Event producers happy with support of patrons since lifting of restrictions

Partygoers have been out in their numbers ever since restrictions were lifted to allow for the hosting of events.

President of the Entertainment Association of Barbados (EAB) Rudy Maloney told Barbados TODAY that even though patrons were being extra cautious, they were still coming out to enjoy themselves at the plethora of events being hosted.

Two months after a meeting with members of the entertainment sector, government officials, health authorities and management of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), a decision was taken to allow persons to attend events, parties and fetes.

At that time a cap of 500 patrons was instituted.

The sector then received a further boost when Minister of Health and Wellness, Ian Gooding-Edghill announced on February 12, that the green light had been given for pleasure craft, private boats and party cruises to operate at 100 per cent of their authorized number of passengers with patrons producing a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test to board the vessels.

Gooding-Edghill also disclosed that the 12 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew would also be discontinued from February 14.

Maloney told Barbados TODAY after two horrendous years in which almost no events were held because of the COVID-19 pandemic it was a welcomed sight to see patrons supporting the sector.

“When you look at the demographic of the people who are coming out it is the younger persons who are really supporting the events. I think persons are still cautious and people should be to keep themselves safe, but I think that things are opening up more and more for the sector at this time. There are a lot more events happening and the crowds are getting bigger,” he pointed out.

“I think we all knew that people would have been cautious in coming back out and that is the reality. People are now being reconditioned and they are now participating in more and more events.”

The EAB president said it was encouraging that to date no event had been associated with the spread of COVID-19.

He said he always believed that events could have been held in a safe environment.

“So far everything has been safe, we haven’t heard anything about events being a major spread and that is good. I think it is because a lot of the event producers are being attentive to the directives and the protocols and that is working well. Also, patrons are following the protocols so I think that is a good start,” Maloney said.

Additionally, Maloney said with events now being held more frequently other sectors were also benefiting as a result.

“I’ve had talks with some hairdressers, people who make clothing and nail techs and they have also seen an increase in business and this is based on the number of persons who are attending events,” he noted.
randybennett@barbadostoday.bb