Booze extension too late for NYE party
(CNS): Bars and clubs will be bringing in 2018 with more of a whimper than a bang on 31 December as, once again, legislation that prevents loud or live music and dancing on Sundays at liquor licenced premises will hamper the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Government officials announced that the Liquor Licensing Board has approved a blanket extension to booze licences for New Year’s Day starting at one minute past midnight on Monday, 1 January, but there is nothing the board can do about the music, dancing and drinking rules before that time.
Officials said that the regular licensing conditions apply to Sunday, 31 December 2017.
Bar owners as well as the wider community have been taking to social media over the last few days to raise their concerns about how much of an impact this legislation has on their business every time New Year’s Eve falls on a Sunday.
CNS reached out to the Department of Commerce and Investment about the issue earlier this week. Commerce Minister Joey Hew said that the law was “very clear on what is allowed on Christmas Day, Good Friday and Sundays. Any changes to the law would require legislation as there is no provision for Cabinet or the Board to change them.”
As the LLB goes through the process of asking government to amend the legislation to introduce at least some limited hours of sale for liquor stores on Sundays, the question of changing the Music and Dance Law to provide for the combination of music and alcohol in licensed premises overnight on Saturday/Sunday and throughout the rest of Sunday still does not appear to be on the agenda.
The situation this year also impacts Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so the board has approved a blanket extension for Tuesday, 26 December, starting at one minute past midnight until 4:00am.
The extension applies to all retail, wine and beer, restaurant, and hotel licences on both Tuesday, 26 December, and Monday, 1 January.
Category: Local News
I am a Christian and I respect that in the old days, the majority of Cayman were Christians so the law was not a problem.
Over time we have not just expatriates, who became Caymanians, but a younger generation of Caymanians who are not of the Christian persuasion so I have to ask is it actually right to still have a law that doesn’t currently doesnt apply to the majority?
Should it not be that non-Christians have a right to celebrate their way and Christians can still go to church and celebrate their way?
I see our Christians values eroded and Christianity is now the minority. Enforcing that law will not suddenly make everyone Christians. People have to come to God of their own free will.
When people come to Christ of their own free will, they will turn away from certain behaviours that no longer conform with their new life in Christ. The law would eventually become irrelevant because less people would be doing the behaviour the law is trying to enforce.
I also have to question some laws, it is ok to for bars to open and sell liquor on Sundays but not a supermarket or other businesses? What is the logic?
If Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, why is it necessary for bars to be open? Why is it necessary for gas stations to be open then and they are also now able to sell alcohol.
I have had this debate with other Christians and some don’t agree with my perspective. They say we have to stand for something or fall for anything, we have to protect our Christian heritage but I think Cayman is trying to beat people into submission, which is not the right way to bring people to God.
Where is this Christian minority? Just because people can be a christian without forcing others to be as well doesn’t mean that they are not christian.
If Christians aren’t the majority please do tell who has taken over, the jews, the Muslims or the evil atheists?
The more you shove fundamentalist Christianity down the throats of the new generations the more they resist, let them find their God on their own, stop brainwashing kids to believe out of fear and fear alone, it’s disgusting and it is why Christianity is fading worldwide
I know that you seem to understand the fundamental problems with Cayman’s system but clearly other do not
You talking big now..but let a diagnosis of terminal illness hit ya bloodclot and see how ya feel, lol!!
Thank you for your thoughts,11.24 am. The point is that within a democracy the will of the majority prevails. If there is indeed a movement within this society to abandon the status quo then we shall see that in the legislature passing laws to reflect this change. The power to effect change necessarily lies within the people.
Cayman is changing, and in a few years our little island will not be the peaceful place it once was as the Government is influenced by the large majority of the population who neither understand nor share traditional Caymanian values. However, they should realize that it was the Caymanian values that the country was built on that made it the place they wanted to come to. Now that they are here they don’t want to leave but they expect Cayman to change to suit their fancy. The big concern is losing money on New Year’s Eve, well guys next time you’re making plans for music and dancing don’t plan it for Sunday.
