Dear Editor,

Cautiously reopening the entertainment sector more than a year after it was shut down due to the pandemic is a good move, one that was overdue and absolutely necessary.

I disagree with Opposition Leader Mark Golding, who said in response to the relaxing of some measures, “We’re skating on thin ice.”

Extreme caution was expected in the early days of the pandemic when so much was unknown. We are now a year and a half later, and a lot has been learned, and it is fair to say the Government has done a very good job containing the outbreak, despite the occasional hiccups which were expected.

We are also in the process of vaccinating, and curfews are still in effect with relaxed hours. We are a small country, an island, where entry points at borders can be controlled. Entertainment provides a social outlet to de-stress and relax. It is not only an income earner, but is extremely important for mental health and well-being; it is who we are — we like to enjoy ourselves.

Tourism has been doing very well since last summer when the Resilient Corridor was established. We understand that bookings for this summer have increased significantly and employees who had been laid off have been rehired. All stakeholders should be commended for staying the course and not giving up. If this sector can manage, so can others; people are anxious to get their lives back — even if it will involve some changes.

Many in the entertainment sector have lost jobs and earnings due to the extended lockdown, many have suffered in ways we cannot imagine. The impact on the economy and mental health has been tremendous. We must proceed with a plan to gradually reopen, and it is a good move to start with small events, at limited capacity. It is also good to gradually increase capacity in churches, with safety protocols in place. People rely on spirituality to be inspired and remain hopeful. What we need is effective control, restrictions, protocols, and enforcement across the board.

If we look to nearby Cayman, you would never know that we are in the midst of a pandemic. Social activities continue with hardly any protocols such as masks or social distancing. Cayman has effectively controlled its border through testing, contact tracing, and quarantines where necessary.

As countries such as USA, Canada and UK ramp up vaccination with more than half the population receiving the first dose, the risks have been lowered which also impacts us. In Canada we understand the first-dose vaccination rate is as high as 75 per cent. In Jamaica vaccination is slower due to limited supplies, but progress is being made. As First World countries increase vaccination, more supplies will be available for the Caribbean and elsewhere, and we must continue to ramp up efforts for increased immunity.

Jamaicans who travel back and forth should be responsible, and they should be closely monitored when they re-enter the country. In the end, it is all about health and safety, peace of mind, and keeping the economy on track.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com