Trinidadian company MovieTowne will start construction of a multi-cinema complex and shopping mall at Turkeyen, on the East Coast of Demerara within the next four months, laying what is hoped to be the groundwork for the revitalisation of the cinema industry in Guyana.
The two-year project, which could see an investment of close to TT$180M (US$30M) and the creation of hundreds of jobs, was officially launched yesterday at the Georgetown Club, where President Bharrat Jagdeo said the new Marriott Hotel project is a few weeks away from launch.
This development comes less than a month after an injunction that blocked the multiplex’s construction was discharged. On August 23, Justice James Bovell-Drakes had granted the injunction in favour of Toolsie Persaud Limited (TPL), which had moved to the courts claiming that the land where the construction was to take place rightfully belonged to the company.
Jagdeo, addressing the small gathering at the launch including PPP/C Presidential hopeful Donald Ramotar, said he was pleased that MovieTowne had decided to come to Guyana. ”MovieTowne has an enormous reputation in Trinidad and Tobago. They have revolutionised entertainment in that country… the people who run it, they have a reputation for investing, for raising standards and for filling gaps and moving this forward,” he said.
He added that such an entertainment facility is badly needed here, while pointing out that Guyana has made tremendous progress in almost every field. “People have more disposable income but we still do have a gap where a lot of our people are looking for entertainment and good entertainment with their family and everyone and I think that MovieTowne will be able to fill that gap and be able to provide the services that thousands of Guyanese will need,” he said.
Acknowledging the state of the cinema industry in Guyana, Jagdeo said that this new addition will be very important “to our growing stock of entertainment facilities.” He said that in the next few weeks the new Marriott Hotel would be launched and would add to the stock of facilities that will provide better services to the people.
At the launch, Jagdeo unveiled a plaque to signal the start of construction on a 10-acre plot for the multiplex at Area K, Plantation Turkeyen.
Trinidadian-based Guyanese Derek Chin, who is the Chairman of Multicinemas Trinidad Limited and Multicinemas Guyana under which MovieTowne falls, said that it was Jagdeo who came up with the idea back in 2006 during a visit to the twin-island republic.
“He just mentioned to me one day why don’t you come and take a look at Guyana. He knows that I am Guyanese-born… I got the feeling that the country seems to be moving in a certain direction, a lot of Trinidadian businessmen are talking very good things about Guyana,” said Chin, who left Guyana at age eight.
He noted that the Neal and Massy Group, through their supermarket chain – the biggest in Trinidad – is going to be a partner in the project.
Chin responding to questions from reporters said that a lot of Trinidadians are looking at Guyana in a very positive way. It was also in this regard that Multicinemas “have decided that one of our advantages is really going into countries that do not have a lot to offer the population… We don’t just bring a movie theatre, we just don’t bring movies, we bring movie festivals, we bring a lot of things for the families, we bring restaurants, we bring night activities in a very upscale and clean way and it has become very successful.” Noting that since MovieTowne started in 2003, three complexes have been built in Trinidad, Chin said that the company has become the icon and the number one destination in Trinidad that offers clean family entertainment. He said that despite tremendous challenges from many quarters, including banks, during the company’s nine years of operation it has “nearly a billion dollars (TT) in assets in Trinidad. That is probably US$150 million.”
Addressing questions on the level of investment that would be made in Guyana, Chin said that the figure was initially in the vicinity of TT$110 million but could be approaching TT$180 million after additions were made to the original building plan. He said that the project will employ about 700 locals, while adding that foreign expertise would likely be needed for the digital projectors. He noted that because of the interest that the project has sparked, eight theatres will be built instead of six and a third storey will be added to the building.
“No construction has actually started… but what is going to happen is that there are going to be changes to the original plan and within three to four months we should see something happen,” he said. He pointed out that the cost quoted to reporters does not include the cost of the land. He opted not to release that figure but according to court documents, Multicinemas purchased the land from National Industrial and Commerce Investments Limited (NICIL) for $187 million in May this year.
Asked whether the love for television would pose a major challenge, Chin responded in the negative, pointing out that the Guyanese will be getting quality service at an affordable price.
According to him, the company is looking at a cost of around TT$30 or $900 for tickets. “We are going to test it and we are going to make sure that it is affordable. Our business is not all about making money,” he said, while noting that in Trinidad movies are usually sold out, especially on the weekends. “We are sold out so it tells you that the product is beyond just going to see movies. We offer people very comfortable surroundings, very dynamic surroundings. We have what you call ‘wow’ factors that make people and children want to come even though there is a little more in price,” he noted.
On the question of piracy, he said “I am very concerned about piracy. In Trinidad through the Ministry of Legal Affairs, that is something that we are pushing. In our cinemas we have sensors and what you call night cameras, that our security will go through and pick up anybody who is trying to do that and we would just take away their cameras,” he noted.
In making a plea to the Guyanese public he said “this is now coming to your own backyard and I would hope that they would help us to make it a success.”
