Entertainment
JAM | Jun 29, 2021

Dream Entertainment among first to apply for large event permit

Juanique Tennant

Juanique Tennant / Our Today

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Dream Weekend

With the reopening of the entertainment sector set to take place on July 1, Dream Entertainment, the owners and operators of the highly acclaimed Dream Weekend, say they have submitted an application to the Entertainment Ministry to host their event this summer.

In a press statement released on Monday (June 28), Dream Entertainment explained that in light of the government’s requirement that all large events submit key logistics that will mitigate against any possible spread of COVID-19, the group has filed the relevant applications to host Dream Weekend in Negril from August 5 – 9.

“With our longstanding event planning and logistics experience, our company is uniquely positioned to deliver an integrated health and safety plan that will allow patrons to come and enjoy themselves in a very safe environment,” said Dream Entertainment Managing Director Scott Dunn.

“Dream Weekend’s large international patronage comes from the same tourist markets that have been driving the record-breaking recovery our tourism sector is now seeing. These markets have achieved majority vaccinated populations and those people are ready to travel and enjoy the reopening of the world.”

“What we see as the way forward for large festivals, until the world has overcome the pandemic, would be to create safe bubbles for persons to gather and enjoy long-awaited experiences together. We believe this can be achieved by robust pre-screening and standard COVID safety protocols.”

Kamal Bankay, Chairman of Dream Entertainment

Weighing in on the discussion, Kamal Bankay, chairman of Dream Entertainment, sees the events industry bouncing back in a significant way.

He said: “What we see as the way forward for large festivals, until the world has overcome the pandemic, would be to create safe bubbles for persons to gather and enjoy long-awaited experiences together. We believe this can be achieved by robust pre-screening and standard COVID safety protocols.”

Bankay stated that, in the case of Dream Weekend, “all patrons and staff attending… will need to be either fully vaccinated or pre-tested and proved to be negative for COVID before being allowed to get an event or staff armband. This, along with significantly reduced venue capacity, all outdoor beach venues, mandatory mask wearing, temperature checks and robust sanitisation protocols will ensure a safe large event.”

The statement closed: “Dream is committed to working with all the government ministries and agencies to use Dream Weekend 2021 as a pilot event for a safe reopening. The majority of the patrons attending will need to be tested to leave Jamaica and thus the efficacy of the plans and protocols will be evaluated and can be replicated or tweaked for future large events.”

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