(CMR) Stand-alone bars and sea-going vessels will soon be able to play music of a low background nature for their patrons on Sundays during prescribed operating hours when new legislation comes into effect. The Music and Dancing (Control) Amendment Bill, 2022 was passed during the latest meeting of Parliament, which began on 7 December.
Presented by the Minister for Financial Services and Commerce, the Hon. André Ebanks, the Bill is intended to equalize economic opportunities for owners of stand-alone bars and sea-going vessels on Sundays.
Once the Bill is gazetted and comes into force, licensed stand-alone retail bars and sea-going vessels will be able to play music for patrons on Sundays. This is not limited to pre-recorded music, which was a prior restriction under previous legislation.
At present, licensed, stand-alone retail bars and sea-going vessels are restricted from playing background music on a Sunday. They had expressed to the Ministry of Financial Services and Commerce their material economic disadvantage in comparison to restaurants and hotels who are able to attract both local and foreign clientele on Sundays.
Minister of Financial Services and Commerce, Hon. André Ebanks said previously 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. We were mindful of the potential added duties this may place on our enforcement agencies and the concerns raised by the local religious community,” he said.
“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. This will help to create a more level playing field and enable these sectors to generate additional revenue lawfully,” he added.
The Amendment Bill also provides added parameters around operating hours; hotels and restaurants would operate 9 am to 11:59 pm while stand-alone bars and sea-going vessels would open from 11 am until 11:59 pm. 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.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