I thought this was the Cayman Islands, not North Korea!
Well, the US is in range.
Hahahaha
There are scores of countries that have Sunday Trading laws. You are obviously an American. You need to travel more, mate.
I AM an American. I don’t need to travel.
The ban is to recognize Sunday as being a day of rest, and a day different to the other six. It is an aspect of Caymanian culture and reflects the will of the majority of Caymanians. If you are a Caymanian and don’t agree with this practice, well then begin a grass-roots movement to convince a majority of your fellow countrymen to push for the law to be repealed. You seemingly already have a powerful ally in the Caymanian publisher of the Caymanian Compass, judging from yesterday’s shrill (“a voice in the wilderness”) editorial entitled “NEW YEAR’S EVE MUSIC BAN MUST BE OVERTURNED”, Such melodrama.. Now, if you’re not a Caymanian (real, or in the case of the editorial scribbler – or scribblers – decidedly otherwise ), and you genuinely think that being prevented from dancing and singing to your heart’s content (or in the case of a business owner making more money “to help the economy and the Caymanian people”) on a Sunday is most unfair because of some religious belief you do not personally subscribe to, well then tough luck, buster. Maybe move country?
The religious police and the religious fanatics are out in force in the Cayman Islands.
A day of rest doesn’t have to be ‘religious’.
Very true, 12.09 pm. But by the same reasoning it doesn’t necessarily not have to be religiously based, does it?
I think that’s what I meant.
Well pick Saturday then. Didn’t think so….
I’m confused. If Saturday was the “day of rest” then it would be Saturday you were calling religious.
Thank you for your insight, Garfield. Sincerely, 9.27 am.
As other posters have said: why then do we allow Bars to open on Sunday and sell alcohol at all?
Well, Jesus drank booze on a Sunday ………. sorry, a cheap shot. No. it’s more a matter of the marking of a holy day of the week by a majority of a people because of their religious beliefs. It’s that simple. You might not follow their beliefs, that’s your choice, but they are what they are.
In other words: the law really makes no sense! Maybe it should be reviewed? What’s music (to within a reasonable level) and dancing going to hurt? Surely sitting and drinking alcohol (followed by driving oftentimes) is more dangerous and troublesome than music and dancing!
Bunch of Commies running this place.
Blimey 8.18 am, you some kind of time traveler from 50s USA or what? Yeah, I’m a commie (# 9.27 am) because I believe in the right of the majority of the Caymanian people to have their way. And (keeping in the spirit of your post) I am not a homosexual, okay? Thank you.
Darn it, I am going to have to invite people round for the night and indulge in some chemsex instead.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Wow…100+ alcoholic defending apologist that commented here. Spend nye home and dance your socks off simple attention seeking rabbits.
You understand that the ban is on live music and dancing, not serving alcohol? The law allows you to drink as much as you like in a bar on Sunday night – just don’t dare listen to live music or tap your toes whilst doing it. That really makes sense.
Is there any significant reason why the dancing and music will be prohibited this year? Or is this just another meaningless law?
Every. Seven. Years. Yawn.
Crikey, 9.04 am. You don’t appear to be in any condition to be dancing or pretty much anything else. You need a beer, mate.
Dancing late and having fun makes the Baby Jesus cry.
But improves your life, right?
Dear 4.34 am.
A. Yes, there is a significant reason. B. No, it doesn’t appear to be meaningless.
If you research the Cayman Islands and its people you will obtain an understanding of these answers. Thank you for your interest.
People will party regardless. What are they going to do? Call in the religious police? Did we become a strict or extreme Muslim state overnight? They will be arresting women for wearing trousers next. The headlines of anyone arrested that night for dancing or playing live music will not be conducive to our tourist product. CIG needs to send a message today that law enforcement will be concentrated on keeping the roads and public safe as opposed to enforcement of this stupidity.
