A new government bill proposes that all bars operate under the same rules for playing music on Sundays.
At present, licensed stand-alone retail bars and sea-going vessels are restricted from playing background music on a Sunday. But the rule does not apply to restaurants and hotels.
According to a government press release, Cabinet has approved the Music and Dancing (Control) Amendment Bill, 2022 to equalise economic opportunities for owners of stand-alone bars and vessels.
The bill was published in the Legislation Gazette on 4 Nov. 2022.
The issue was first raised in June by former Premier Alden McLaughlin in a private member’s motion in Parliament. McLaughlin called on the government to amend the Music and Dancing (Control) Act, because the rules put exclusively Caymanian-owned stand-alone bars at an economic disadvantage.
At the time, government supported the proposal in principle but only as part of a wholesale revision of the act.
If passed by Parliament, the amendment bill will ensure stand-alone retail bars and sea-going vessels, which hold valid licences, are able to operate on a similar footing as hotels and restaurants on Sundays.
Minister of Financial Services and Commerce André Ebanks noted that this amendment aims to balance the concerns of local business owners with the wider community.
“The Ministry consulted with local business owners and relevant public and private sector stakeholders in the preparation of this Amendment Bill,” Ebanks said.
Level playing field
“We were mindful of the potential added duties this may place on our enforcement agencies and the concerns raised by the local religious community. Ultimately, this Amendment Bill is intended to cause minimal disruption on Sundays, by allowing activity that is already taking place in the restaurant and hotel sectors to be extended to stand-alone bars and sea-going vessels,” he said.
“This will help to create a more level playing field and enable these sectors to generate additional revenue lawfully.”
The bill defines stand-alone bars as those not located in a hotel and restaurant, which hold a liquor licence. This includes community and cultural venues that operate retail bars when hosting for-profit events as well as performances of music, dance and drama.
Sea-going vessels are vessels deemed seaworthy by the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands that hold liquor as well as music and dancing licences.
The bill also provides added parameters around operating hours. Hotels and restaurants would operate 9am to 11:59pm, while stand-alone bars and sea-going vessels would be open from 11am to 11:59pm.
Further, the amendment bill stipulates that music in stand-alone bars should be of a low, background nature and not capable of being heard outside the premises in which it is played. Sea-going vessels must be at least a half mile out to sea before music can be played.
Ebanks will present the Amendment Bill at the next sitting of Parliament during the week of 5 Dec.
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Time to remove the prohibition on Sunday music altogether.
Tourists coming here must be just amazed to find our nightclubs close at midnight on a Saturday night.
Want to “balance the concerns of local business owners with the wider community”? Then add the codicil that ‘louder than background’ music will not be permitted on Sundays. Full stop, end of discussion. Then we can all rest a bit easier on our day off.