World Press Mocks New Year’s Eve Ban

Hon Chalres Clifford, Minister of Tourism	Don Seymour, Managing Director dms Management

Wednesday,  November 16, 2005

The Cayman Islands Government’s decision to maintain the long tradition of prohibiting loud music and the sale of alcohol on a Sunday has captured news headlines around the world because this year, New Year’s Eve falls on a Saturday.

After the Government said last week it had denied the requests from the private sector for an amendment to the law to facilitate the sale of alcohol and live music at public events after the mid-night deadline on 31 December 2005, so residents and tourists can celebrate the New Year, the denial has the world’s media talking and laughing at Cayman’s plight.

Tourism and Commerce Minister Hon Charles Clifford on 9 November said arguments both in support and against the New Year’s Eve issue were considered.

“The Government considered the arguments both in support and against the proposal and has decided that the existing laws will not be changed,” he said in the Legislative Assembly.

Both the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) and the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce (CICC) cried foul over the decision, saying the economy would suffer and visitors would have a dull start to the New Year.

The news however has gone way beyond these borders and the story has been picked up throughout the world.

From London to Moscow people are talking about the lack of a party in the Cayman Islands.

newsfromrussia.com reported: “Revellers will essentially call it a night one second after midnight on New Year’s Eve.”

Even the infamous Pravda newspaper also based in Moscow was raising a titter at Cayman’s expense when the paper said that music and dancing would be prohibited after Midnight. 

The Associated Press (AP), an international news agency, reported that, “violators of the law could lose their liquor licence, be fined US$500 or face a month in jail”.

AP, whose lead began as “New Year’s Revellers beware” quoted nightclub owner Don Seymour, Managing Director of dms Management as saying, “I think we probably are the only place in the world that is not celebrating New Year’s Eve among the democratic societies.”

Mr Seymour had told Net News here that this was certainly making the country unique.

Chairman of the Cayman Ministers Association Pastor Al Ebanks believes there is still enough freedom to have fun in ushering in the New Year.

“Whether they choose to stay up all night or part of the night, they still have freedom to do so,” he told AP. 

The BBC’s website’s headline screamed: “Cayman bars complain at booze ban.”

The British based leading news organisation was reporting the story on radio as well as on its website.

“Bar and nightclub owners in the Cayman Islands are up in arms over government’s refusal to grant them licence extensions on New Year’s Eve,” said the BBC. 

Owner of the Next Level nightclub, Harry Lalli,  also spoke to the BBC and said the tourists are going to be disappointed when they find out they cannot celebrate in a certain way.

“You’ve got people coming down to the Island, staying in hotels, coming to a nice place to celebrate New Year’s Eve, and now all of a sudden they’re not going to be able to,” he said.   

The BBC said long-standing laws are designed by the Government of the “conservative British overseas territory, the Cayman Islands, to encourage people to go to church on Sunday.”

Moreover numerous websites, in particular tourist sites have also picked up on the story which many in the hospitality sector here fear will deter even more holiday makers.

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