One Fijian nighclub owner says reducing operating hours will take Fiji back the "dark ages". Photo: 123RF
Public consultations are underway in Fiji into a review of a law to enforce earlier closing times for nightclubs and bars.
The review endorsed by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, had been prompted by the death of a 28-year-old man, Alipate Tuivaga, after he was assaulted by two men outside a popular Suva nightclub.
Tuivaga was beaten up and left unconscious, two men have since been charged with his murder.
He had only been married for two months before losing his life on March 26.
The tragedy sparked public debate about drunks fighting along the streets outside nightclubs in the early hours of the morning as well as the social impacts of nightclubbing.
Nightclub operating times in Fiji currently are from 5pm to 5am.
However, that might change after Rabuka announced, on April 11, that his cabinet had approved a review into enforcing earlier closing times.
"In recent years, there have been numerous reports of brawls, robberies and attacks in the areas around nightclubs, this has resulted recently in loss of life," Rabuka said.
"The Fiji police have made submissions into the opening hours of nightclubs. Violence and robberies are a cause of concern and pose a risk to the safety of citizens."
But many nightclub owners blame low police presence for early morning violence and public intoxication.
Ron Sami, owner of popular Nadi nightclub - the White House - said nightclubs were not the cause of the problem.
In fact, Sami said, enforcing earlier closing times would only increase public drinking.
"Compared to before and now, there is less police presence in the street. Couple of years down the lane, we had a major police presence on the road, taking care of drunkards, but at the moment we don't," Sami said.
"There are a lot of lurkers out on the street, this is totally not related to the nightclub operating hours. This is a police matter. They are supposed to be actively involved in cleaning the streets."
It is a sentiment shared by Tavi Avkash, one of the owners of the Hive Club in Nadi.
"I don't think it will make any difference to the violence," he said.
"I think it will get higher because more people will be drinking at different locations. It will be harder to control them. Police will struggle to keep things in order."
Tightening operating hours 'will see decline in tourism'
But according to local media reports, so far public feedback appears to be in favour of a review.
Fiji's Attorney-General Siromi Turaga, who has participated in consultations, said in a media update, that public perception of nightclubs was negative, particularly from iTaukei or native Fijians.
Turaga said a common complaint had been the economic impact of nightclubs on family income.
He said three quarters of the indigenous people live below the poverty line.
"The money that are supposed to use for family and church purposes are being used elsewhere including night clubs. Those are the issues that concerned the government and there is overwhelming support for nightclubs to close at one."
But at least three nightclub owners had voiced their concerns at a public consultation in Suva.
Hicham Mneimneh, a local chef and owner of food catering business Gorilla Kitchen, said the Suva's nightclub district was small and not difficult to police with foot patrols.
Mneimneh said nightclubs were disadvantaged by not having a union, and that tightening operating hours would affect business significantly, as almost 40 percent of the income was made from 1am to 5am.
"Definitely we are against this. I think this is a police matter," Mneimneh said.
"The clubs in Suva are mainly located in a small district. Our suggestion is to strengthen the police presence, there's only three roads that they have to look after."
White House owner Ron Sami said it would have a huge impact on tourism, which is Fiji's leading economic driver.
Sami said more tourists were already visiting holiday destinations such as the Cook Islands and Bali where drinking laws are relaxed.
"If Fiji starts closing its clubs at 1am, we will be seen as if we are still in the dark ages with these old laws," he said.
"With more tourists already going to the Cook Islands and Bali, we will see significant decline in tourism."
However, other local businesses are voicing their support for enforcing earlier closing times.
Managing Director of Victoria Wines Group, which comprises a chain of hospitality businesses in Fiji, Liam Hindle said that his group recommends a 3am closing time.
"The government in 2009 introduced swingeing changes, almost overnight, which allowed nightclubs to open until 5am in designated city-centre zones, perhaps hoping to spark Bali-style hubs for tourists and locals to dance the night away and make Fiji more attractive to the younger tourism sector," Hindle said.
"Bars were empty until much later in the evening....customers started pre-loading at parties or in public areas and turning up already partly intoxicated.
We have long advocated for a 3am closing time for nightclubs in central Suva, with a 15–30-minute drinking-up time so that customers are treated with dignity after purchasing a drink during licensed hours. If hours are to be reduced, we would recommend slightly longer opening hours at weekends. We believe that this will ensure a better drinking culture and more safety on the streets," he added.
Turaga, however, said most nightclub goers were iTaukei.
He said Fiji's nightlife industry is meant to cater mostly for tourists who had money to spend and not the iTaukei population.
"It was designed for tourists, who would come in and spend their money, going to places like nightclubs," he said.
"But what has been revealed is that it is iTaukei population who are out there on the streets at 4am or 5 am in the morning."
