Former Minister with responsibility for public security under the previous government, Clement Rohee has shot down the move by the current administration to impose the 2am curfew on bars and nightclubs. Rohee reasoned that the imposition of the curfew would be an attack on Guyanese culture. “This country is very open and relaxed and I never felt that bars and clubs remaining open late led to any spike in crime,” the former Minister said.
Rohee told a news conference on Tuesday morning that it was an excuse to crime fighting and chided the government for not addressing the spike in crime as it had preached while in opposition. He said there was no scientific data to prove that there is any spike in crime after 2am or that criminal activities are directly linked to bars and nightspots operating late into the night.
“Find out from the police and crime analysis there if there is any data that shows that clubs and bars open after 2 am has resulted in spike in crime. I don’t believe so,” he added.
Rohee said closing off nightspots at 2am simply does not confirm to Guyanese culture and reiterated that he “always felt that guyanese live in a relax society and don’t live under conditions like other parts of the world.”
He said the move by the new Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan was an imposition of a curfew. Several bar and club owners along with events promoters have rejected the move and reasoning attached to it.
Rohee said the spike in crime was in fact worrying but attested to the failed implementation of several crime fighting strategies.
President David Granger this morning met with leading government ministers and his security team to look at ways of tackling the current crime problem in the country.
The meeting is expected to formulate a national plan and response to the increase in criminal activity.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login