping to gain some academic training on the job. The way they speak(?) tells you a lot about their personality.They behave like a typical bully trying to drive fear into anyone who would willingly pay up or be locked up even though committing a non custodial offence.
In my opinion, concerns shared by the writer of this article misses the point of implementing the 2:00 am curfew. Do you know that noise nuisance is a crime? It is also very prevalent throughout Guyana. Do you know that there are indeed many murders and violent activity at night clubs that are alcohol related? For some reason, everything that seem to pose constriction on once’s individual activity is titled a breach of fundamental rights. Rather, it is not a breach of our fundamental rights to be disturbed in our homes by persons allowed by the enforcers of law to party recklessly without limitation? Night clubs are not the only source of this disturbance of peace. Why must we allow our society to operate without guidelines that would help save us from ourselves in some instances, while preserving or promoting a harmonious environment? The next thing I would like to see is a ban on some Jamaican dance hall much filled with aggressive sexual immorality. Good norms in our society must be established and preserved for the sake of the younger generations. Order should be restored and we must support by making the necessary adjustments.
That’s surely a dumb ass way to attempt fighting ‘crime’ come next election…that one dumb law will cost him dearly.
Ramjattan should go and solve crime instead of in installing a curfew. He is stupid to think this will stop people from partying because they would continue from homes and cannot be monitored there. I cannot believe the govt deciding to do something like this without getting a consensus from the Guyanese people. Who do you think put you there???? You are making all the wrong changes, changes that do not benefit the citizens of Guyana but changes that suit you alone. We gone back to Burnham dictatorship days????
Something has to be done and 2:AM is great. Canada who has millions of people and a very crime rate has a 2: am Restriction said business.