2AM curfew on pause for Christmas season

In response to a bombardment of requests from the private sector, and even senior public officials, the Public Security Ministry (PSM), in conjunction with the Guyana Police Force, on Thursday announced that the 2:00am curfew enforced against bars, night clubs and other places of entertainment would be placed on a pause.
This is in keeping with the Spirit of Christmas, so as to allow for the staging of events and other festivities without limiting such occasions to a specific cut-off time, the PSM said in an advisory.
This pause in the nationwide curfew is to take effect from today: Friday, December 22, 2017, and will last until Friday, January 12, 2018. From January 13, 2018, the aforementioned stipulated closing time will be back in effect.
A similar arrangement was put in place to relax the curfew last Christmas, following calls from the Private Sector Commission.
Meanwhile, the PSM has taken the opportunity to remind the public that all other laws — especially those prohibiting drinking and driving, and noise nuisance — will be thoroughly enforced, with heightened vehicular patrols and police presence stationed at popular party spots.
Party-goers have been advised and admonished to get a designated driver and to ensure noise levels at partying spots are not excessive.
Shortly after taking office in 2015, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had moved to implement a 2:00am nationwide curfew, debarring business entities and events from extending their nocturnal activities into the early hours of the following morning.
This decision was met with much opposition, and in some cases it has even been disregarded. In fact citizens, and even high placed officials, were advancing the argument that such a move would have a negative effect on the development of the budding tourism industry in Guyana.
Nevertheless, it is customary for the PSM to put special arrangements in place to halt this restriction during specific peak seasons, such as Christmas and Mashramani, among other local highlights throughout the year.