Dwayne Vaz’s post-lockdown prescription

The People’s National Party Shadow Minister of Entertainment, Dwayne Vaz, has a prescription for the reopening of the entertainment sector, which, he says, if followed, should see a smooth transition from lockdown into party central.

Ranking highly on his list is addressing the capacity limit at the various entertainment venues scattered across the island. This should reflect the new normal rather than the pre-COVID era when, as the song says, “yuh caan get no place fi walk”. According to Vaz, “The limits for each venue should be revised in order to ensure that social distancing is followed, something similar to what they did for supermarkets.” He warned, however, that some flexibility should be exercised so that it does not become a one-size-fits-all situation.

TICKET SALES

Another area that has come under his microscope is the area right outside the venue, which is designated for ticket sales. Vaz said it would be difficult to effectively manage the six-feet apart rule there. “That’s why I am suggesting that a presold-tickets-only requirement be put in place in order to limit the congestion at the gate,” he explained. In the past, Jamaican partygoers have been known for their reluctance to purchase tickets ahead of the day of the event, but as Vaz pointed out, this new normal will require a new thinking and action.

“Of course, things such as temperature checks, and the wearing of masks if they are still mandatory, must be enforced,” Vaz said.

Enforcement, he stated, should be placed in the hands of the police or the fire department. “There has to be somebody who ensures that the rules are enforced,” he insisted. And this gatekeeper role also applies to the Noise Abatement Act and curfew hours, if those remain.

Vaz said that he and a team of from his constituency have been going around to bars, which were given the green light to open over a week ago. They have been handing out sanitising products and playing a role in ensuring that rules and regulations are followed.

“If I see persons without masks, I encourage them to wear it. This opening up is a risk that is being taken, and so everybody has to play by the rules. It may look weird to see a man having a drink in a bar and wearing a mask, but the reality is that with social drinking, it is usually a sip at a time. So even if you don’t have a mask with a zip, it’s easy to adjust it, take a sip of whatever beverage you are having, and replace the mask,” Vaz explained.

Entertainment has been on pause since March 11 when the Government placed a ban on all events. Industry players have been calling for the sector to be reopened.