MovieTowne Guyana, the approximately US$40M cinema-plex and shopping mall has officially opened its doors.
As the evening’s festivities began, various animated characters walked the Chinese inspired decorated lobby area of the cinema-plex, giving special guests and patrons an insight as to what to expect from the state-of-the-art facility.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, who is performing the duties of Prime Minister, lauded the magnitude of the investment in his keynote address. “The Government of Guyana wishes to emphasise that it is happy to encourage and welcome investment of this kind that we can look at today… not to mention the magnitude and nature of the investment” he stated.

The minister said the government sees it as an effort specifically aimed and designed to bring significant benefit to Guyana. “Through job creation, supply of diversified recreational services and a unique shopping experience,” Minister Greenidge said. He said Guyana is quickly becoming a competitive market place and investment of this type and magnitude brings a broader choice of goods and services, and in this regard pledges government’s support to investors.

“I would like to say to you that we have a commitment to you and other investors. The fortitude that you have shown in pursuing this public project to completion and in sticking to your investment, in spite of the challenges, you can be assured that the confidence that you have shown in this country and the efforts that you have made to see this project through to fruition, will be matched by the government’s efforts to ensure that you work within a predictable and welcoming environment” stated Minister Greenidge.

Chairman of the MovieTowne franchise, Guyana-born Dereck Chin said the facility is a safe, friendly and family-oriented environment of which Guyanese can be proud. He said Guyana is worth the investment and indicated that in a further show of confidence in the local economy several well-known international restaurant franchises have signed up to set up their branches in the complex.

With its enormous reputation in Trinidad and Tobago, the multi-million-dollar cinema-plex and mall will be the parent company’s first branch outside of the twin island state – a definite boost to the local economy that will see the creation of hundreds of jobs.

Meanwhile, as MovieTowne Guyana opens its doors, 1,000 jobs have been created within the theatre operations of the multimillion-dollar facility. In the coming months, this figure will increase, as businesses within the MovieTowne mall open their doors. During the official opening of the facility, Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin noted that MovieTowne is poised to be one of the top competitors in Guyana’s entertainment sector. Minister Gaskin expressed his satisfaction in having this form of investment in Guyana. “Good business is what creates jobs and opportunities, generates tax revenues, and provides good services, and experiences that can enhance people’s lives”, he stated.

He emphasised that the APNU+AFC Government is positioned to cultivate an atmosphere that promotes growth in the business sector. “Good business requires an enabling environment.” The Minister of Business also said that even as profit is the ultimate aim, “safe, secure, responsible [and] legitimate” practices are central to the government’s mandate. “We will see [in Guyana] the emergence of both a stronger private sector and an improved public sector that are better coordinated in their pursuit of common goals”, said Minister Gaskin. The MovieTowne entertainment mall is set to open its doors to the public on March 19.