Businesses in the events and entertainment industry are calling for an end to protocols requiring patrons and staff to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or be tested to enter events.
In a letter to Prime Minister Mia Mottley, the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries complained that not only are the protocols costing businesses thousands of dollars, but they are being disproportionately imposed on events with an entrance fee.
Stakeholders complained that a number of large gatherings including Agrofest, Baje to the World, and Q in the Community were allowed to take place with no testing or vaccine requirements.
“Additionally, the recent announcement that testing is no longer required for persons entering Barbados, and that masks are optional for outdoors, creates the opportunity for an equitable relaxation of restrictions for event businesses,” said the letter.
“As such, the stakeholders request that proof of vaccination and testing no longer be a requirement for attending any event in Barbados, for patrons or staff. These events should be treated in a manner consistent with other recent public events where the protocols were wearing masks and sanitizing,” the correspondence added.
The BCSI was speaking on behalf of four member organisations including the Barbados Association of Masqueraders, the Entertainers Association of Barbados, the Barbados Association of Creatives and Artistes.
The letter noted that many other businesses like supermarkets, restaurants, bars and hotels which have a higher turnover of people than most entertainment events, are benefiting from relaxed protocols.
“While testing is free at designated locations, the time it takes to wait for a test is prohibitive to staff and entertainers who, as the season progresses, will have to take tests every day or every two days. This is not practical. Also, if the person decides to pay for the test, it reduces the money they would effectively earn from the event,” the coalition contended.
Furthermore, the BCSI claimed that event producers are at the receiving end of “subjective” decisions about the carrying capacity of event venues as officers from the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit “appear to be applying their own interpretations to the regulations”.
Adding insult to injury are the additional expenses including the payment for validators from the COVID unit at a price of $170 per every 150 attendees and the cost of testing for unvaccinated health officers assigned to the event.
“There is a general perception that the disparities appear to be biased against the events and entertainment sector. As a result, several event producers are considering not taking the risk of producing events, especially since access to sponsorship is also challenging,” said the letter.
The concerns are also shared by band leaders who believe a requirement for masqueraders to show proof of testing or vaccination when collecting costumes is not practical.
“It puts the band leaders in a position of difficulty if the person tests positive and impacts negatively on visitors who travelled to Barbados for the experience. This is a potential PR nightmare and a cumbersome, difficult process to manage,” the letter added.
When contacted, Executive Director of the BCSI Michelle Smith said the organisation previously wrote to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. She added that stakeholders would be grateful for as little as an explanation of the rationale for some of the measures.
“There is no justification at this point, with the number of events that have happened over the past few weeks, to require that events that are done by promoters still have to deal with verification as it relates to vaccines and testing for staff and patrons,” Smith told Barbados TODAY.
“I know that the industry is very concerned about it and I know that they are very frustrated because it is affecting their business models.
“I think that the industry players want to comply with the health restrictions. They don’t want to add to any challenges related to spreading COVID. But they also need to have a proper environment where they can operate on a level playing field,” the executive director added.
She stressed that the entertainment sector employs hundreds of Barbadians both directly and indirectly and the undue pressure they are facing will have a spin-off effect on many others who make their living from events. (TD)