We can only suspect that government does not have any calendars – or has an unspoken agenda – or is utterly stupid.
At the same time, the hotels/restaurants must bear some blame for this fiasco. How could they possibly assume that government would spot the clash with the Licensing Law, and take the necessary action – they just don’t work that way. The hospitality industry should have put on a unified front, and gone to government months ago, when there was still time to lobby for a change in the Law.
The law has been in effect for 40 years, and the only establishments and entertainmers who don’t know about it are new comers to the island. But surely they knew that December 31st 2017 is Sunday. They came here to make money, now they expect Government to bow to their wishes. It is unfortunate that some people went ahead making plans for the New Year’s Eve celebration without noticing that it fell on a Sunday. It’s all not about money. You are in our country and you follow our laws, I go to your country and respect yours. What is distressing to me is seeing born and bred Caymanians supporting a change. The rules for Sunday must be well known to all and Sunday is Sunday no matter the date so next time check your calendars.
The law being the law is a valid argument, but the fact still stands that it is as stupid as making wearing striped shirts illegal. The dancing and music is prohibited to promote the “holiness” of Sunday, yet we can still get drunk at the bar.
Go get drunk, but don’t you dare dance! Foolishness.
But what is the point of this law? Why is it that one can sit and drink to oblivion but another cannot enjoy some music and/or dancing?
First time in his life that Ezzard has ever been right about anything. Shame on you Joey, no more votes for you.
Joey Who?
Joey is pandering to the religious vote. SAD.
I appreciate that this may seem like a completely off the wall suggestion but what if we;
A: Let those who want to go to church, go to church.
B: Let those who want to dance, dance?
Insane perhaps but just a thought.
Churches are scared that people won’t show up that’s why religious laws like these are in place
You can’t legislate Morals so stop trying. I dance on Sundays and go to church nothing wrong with either.
Of all the archaic laws on the books this is the one they choose enforce? This is a ridiculous, anti tourism, anti business, anti common sense law. I would vote out any MLA who does not do try and amend this. It is my understanding that it could be amended with a special sitting. But maybe our elected officials are to busy spending their big paychecks, that we fund, up in Miami.
You are so right! We don’t hear a peep about the shocking amount of driving violations, the blocked public beach access, the illegal vendors on public beach, the illegal dumping and increased littering etc, but it is an issue to be out dancing and drinking just to make sure that the bible thumpers make it to church on time the next day.
“Now that’s Progressive”
What a bunch of disconnected jokers this lot are proving themselves to be
Church on Mondays?
Well im just gona smoke a j and run some good reggae, a few vybz kartel then tone it down with a lil bob marley in the end in my back yard. Im not gonna die if i cant go out after 12…
Invite some tourists…. they will be looking to hear some music!
Why is this an issue now? Been the law for years. Not the first time it has happened. We have known ALL year that this was going to happen. Maybe some better planning, early enough in the year might have helped … maybe not … but we really should not be incredulous at ths now!
Every seven years. Chill people.
Tourists don’t know and they spent a lot of money to go somewhere to have a fabulous ny eve dancing and listening to music which is how most people bring in a new year!
Most of them will be just fine getting sh%t faced
You people need to lighten up. If you can’t spend one night with yourself without deadening your feelings… well, you can. Try it. It won’t kill you. Really.
If you make a living selling booze… tuff. You can pump your poison the rest of the year. Happy Holidays!
What a good Christian you are, can’t even bring yourself to say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Happy Holidays is a politically correct cop out for those who deny their culture, religion and heritage to appease those who are apparently offended by it. Tough s##t it’s our festival and our chance to celebrate with song and dance. Live with it, or move to the Middle East.
Hypocrite!
I’m not a christian. And stop calling names you history challenged buffoon.
You mad bro?
