Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler feels that the need for curfew has passed its time

Published by BBNTEAM at February 9, 2022

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Posted: Wednesday, February 9, 2022. 12:36 pm CST.

By Benjamin Flowers: This week, land borders re-opened as a part of new updated COVID-19 measures; however, the curfew which has been in place since late 2020, was extended for another month and Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler, says that it’s time for it to go.

Mahler, who has been vocal before about his distaste for the curfew, said that the work authorities have put in to ensure health and safety, despite the more contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19, puts the country in a better position to end the curfew.

“Now that we’ve been living with Omicron for a month or a little bit over a month, I think we need to open the economy as best as possible, still taking into consideration the health protocols that are needed to keep our people safe, but it is time that we open up,” Mahler said.

The curfew was extended from February 7 to March 7, through Statutory Instrument No. 15 of 2022, which came into effect on Monday. It was put in place by the Briceno administration in November 2020, to address a spike in the number of reported COVID-19 cases, and repeatedly extended every time it was about to expire.

In several instances, the curfew hours were amended to allow for people to stay out longer and then shortened again months later.

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