News Headline | Cabinet permits music and dance on New Year's Eve

From Cayman Net News:

Cabinet permits music and dance on New Year's Eve

After constant lobbying from the hospitality and entertainment sectors, the Cayman Islands Government has relaxed its laws to allow for music and dancing on New Year's Eve.

This New Year's Eve falls on a Sunday, which is traditionally preserved as a day of worship by Caymanians and there are laws restricting music and dancing on that day.

Businesses have been calling on the ruling administration to change the laws that prohibit music and dancing on Sundays, which they claim retard the country's nightlife.

Several organisations, including the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, have tried to impress upon Government the adverse effect that the laws were having on the tourism industry.

At last Friday's press briefing, Minister for Commerce, Hon Charles Clifford, presented Government's policy decision on New Year's Eve, saying they have been given ample time to plan for the holidays.

"The Cabinet has recently considered the matter and has decided on what it believes is a sensible approach which honours religious and cultural norms while balancing the importance of New Year's Eve activities for those residents and visitors who wish to celebrate at licensed establishments," he said.

"The Cabinet has approved that properties which are prohibited from playing live music on Sundays under the Music and Dancing (Control) Law will be able to operate and play live music from 12:01am to 3:00 am on 1st January 2007."

Mr Clifford explained that the policy allows those establishments that are already permitted, in accordance with the Law to serve alcohol on Sundays, to be able to continue to do that.

He said that they would now, in addition to serving alcohol, be allowed to play live music after midnight on New Year's Eve 2006. The policy will apply to nightclubs.

Despite the announcement, licensed properties must apply to the Liquor Licensing Board to obtain permission for extended hours, according to the Minister.

He said that this is necessary because some properties may currently be on probation with certain conditions attached to their licenses.

Mr Clifford, who is also Tourism Minister, said the latest policy comes with a list of guidelines that must be followed by interested parties.

This announcement follows a longstanding precedent, as it has become customary for non-exempt businesses, in particular nightclubs, to commence operations at 12:01 am on the day immediately after a prohibited day so the decision affirms existing practices.

Also not all premises are impacted by this decision. Premises subject to the Music and Dancing (Control) Law and hence this policy includes:

With respect to which a charge is made for admission;

Where food or refreshments is supplied to the public for a charge;

Which are licensed under the Liquor Licensing Law.

Cinemas, premises for bona fide dramatic entertainment, town halls and areas in hotels not open to the general public and for which no admission is charged, are all expressly exempt from the provisions of the Law and hence this policy, he said.

Mr Clifford told the press briefing on Friday, 6 October at the GIS conference room in George Town that "fierce debate" was expected on the latest policy.

"No doubt this policy will be welcomed by some and fiercely debated by others. However, it is important that we continue to strike a delicate balance, which recognizes economic realities but also longstanding tradition," he said.

"Clearly we must move forward but for the purposes of New Year's Eve 2006, the existing practices will continue to apply."

Mr Clifford acknowledged that when a comparison is made between Liquor Licensing Laws and Music and Dancing Laws, there are some "policy contradictions."

"For example, how can we allow bars to sell liquor but not allow music during the same period," he said.

Mr Clifford surmised that the contradictions came about as a result of "piecemeal amendments" being made to the legislation over the years.

Asked about the Sunday Trading Law, he said that this was also slated for review.

Mr Clifford told reporters that Government would modernise the Music and Dancing (Control) Law.

"I wish to add that the Government is committed to modernizing the Music and Dancing (Control) Law in the near future. However, public input will be sought before these changes are brought to the Legislative Assembly," he said.

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