PRESS RELEASE
ACIC / SADR EXPRESS FULL SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE CURFEW ON BARS & NIGHT CLUBS
The Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) and The Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman (GUSIA) have expressed their full support to the Government of Guyana in the establishment of the 2.00AM curfew on bars and night clubs.
President General of ACIC, Hakeem khan expressed the need for the Guyanese society to recognize the need for positive transformation to our society and the organizations were critical of the recent statement from the Private Sector Commission (PSC) which they feel was made without considering the rest of society.
The statement from the PSC refuses to take in consideration that alcohol consumption is linked to many harmful consequences for the individual drinker, the drinker’s immediate environment and society as a whole. Such social consequences as traffic accidents, family and domestic problems and violence and noise nuisances (linked to bars and clubs) are being addressed by governments globally not only Guyana.
The organizations alluded to the social consequences in our country the abuse of alcohol which affect individuals other than the drinker e.g. (1) persons involved in traffic casualties, or
(2) family issues, or (3) violence, especially in the family.
Drinking costs money and negatively impact upon financial resources particularly of a poor family, leaving other family members destitute. “A paper by Bonu et al. (2004) suggests that adverse child health effects of alcohol use are primarily through two distal determinants (indirect effects) -
(1) forgone household disposable income and
(2) caretakers' time for childcare”.
The organizations call on all religious and social groups to come out in support of the government’s decision as these are the efforts needed to curb the lawlessness in our society.
Organizations must also be cognizant of the role they are required to play for a better society rather than taking “tunnel-vision” approach to issues which can play a positive role in our young generation.
REYAZ HUSSEIN,
Public Relations Executive
