Letter of the Day | The show must go on
Published:Thursday | May 5, 2022 | 12:12 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
Jamaica has expectedly seen a rise in the COVID-19 cases since the end of the Easter holidays. There are several reports in the media where the minister of health and wellness is apparently not ruling out making adjustments to the entertainment sector as it relates to combating the spread. Let me therefore hasten to caution the minister and his Government against any such move.
The entertainment sector has been unfairly used as a scapegoat for much of the pandemic. The Government ought to consider that this industry provides income to a wide cross section of the society. We lament the effect the prior restrictions have had on every player, such as ‘Jerky’ and ‘Soupie’. Artistes and musicians who rely on stage shows and parties felt the effects too. The players of the industry are mostly entrepreneurs and should not be exploited because they are not formal workers. Making any drastic adjustments will impact those who have already invested funds in upcoming events and projects such as SumFest. The sector is further pivotal as it serves as a catalyst and hinge pin to other industries such as tourism, sports and agriculture.
Entertainment forms part of our society’s social fabric and culture. The dancehall is a big part of this. Our young people need a space to unleash their energies and talents. They need events to dress up and dance to the popular hits. We cannot jeopardise this era of our cultural continuum any further. The show must go on! A happier society is less violent, curtailing the sector will only breed further resentment to the system and rebelliousness among the marginalised.
Like education, entertainment should be treated as a part of national life and liberty. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. The country has already sat out two years of entertainment restrictions. As we have sent our children back to school, so we must put our nation back to life. The entertainment sector is what determines how one rest from work and find leisure, this is a crucial characteristic of a healthy democracy. If a man works hard, he ought to enjoy his labour and be able to do so in his own country without undue restrictions.
I also share the prime minister’s view that it is time for personal responsibility to supersede the use of executive powers in living within the pandemic. COVID-19, like HIV and the flu, has become a part of the new normal. We must therefore encourage vaccination, sanitation, and personal action (wearing a mask, etc) as our armoury against its spread. So, I am encouraging the minister and his Government to take heed and stay the course so we may see an end to the abnormalities that the pandemic has caused.
AMOS WINT