PM Holness flies the gate
THE doors to Jamaica’s entertainment sector were swung open on March 18 2022, after being bolted shut for two years due to COVID-19.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the announcement during his contribution to the 2022/2023 Budget Debate in parliament on March 17, 2022.
“I re-emphasise, we are not declaring an end to the pandemic. There are still outbreaks happening all over the world. We are maintaining the management of the disease under our existing public health laws,” Holness said at the time.
Mask wearing was no longer mandatory. However, it was encouraged in enclosed spaces that sell food and drinks.
The PM also indicated that permits granted for entertainment events as of March 18 would include a stipulation that the venue should be below 70 per cent capacity. This condition, he said, would be in place until April 15, 2022.
Holness’ announcement was greeted with jubilation by party promoters, sound system operators, and members of the entertainment fraternity.
Michael Ammar Jr, co-director of carnival band Bacchanal Jamaica, said, “I’m very encouraged. The time has come for the full reopening. I see no reason for it not to be reopened. The country has had a year to vaccinate, and those who wanted to take the vaccine have already done so. COVID now needs to become handled and managed like the flu. We cannot indefinitely live in this state,” Ammar Jr told the Jamaica Observer.
Government estimates indicated that the entertainment sector lost J$26 billion due to the two-year lockdown.
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