Dear Editor,
Minister Khemraj Ramjattan made his first ‘big’ move to reduce crime and domestic violence, have a better work force and provide an economic solution for Guyana all in one decision. It is clear that the Minister does not have hard scientific data to back up his conclusions, so I will provide some assumptions from my observation as an average citizen.
- Most crimes are committed by 100% sober people with a clear plan to kill and rob; they are not leaving bars at 2am to do this. This one is obvious and does not need any data.
- Domestic violence that is rooted in alcohol consumption generally happens in the rural areas in small rum shops and bottom houses. So it would have been better if he had put a limit on DDL and Banks DIH production to make any impact here.
- Road accidents are caused by inexperienced drivers who have bribed the police for their driver’s licence, a situation which is compounded by the police not enforcing the traffic laws.
- Managing work performance is a dynamic between the employers and employees that has to be carried out by them and should not be policed by the state. The Minister is clearly showing signs of interfering in people’s freedoms and private lives.
- People have the right to spend their hard-earned money however they wish; the government has no right to even comment on this. Again, he is interfering in people’s private lives and the private sector.
Drinking and partying will continue after 2am regardless of the curfew; you will see an increase in underground parties that are unregulated and thus provide a greater risk to our young people, since they will not be recognized by the police. There will be loss of revenue and the circulation of money will be reduced. It is my projection that the local economy will lose approximately $154,000,000 weekly.
Minister Ramjattan is confirming my position during elections, that the coalition members are backward thinkers with visionless strategies that will take our country down the wrong path. As I said before, this government consists of paddle boat captains steering a cruise ship.
Yours faithfully,
Malcolm Watkins
