‘It’s party time again’ - Holness expected to announce reopening entertainment sector today

Although the entertainment sector is still officially under lockdown, promoters are so confident of a return to normal soon that they have been securing dates on what is projected to be a busy 2022 calendar.

Reggae Sumfest has boldly stepped out and has announced July 20 - 23 as the dates for the festival. Popular fete, I Love Soca, has claimed Easter Monday, April 18, and is in full advertising mode for what the promoters say is a presold only event.

"Early birds were sold out in less than a day, and presolds are almost done, so go get your presold tix today! The next tier ticket will be late bird," an Instagram post on Tuesday stated.

For those who have been holding their collective breaths for Dream Weekend, the word from the promoters is simple, 'The dream is alive."

"Get your @dreamwknd tickets now and secure your spot at the Caribbean's largest festival. @Dreamwknd Negril, Jamaica 2022 will be held on July 29 - August 1," urged several social media posts.

Popular oldies party, Good Times, is ready to roar "back to life; back to reality". The event is being promoted to take place on May 28 "from 8 p.m. until..." at the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Port Royal. The flier notes that there is limited capacity and that mask-wearing and social distancing are mandatory.

For Ghetto Splash promoter, producer and councillor, Patrick Roberts, all these events stepping out and claiming dates, despite the lockdown still in effect, is a positive indicator and simply reflect the dire need for the industry to get back to business.

"It is a great feeling to see all of these events back on the calendar for 2022, because we all know that we could not survive any longer on a lockdown regime. The people are suffering; their livelihoods have been eroded and with prices increasing on rapid, these are desperate times," Roberts told THE STAR.

Five members of the Andrew Holness-led cabinet showed up at an entertainment event -- the launch of Shenseea's debut album, Alpha -- on Tuesday, giving the clearest indication yet that the lockdown on the sector is over. The ministers who showed are: Dr Horace Chang, Dr Christopher Tufton, Dr Nigel Clarke, Floyd Green and Olivia Grange.

Holness will make his contribution to the 2022-2023 Budget Debate today, at which time it is expected that he will deliver music to the ears of entertainment practitioners and event goers.

"I am anticipating his address to the nation tomorrow on the way forward for entertainment out of this lockdown. With schools reopened and life seeming to be back to normal, there can be no justification for entertainment to be closed," Roberts said.