Here’s your opportunity Cayman. Mass defiance. They will not change a law this old with so much symbolic importance to so many voters otherwise. Not this generation of politicians. This is a wedge issue where inaction, at its most destructive of our economic aims, reminds that group of voters whose side the politicians are on. A ‘feel good’ reminder of their political power. Who is going to be the boss here? 45,000 people including thousands of tourists paying premium prices to be here or 20,000 people most of whom don’t actually care? This isn’t about music or dancing, it’s about power. Just take it! No other way.
Absolutely right. Be like Dart, do now ask forgiveness later
Are you the Footloose guy?
So let me get this straight, we can drink and listen to music but can’t dance until after midnight? Tell me it isn’t so!! Who came up with this stupid idea? I think we need to help the Adventist too by closing everything at sundown or midnight on Friday. Lol, we need to have this Law amended, asap; who wants to dance, dance and who wants to go the church, go to church, it’s quite simple.
Remind me again please. Who turned water into wine?
I did.
Sprinkle sodium carbonate to coat the bottom of a drinking glass.
Fill a second glass halfway full of water. Add ~10 drops phenolphthalein indicator solution to the water.
To change water into wine or blood, pour the water with indicator into the glass that contains the sodium carbonate.
Science, beaches.
Johnny Cash
Oh please, it is not the end of the world. Get creative and throw your own party n your house.. with all the horrible things happening in the world you all are whining about being able to dance or not.
No-one. It is mainly made up fairy stories in that bit. The zombie episode is a cracker.
Jesus did, and most of the churches will be having services starting around 10:00 until just past 12:00 you are all invited to attend. God bless you all. Keep safe this Christmas and all the best for the new year.
No. It was Jesus actually.
– Who
And it was Tony Blair that drove him to drink.
Murdoch too.
🙂
– Who
I seen a guy do it at a Grateful Dead concert maaaan.
The baby Jesus will be happy.
cayman…a land built on ignorance and hypocrisy…
What about the live concert that’s on at Lions Center? How is that any different?
Its not.
Shut it down Po Po!
How is church any different on any given Sunday? People pay money and live music is performed.
And in some churches there is what could be called dancing.
Hypocrites
cayman is either a tourist destination or not!
Good point. In the 1990s I worked in Eilat, Israel’s Red Sea resort, and we were exempt from many of the restraints of Jewish Law because it was a tourist area. The same thing happened over the border in Egypt – the hotels operated normally during Ramadan. The bible-bashers need to get their heads around the fact that people visiting these islands not only like to enjoy themselves seven days a week but expect to be able to do it without any stupid constraints.
I was just in Abu Dhabi. They don’t allow use of whatsapp, viber Skype etc for voice calls. The conference I was attending had over 3000 attendees, they didn’t change their laws because we wanted to use these services to stay in touch with family back home.
The law is the law.
And you noticed. Going back soon when someone else isn’t paying?
6;49 You can buy alcohol in Abu Dhabi even though it’s consumption is clearly banned by three verses of the Quran. You’re not comparing like for like here because VoIPs such as Skype aren’t banned, they’re being blocked for secuity reasons. In fact there are areas of the state where some of VoIPs still work.
Correction – you can buy alcohol in Abu Dhabi if you are not a Muslim. Granted the hotels are not that rigorous on enforcing the law, but its the law nonetheless. And to buy package liquor the customer needs a licence – which you can only get if you are not a Muslim. So entirely consistent with the Koran.
Jotnar I’ve worked in that part of the world – trust me Muslims drank and bought alcohol like the rest of us even if it was technically illegal. The point here is that 6:49 was trying to make a completely irrelevant argument. In fact the reason VoIPs are being blocked there is probably because, unlike landlines and cell phones, unless you’re the NSA the calls are virtually impossible to intercept.
A statement as true as it gets.
Cayman finds itself with record high numbers of visiting tourists this year a direct cause of the detrimental hurricanes affecting the rest of the caribbean this year .
