Call to shutdown liquor outlets in Reef Island continue

MPs demands to shutdown liquor selling outlets on a residential manmade island in the Capital continue, despite the authorities confirming that “there are no violations of the law.”

This came in a report of Parliament’s Public Utilities and Environment Committee, discussing a proposal submitted in March to shutdown outlets in Reef Island that serve alcohol beverages.

The committee has communicated with several ministries and authorities, in regards to the alleged violations on the island. Violations included illegal construction works and unpermitted sale of liquor products in a residential area.

In its reply, the Interior Ministry confirmed, “all outlets and tourism restaurants on the island are permitted to serve alcohol products to their clients, except one unlicensed outlet, which is currently facing legal procedures.”

The same was mentioned in Industry and Commerce (now Industry, Commerce and Tourism) Ministry’s reply, which stated, “Violating outlets would be referred to the Public Prosecution and are subjected to disciplinary procedures.”

In regards to the construction-related violations on the island, Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning stated that all existing buildings were constructed legally, while the violating construction works that has been recently initiated was halted until official permission is obtained.

Capital General Secretariat said the violations on the island don’t come within its jurisdiction. It commented, “The issue between tenants and the landlord should be solved legally through courts.”

As reported earlier by DT News, several residents of Reef Island expressed their concern about the operation of several bars in their residential buildings, with strangers, who they claimed are usually under the influence of alcohol, walking in and out from their buildings at late hours.

Since then, the issue between the landlord and tenants has been going back and forth in local media, with one statement from each party every now and then. Yet, no final decision has been announced from both parties.