— Caribbean Cinemas urges government

CARIBBEAN Cinemas said its decision to not reopen at the Giftland Mall is in response to a section of the COVID–19 Emergency Measures for August 1 to August 31, 2021 that prohibits the operation of concession stands at cinemas across the country.
Cinemas were closed since the initial outbreak of COVID-19 here in March 2020 but recently, they were granted approval by the Ministry of Health to reopen from August 1, 2021 at a 40 per cent seating capacity. The company, in a press release on Saturday, stated that the government’s decision to restrict the sale of food and beverages at cinemas will have a direct impact on the way the business operates, noting that the decision is taking away a key component of the cinematic experience.
“Caribbean Cinemas will be unable to reopen in the Giftland Mall since, unlike other businesses, the cinemas were asked to maintain the restriction on selling food. Even when the occupancy rate has been reduced to 40 per cent, the opening without the sale of snacks and beverages is not what customers expect when going to the movies,” the release read.

Caribbean Cinemas further made comparisons between bars, restaurants and cinemas, remarking that in the cinemas, the patrons are seated, facing the screen, and not talking while watching a movie; the opposite is a regular occurrence in bars and restaurants,
The company, in urging the government to reconsider the position and amend the policy in the gazetted order, highlighted that wherever restaurants are open around the globe under COVID-19 restrictions, cinemas are open and selling snacks and food.
“There is no science anywhere that a person going to a movie theatre is at greater risk than going to a bar, restaurant, or club. If anything, it is considered safer. Caribbean Cinemas urges the government to reconsider this position, as eating in cinemas with appropriate social distancing and facing away from one another while eating poses a far less health risk than common dining or even prevailing circumstances encountered in everyday Guyanese life.

The decision to not allow food, which is a necessity for a cinematic experience, is regrettable and we are kindly requesting a review of this position by the authorities” the release stated.
The national gazetted order not only requires cinemas to operate at 40 per cent of its normal capacity but stipulates that customers wear their face masks properly at all times. Additionally, patrons will be required to produce their vaccination cards to verify that they have been vaccinated. Children will not be required to show this vaccination card since the COVID-19 vaccines are only being distributed to persons aged 18 years and older.