Lettersto the Editor
GiveModernisation Proposal a Chance
Dear Sir,
As an entrepreneur, I have been extremelypleased with the leadership of Minister McKeeva Bush and LiquorInspector Donald Green in amplifying the issue of the restrictiveLiquor Licensing & Music and Dancing Hours (the "Hours")and their negative impact on the economy. Both Minister Bush andMr. Green have confirmed their strong support of the recent proposalsubmitted to the Liquor Licensing Board (the "Board")to permit nightclubs to remain open to 2 a.m. for the sale ofliquor and 3 p.m. for music and dancing (the "ModernizationProposal").
For many years, this has been an issue of significant socioeconomicimportance; yet the Government has never, until now, includedthis issue on the national agenda. Clearly, it is Government'srole, in all its forms, whether elected or official, to encourageand assist the development of all legitimate industries, by whatevermeans necessary. All legitimate investment must be encouragedand legitimate economic growth must be facilitated, and not frustrated.It is not arguable that our country can survive without economicgrowth.
Historically, the nightclub industry has faced tremendous escalationof costs, as custom duties, rents, and utilities have all increaseddramatically. Yet, all efforts to modernize the hours to promotethe growth of the nightclub industry have been frustrated to date.
Nightclub operators have invested millions of dollars in thisindustry and are prepared to invest millions more to continuallydevelop first-class entertainment facilities, but cannot makethis commitment because of counterproductive Government policies.It is undeniable that entertainment consumers, both locals andvisitors, desire to partake in nightclub entertainment at hourslater than those currently permitted. It is also undeniable thatthe current Government policy prevents nightclub operators frommeeting the needs of these consumers.
This crux can only cause the failure of the nightclub industryand Government's inaction is inexcusable - as every Governmentdepartment, branch, body and person must perform their inalienableduty to facilitate economic growth. No legitimate industry, muchless this industry, should be allowed to fail because currentGovernment policy is detrimental to the industry and Governmentfails to redress the situation.
The nightclub industry remains vitally important to Cayman's oncerobust tourism industry and will play a major role in revitalizingand sustaining its development. Nightclub entertainment is theonly product that we can offer visitors after the Turtle Farm,Stingray City and Botanical Gardens have all closed for the day.
We all now know that tourism has continually declined over thelast several years and should now recognize that all tourism consumersare making value judgments. Much has changed in Cayman since thetourism industry emerged, and Cayman must now adapt to these changesto remain competitive in the tourism market. The ante has risen,and we are just now playing catch-up.
A progressive tourism policy would have corrected this deficiencyyears ago, but instead, we have waited for a crisis to act. TheModernization Proposal will not, in itself, rebuild tourism andthe national economy, but it is going to make a contribution thatcannot be ignored.
Undoubtedly, we have problems in our community that are linkedto alcohol, among other factors, and this remains a highly emotiveissue. I, like all residents, am very concerned about all socialproblems in our community, but we must endeavor to maintain abalanced approach and make rational decisions.
The main social argument against the Modernization Proposal isthat increasing the availability of alcohol will increase alcoholismand its associated dangers, but this is untenable. Factually,most experts agree that the leading factor in alcoholism is geneticsand alcoholism is a disease. Most reasonable minds can also agreethat not everyone that consumes alcohol is an alcoholic.
Theoretically, it appears logical that increasing the availabilityof alcohol will increase alcoholism and its associated dangers.
However, practically, this is as illogical as suggesting thatreducing the availability of matches will reduce the incidenceof fires, or reducing the availability of food will reduce theincidence of heart disease. Any of these approaches are irrational.
But unfortunately, this illogical argument seems to have takenroot in a small segment of our community who believe that anyonethat consumes alcohol is immoral. This segment expects the Governmentto suspend rational thinking and individual rights and freedomswhen dealing with behavior adjudged by this segment to be immoral.
This segment of the community claims to speak for the entire Caymanianpublic and the preservation of Caymanian culture. I understandthat a petition, initiated by a serving member of the Liquor LicensingBoard, collected 450 signatures against the Modernization Proposalas representative of the views of this segment. In response, myown organization conducted a survey, not a petition, in which1746 people indicated YES and 14 people said NO to the ModernizationProposal.
But realistically, this is not a referendum issue. The ModernizationProposal will infringe the rights of no citizens. Clearly - aproposal mandating all citizens to visit nightclubs and drinkto 2 am. IS a referendum issue, but a proposal giving all citizensthe choice to visit nightclubs and drink to 2 a.m. is NOT a referendumissue.
Mr. Chris Price, a nightclub operator, and one of the chief architectsof the Modernization Proposal, researched other countries andfound that the Cayman Islands has some of the most restrictiveHours in the free world and certainly, the most restrictive ofcompeting tourist destinations. His findings cannot be disregarded- do we really believe that our current Hours make us more competitivethan those countries?
Finally, after the strong support expressed by Minister Bush andMr. Green, I was optimistic that the Modernization Proposal wouldnow be advanced expeditiously after languishing for years. However,I was most disappointed to see the all too familiar signs of 'businessas usual' as the Board indicated that it would reconsider theissue "as soon as the Board members can find the time tomeet again".
Inaction, indecisiveness and delay are symptomatic of poor leadership.If our country is to progress, unquestionably we need progressiveleadership.
Many opportunities now exist in our current economic environmentfor all in leadership positions, whether elected or official,to prove their mettle.
The Modernization Proposal is only one of them. Real leaders aredecisive.
They act, and they act quickly.
Don Seymour