So what does the outdated 40 year legislation do. It will ruin these well sort after NEW tourist vacations. The island pays so much to try and attract
What does the government do …nothing!!!
that is so very sad that you think that people numbing themselves (often to the point of not even being able to drive!) is a good thing.
I would suggest you get behind a cause that is actually good for people and see if you and the world don’t feel better!
Try reading again. It is perfectly legal to numb oneself on said day…it is however illegal to play anything other than “background music” or to “dance”!
OH! The drama!
Ohhh..The humanity!
Oh the lack of headache and vomiting.
Church music gives me a headache and makes me want to pray to the porcelain God.
I did not agree with a legal requirement of doing business here a few years ago. I said to the Government Official i did not intend to comply with his request, he told me “it’s the law”
When i asked, what would happen if I broke the law (i know it is $150 for driving on the phone, escalating fines and possible a prison term for other offences) his only answer was… “Its the law.”
Be clear on how this law in going to be enforced, the penalties for breaking it (yes possible $500 fine and a month in jail) and what will happen on the night.
I don’t think the police really have it in mind to wade into an event, Tazer the DJ and confiscate the equipment and arrest the managers, but who knows. If they do, it will be at The Ritz and not Archie’s or The Sea Inn.
Be clear… Inform the public you will be making inspections and issuing a ticket with a court date and the $500 fine.
If I was a business owner i would take that risk. And… take my day in court!
There is no enforcement the rest of the year, are theSunday afternoon party boats at Rum Point any different?
Not live music or organised dancing, so outside the law. Not illegal to serve alcohol on a Sunday if you have a licence – just the music and dancing.
The party boats sell tickets and and have a license to sell booze, and have a DJ, that plays loud music.
So as long as not one organizes the macarena or a conga line a restaurant with a DJ is cool?
Cayman needs to get with the times. We’re stuck in the 1960s! Separate church and government, let grown adults do what they want without other people forcing their ridiculous religious policies on other people. No one forces you Christians to practice other religion’s policies, so don’t force it on other people who don’t need a fairytale book to be good people. And no, drinking and dancing doesn’t suddenly make me a bad person, that’s what grown people do for entertainment on NYE.
More like the 1860’s!
In the 1860s the biggest religious movement was…
Or the 1760s? They’ll be burning witches next!
Actually the list of persons that will be burned is public knowledge start with the gays, then artists who make statues they don’t like, then atheists and WP holders
So that Cayman can get back to it’s incestual, primitive roots
If you don’t like it, go somewhere that suits your lifestyle. NYE falling on a Sunday didn’t just happen this week when you peeps woke up from your latest hangover. Neither did this law just come into effect this week.
Lack of planning on your part does not constitute a crisis for Caymanians who can find our own fun and entertainment any time NYE & Christmas fall on a Sunday. We’ve been doing it all these years and if it was so bad, I’m sure the law would have been changed ages ago. Tourism is still good, probably because we are not like everywhere else.
People like you who want to change everything here just to make you comfortable can go to Jamaica or Cuba to celebrate or throw your own party, there’s no law against that.
Merry Christmas!
Ok, let all those who disagree with this Stone Age law to leave the islands to the Neanderthals that accept alcohol but not dancing, take our taxes and duty, pay minimum wages, give little consumer or employment protection, and call us any derogatory name their small intellects come up with. Then leave them in the educational and skill level void of the third world country they really are.
We dance to your tune every day, now dance to ours bobo.
Hilarious. The stats for you pious Caymanians don’t add up, if they did less of you would be arrested for DUI, domestic abuse or unsociable behaviour associated with alcohol? You’re a bunch of hypocritical idiots who hide behind a myth to support uneducated and illogical ideology, grow up.
So at a time when the island, through some others mis-fortune (Irma), is absolutely packed the CIG are going to let this antiquated piece of legislation remain on the books. The whole Saturday night thing is ridiculous. Having said that, I’m off to shoot a welshman with my bow and arrow.
