President of the Trinidad and Tobago Promoters Association (TTPA) Jerome Precilla is urging the Government to open the entertainment sector for at least vaccinated people.

This plea was made during a virtual media conference held on January 19 at Queen’s Hall, St Ann, in an effort to highlight the struggles that artistes, promoters, and others in the entertainment sector have been facing, since it was closed two years ago due to coronavirus.

In his presentation, Precilla noted that the announcement made by Prime Minister Keith Rowley, that there may be some aspect of the carnival held later this year, brought little hope to the sector.

Precilla noted that the Government should instead give the green light for carnival 2023 and also have the sector reopened for vaccinated events only.

“If carnival is so much of an important product to the tourism of Trinidad and Tobago, it should be given way more attention and decisions should be made way earlier because for us to put on any semblance or taste of carnival in six weeks’ time is absurd,” Precilla argued.

Precilla further noted that many of his members were struggling to make ends meet, hence the appeal to resume in some way to actually earn a livelihood.

“This is a cry for our sector to reopen, not we want a handout, or we want something. We want the opportunity to work, to get back out there and do what we do, to earn an income, to mine our families, to put food on the table,” Precilla stressed.

“This is a sector that provides an income and revenue, for people to live for a livelihood, and that livelihood has been put on halt for two years,” Precilla added.

Precilla further stated that the entertainment industry is not predominantly based on a “wine and jam” culture but serves as a light livelihood for many and also indicated that resuming activities in the entertainment sector will encourage more citizens to become vaccinated.