Despite widespread public outcry, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan on Friday maintained that the government will continue to enforce the 2:00am “party done” closure time for bars and nightspots.

Responding to questions from News Source, the Minister indicated that any change on his part would be to close the clubs and nightspots at 12:00 midnight  as stipulated by the law instead of the current 2:00am.

“It is a proven fact that drinking has a correlation to misbehavior and we have to set standards,” the Minister said, while unable to provide statistics or studies to support his position.

He said he is merely enforcing the law and as unpopular as it is he is willing to stay the course to ensure that crime is reduced.

“There are good things to be done for crime reduction some of which will be unpopular and I am willing to do these unpopular things,” he added.

He urged citizens who are desirous of a change to go the way of a petition until which time the 2:00am curfew stands.

Ramjattan further explained that “the law at present states that if you get a liquor license, it states that midnight you have to stop selling alcohol and we have been breaching the law and that has caused us to be where we are.”

He said in relation to the law allows for hotels and selected nightspots to remain open and serve alcohol until 2am.

On this note, the Security Minister made reference to New York where there is a prescribed time for the end of sale of alcohol.

“I’m urging this because a lot of wives and women are saying they are happy because it has brought my husband home a bit earlier and he has more money in his pocket.”

Ramjattan maintains that he will continue with the enforcement of the 1982 law and he is convinced that his move is in the best interest of the country.