You can’t do that. Bows and arrows are illegal!
All complainants are welcome to join your nearest local in church for Watch-Night service as an alternative.
It is simply a pastime and part of Caymanian culture – (not that many CNS contributors believe in recognising or respecting local culture).
However, feel free to get your atheist panties all in a bunch – as will undoubtedly be the case.
– Who
😉
BS. There should be an exemption written in for New Years Day. No one has a problem with the Sunday law except for this circumstance. I’m sure God wouldn’t mind and it doesn’t make you an athiest…
Well buddy, you’re just gonna have to stop crying and suck it up.
Come January 2nd, Cayman will still be the jurisdiction you chose to relocate in search of a better existence.
Of course, you have the option to “show us who’s boss”, pack up your belongings and never, ever return ever again … in protest of this year’s NYE situation.
Alternatively, you could do like many Caymanians and travel to a nearby city for a super-lit NYE. (Wha’ happen, nah in da budget ‘awa?)
Failing those, I suggest you humble yourself. It is what it is – this is how we do it here.
– Who
* I have been to various towns / cities / countries on NYE and never did I purport myself to be superior to the customs of the place I CHOSE to be.
Opposing change for stagnation’s sake, same old Who
Demanding change for arrogant’s sake, same old you.
– Who
No, you’re just a hypocrite who leaves this antiquated rock to indulge whilst others are held back.
You are a prime example of all that is wrong with this place.
Do you mean the same antiquated rock that you moved to for a better life?
Say it ain’t so.
– Who
Born and bred Caymanian actually try again Who. mind reading evidently may be what you use but you aren’t as good as you think you are
Bullsh!t.
You are about as local as that green iguana shitting from the top of my mango tree.
Nice try tho.
– Who
Fundamentalists don’t care what objections anyone has with their desert book, they want a theocracy
Funny Who, most of the people that I know that are complaining about this are Christians not atheists but of course I forgot you read minds and know hearts
I sincerely hope you realize this stupid law is upsetting many of your fellow, church-going Christians too. It’s not only archaic, but not even based on logic! The law says you CAN drink next Sunday, as long as it’s between 12:01am-4am! Get a clue!
I’m with you on this one Who
-the think bigger guy.
Welcome, welcome.
😉
– Who
its never too late! I can dance and drink if I like. MERRY X-MAS TO ALL AND TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!
Come to Cayman and party like its 1799…
This isn’t even the first time this has happened in Cayman, the minority of vocal conservative Christians have always held sway with the religious right on the islands and they have the MLAs scared to enact any changes that could be seen as mitigating religious control on society
Cayman can’t move forward if the dinosaurs are holding us back
Lazy, lazy, lazy, overpaid, uneducated politicians. It will never change, these clowns are too busy collecting fat pay checks to give a crap. Wake up Cayman stop electing your friends. Lets get people in power that think about this island as the jewel of the Caribbean it is. It almost laughable that our tourists can’t legally dance until 2018.
I don’t know if Govt noticed but we do what we want to in Cayman.
https://youtu.be/3n6x7zWqoCM
Bottom line. GIG could have had the foresight to realize they should have changed the law to take New Years into account. They did not so they blame the law. end of story. I blame the elected officials.
The law is fine. Get used to it.
The law is not fine! It sucks!
But you’re not.
There should be a “vegas” region in Cayman, but then they need to crack down twice as hard in all other parts. Some people enjoy a silient-night holy-night and a peaceful new years with friends and wine without the boom boom boom.
For all those complaining if you’re Caymanian you know the law if you don’t like it then get your elected officials to change it that’s their job to carry out the wishes of the people of the Cayman Islands. If you’re not from here then simply go home and party don’t like it then leave.
Really Cayman??
You couldn’t make this shit up
What an antiquated law anyway. Let people decide whether or not to party.
The world will be laughing when the tourists all call home and let their friends and family know.
