Tourists to meet curfew

Commissioner of Police, 
Mr Buel Braggs

Friday,  November 19, 2004

The Leader of Government Business and Minister of Tourism, the Hon McKeeva Bush said that he intends to recommend to H.E. the Governor and his colleagues at Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 23 November that the 11pm to 5am curfew should be lifted.

“It is my view that to facilitate the arrival of tourists to our shores the curfew should end, but I have not spoken to the police as yet, but will be doing so to know what their analysis of the situation is,” Mr Bush added.

The curfew has been renewed weekly by the Governor, Bruce Dinwiddy, on the advice from government and the Royal Cayman Islands Police, (RCIP), who say the curfew has remained in place because of the lack of essential services in certain parts of the Island and the problems residents have securing their homes without electricity and communication services.

Mr Bush however, along with a number of other officials have acknowledged the need to seriously consider the return of stay-over tourists who will begin arriving this weekend, (20 November) and the possibility of lifting the curfew in and around the George Town area.

“It is important for us to exercise caution with regard to areas still without essential services”, added Mr Bush. “Nevertheless we must recognize the fact that tourists are returning to the Island.”

Last week the Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Ennis stated, “if we are going to have tourists coming back the curfew should be lifted.” 

Prior to going to press, several attempts were made by Cayman Net News, to confirm with the Commissioner of Police, Mr Buel Braggs, if he was going to request a limited lifting of the curfew at his meeting with the Governor on Thursday 18 November, but we were unable to confirm the likelihood that the curfew would not be lifted this week. 

When asked to comment on the possibility that tourists would be arriving with the curfew still in place, a leading restaurant manager said: “That is ridiculous; how can we tell the tourists they need to go back to their rooms before 11pm? It’s just not right.”

Several people involved in tourism have made similar remarks in anticipation of the arrival of Grand Cayman’s first over-night visitors since the hurricane.

“Tourists work hard to earn their money and want to enjoy themselves spending without the restriction of a curfew that should be long over,” said one of the managers from a well-known Seven Mile Beach nightclub. “I think we are sending the wrong message and we may well pay for this bad decision in the long run.” 

A hotelier said when guests realize that they cannot be out later than 11pm they may well choose to cancel and leave. “We need the curfew to end so that we can survive,” she added.

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