Local entertainment promoters and night clubs would do well to take note of the decision by the administration of Prime Minister Andrew Holness in Jamaica which is widely regarded as the entertainment capital of the Caribbean, to keep in place an existing ban on such public events during the Christmas season.
An article published in last Wednesday’s edition of the Jamaica Gleaner stated that the decision to keep the lid on Christmas ‘bashments’ would have had the effect of “dooming hopes of entertainment promoters aiming to recoup year-long losses in the lead-up to Christmas.” The decision which the Gleaner said, came, “despite vigorous backroom negotiations by several stakeholders,” appears to have been taken against the backdrop of official concerns regarding the continually climbing COVID-19 infection and death rates in Jamaica. Up to last Monday, Jamaica’s COVID-19 death rate stood at 243 while the number of infections had reached 10,422.
There has, it seems, been some measure of pushback by event promoters on the island to Prime Minister Holness’ urging that Jamaicans “celebrate Christmas and New Year’s at home” with one of the country’s high-profile promoters bemoaning the fact that “restrictions in the lead-up to Christmas and New Year’s would worsen the fiscal crisis that has torpedoed the entertainment industry since March.” However, according to the Gleaner, Holness’ decision would have gotten the support of the President of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), Richard Pandohie.
Here in Guyana where government, weeks ago, extended night-time activities by changing the curfew hour to 10:30 pm, there has been no official word on the issue of whether or not the customary all-night seasonal entertainment events will be allowed throughout the season. Up until now there has been a somewhat conspicuous absence of any aggressive marketing of the customary seasonal entertainment events, not least, the traditional Old Year’s Night parties that often extend into the next day. When Stabroek Business spoke with a local entertainment promoter on Wednesday, he said he was unaware as to whether or not the issue of further curtailing the curfew hours for a limited period was ‘on the cards,’ pointing out that the rate of increase in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths would almost certainly militate against such a decision. “Frankly, it wouldn’t surprise me if, even before Christmas, the night-time curfew hour is pulled back,” he told this newspaper.
Even now, there continues to be a strained relationship between sections of the local entertainment industry, Private Sector Commission Chairman (PSC) Nicholas Boyer, and the country’s COVID Task Force, over a November 22 warning letter sent to the popular Palm Court Restaurant regarding curfew infractions. The grounds for the PSC’s protest appear to be that such warnings may not have been issued to other entertainment houses that are also in breach of the present COVID-19 protocols. The Task Force has sent warnings to 42 places.
Entertainment establishments both here and in Jamaica have been lobbying for shortening of curfew hours on the grounds that the protracted COVID-19–related strictures have effected a serious financial backlash on the entertainment industry, and that more careful consideration ought to be given to timely releases of the shackles.