Shooting yourself in the foot again Cayman
How can government boast of record stay-over visitor numbers then allow for outdated laws to remain when they obviously hamper the tourism product and the experience of our visitors? Where is the strategy?
They would rather appease the far right voters, it’s pretty simple
Hundreds of tourists get ticked off that they cant celebrate New Year with a real party and swear never to come back, and tell all their friends, and locals stay at home and don’t spend their cash, Cayman hospitality business suffers big time. 50 constituents who don’t believe in drinking on Sunday think their MLA is more interested in Cayman economy than their views on religion, MLA doesn’t get re-elected. Which do you think our MLAs care more about?
Yes, because one night without music and dancing will wipe out tourism. Did you not consider that some people might come here and actually enjoy that we are not like the rest of the world? People have to get over this, it is not the end of the world.
It’s certainly helped tourism in Saudi Arabia. Oh wait…
Your comment would have some force if it had been made clear when all those tourists booked their holidays that they wouldn’t be able to have a traditional New Years party, but strangely enough, it seems even the local bars and restaurants didn’t know until this week. Going with your idea that our tourists are looking for something different, lets get Department of Tourism to highlight on their publicity that if you come to Cayman you cant get a drink after midnight on a Saturday, and New Years and Christmas Eve will be without music and dancing. Sure it will massively increase numbers.
Embarrassing.
Just deal with it!
Try going to the UAE or other Islamic countries. Sharia Law is fully enforced and tourists/visitors/etc. must abide by their laws….
Comparing Cayman to the UAE and countries like Saudi Arabia, great
You should go because it’s not actually like that in UAE. It’s the Mid East Vegas.
this ain’t an Islamic country
It certainly ain’t a Christian one either. That is in the literal sense of the word
No it’s not. Don’t lie. You clearly don’t know that alcohol can indeed be imbibed in many islamic countries, especially by tourists in tourist areas. You obviously never traveled.
CNS can you put this on the shortlist for Moronic Comment of the Year?
True. But anyone visiting those countries knows what to expect before they arrive. Those are obvious and well known laws.Anyone travelling to an Island in he Caribbean would have no clue they can’t dance on a Sunday or party on New Years Eve. It is a pathetic law and yes embarrassing.
But even Dubai has relaxed its laws to allow daytime bar and lounge opening during the holy month of Ramadan….which daytime is the same period when Muslims are not even supposed to drink water!
You saying we are like Islamic countries? H-m-m-m-m…. I guess you’re right.
Just dont enforce it (I doubt anyone will try to enforce it). The legislation is irrelevant.
I traveled to GC in 2005 & spent the NY countdown in the parking lot of Royal Palms. It was the most ridiculous thing I have ever done. I vowed never to do it again.
When booking my holidays I travel down on a Sunday and depart on a Saturday.
I feel this Law and the “ everything closes at midnight on Saturday night” ( although I respect the law) leaves a tourist stranded if one wants to go out.
Now, if NY eve falls on the weekend, I find another destination especially as the enforcement of this law is usually decided after one has bought air/ hotel tickets and then your holiday plans are stuck.
A lot of thumbs down when one respects the law, but chooses to go elsewhere or travel around it. Interesting.
Well are you much safer now in Cayman than in 2005? I don’t think so. Matter of fact it is irrelevant if it is on Sunday or Monday, crime has escalated on the mere fact we are trying to be like everywhere else in the world. Our laws on the books are here to protect our way of life. The life you once came and fell in love with. I,dare ask you, why do you wish for Cayman to be like NYC, LA or Mexico? Have you tried changing their laws?
You can’t get wasted in a public bar on a Sunday? Oh dear what a dreadful country this is we’re making for ourselves. For shame.
Oh but you can. You just can’t dance whether you’re sober or drunk. You don’t see how silly that is?
10.39 you know nothing about me as one of your tourists. I do not drink, but I do like to be social & love to dance in the fresh, warm air and do not want to be sequestered to my hotel room at midnight like I am on curfew or a teenager! I don’t need the alcohol, but where I am from we have frigid temperatures & snow on the ground, so it is a real pleasure to be outside in winter months and listening to music dancing the night away is very enjoyable, IMO.
The law is the law. You can’t change the law unless… you are an elected official. And… They really don’t like change, or doing anything really, so i won’t expect any changes in the next long long time.
But since the police don’t do anything about licence plate covers, tinted windows, crappy cars, unlicensed motorcycles stunt driving, does anyone really think they will do anything if the bartender turns up the music and you dance with your wife at 10:00pm?
Hmmm maybe, easy bust for a silver star!
If they do… I want to see the youtube video of the take down! Should top a million views!
I agree. This seems a good opportunity for establishments and the people to organize for civil disobedience. This law is stupid!
I feel like I’m in the movie Footloose, Caribbean version…
I feel sorry for any visitors who will be hoping for a good time.
Christians are only bothered with the theocracy and enforcement of arbitrary Christians morals when it effects their debauched NYE plans, watching people react to this on social media.
Christians are so flakey
I’m not a Christian and in favour of the law and Sunday closing, so there is at least one flaw in your argument. Come back with something more meaningful and perhaps less of using this platform to attack religion.
The vast majority of people who are against this are Christians, congrats on not being christian, this comment isn’t addressed toward you pretty simple to see that isn’t it
Also if pointing our hypocrisy and making a valid point using the truth is “Attacking religion” then lock me up cause the far right on this island would go that far
Pompous religious people are flakey. They’re not Christians.
When will CIG realize that Cayman is a customer service jurisdiction. We need to keep our guests happy at all costs. When will politicians start seeing that all focus needs to be on the customer experience, from the airport/customs to the safety of the beaches. That is all that matters, if we lose that advantage we are all lost.
You’re lost anyhow if you don’t know Christ
I was more lost as a Christian than an educated Atheist.
“Why is my religion right but others are wrong?”
“Are dinosaur fossils really created by satan to attack my faith in creation?”
“Did a man really get resurrected only to disappear?”
“Did a snake really talk?”
“Can a man seriously live for days in a fish’s stomach acid?”
“Did the entire Earth really flood? Where did all of the water go? Fell off the Earth?”
“Should I really trust people who didn’t have a clue that bacteria causes disease yet claim disease = curse from god to dictate how I live my life?”
“Is Carbon dating, a peer reviewed and easily replicated method that can prove we’ve been here more than 6000 years, a big lie?”
It takes more faith to believe in Santa Claus than it takes to grow up and wise up and see past the misconceptions and lies of people who didn’t understand our universe. They invented religion to explain the unknown. They thought the Earth was the centre of the universe and the Sun orbited us.
I feel bad for all the tourist who paid a lot of money to spend new years down here. I doubt they will be returning to Cayman.
They surely wont be missed
No one will miss the tourists, till all the staff around the islands that are employed to serve tourists are let go and they take your jobs because they are willing to work for less money than you are
8.41pm What a jackass.
Bet you kiss their money though
We must dance through the streets half naked in protest. Wait, we already do that three or four times a year.
Shhhh! Pretty soon the puritanical, holier-than-thou Christians will ban Batabano!
At least they will be slightly more consistent than they are now
Batabano’s got nothing to do with Cayman heritage anyway so yes, let’s get rid of it.
Anyone interested in organizing and participating in a mob dance event on West Bay Rd New Years?
Yes man! We can get the wheelie boys to attend too! And if it rains Darts tunnel will come in handy! What an epic event!
Yes! In fact, this very idea was discussed tonight at dinner here. We can play Footloose to show how stupid this law is.
So true.
Just enlist local dirtbike riders, job done!
can it be a gay pride dance event?
No. We have to draw the line somewhere.
Glad someone other than me is pointing it out