Some registered members of the entertainment, culture and creative industries will get their $60,000 COVID-19 grants from the Government’s $90-million special support package in time for Christmas.
Chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board (EAB) Howard McIntosh made the revelation during a recent interview on radio with Ralston Hyman. Explaining that a number of persons have already successfully applied for the grant, he also hastened to add that the application process does not end at Christmas.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange last Friday announced the $90-million package.
“Early in the year, we were able to give small grants to individuals. We were not able to access the $40 million that was allocated by the Ministry of Finance that we could have given a larger number of persons. So the Ministry of Finance has now finalised arrangements to not just give us the $40 million – that we were not able to use last year – but an increase. So we are looking at a total of $90 million at this time, out of which the individual grants will be given. And then, next year, we will look at other categories that would be eligible for the grants,” Minister Grange said in a release.
During his interview, McIntosh outlined the three steps needed for eligibility for the grant and emphasised the need to do “some more capacity strengthening” of industry associations.
“Be on the E-Registry at the Ministry and, if you are not, then registration is still open. Be a member of an industry association, and I know that is one [thing] that is being discussed, and, from an EAB perspective, it is something that we support. Be in possession of a TRN and a local bank account. If you don’t have a bank account, they can make arrangements through a pre-paid Master card. We are facilitating as many persons as possible and we are applauding the initiative,” McIntosh stated.
There are 1800 individuals on the E-Registry, as well as 200-plus companies, but the EAB chairman said that that number “is way too low”.
HARDEST HIT
McIntosh noted that the creative sector “is arguably the hardest hit” having been in shutdown mode for so long.
“It is the one [industry] that has been shut down the longest … and shut down by mandate. The effects are far-reaching and we know a number of persons have left the industry and we know a number of persons, lot of people, are suffering and we are not only talking about economics but, psychologically, they are going through various situations as we speak. We hope, from an EAB perspective, that this is not the only grant. Ninety million is on the table now, and we hope much more will be available. Let’s see how the take-up goes. We expect it to be way oversubscribed, but let’s see,” he said.
Regarding the questions of permits or lack thereof since none will be issued for entertainment events during the Yuletide season, McIntosh was refreshingly real.
“I don’t think I’ll be saying anything strange if ah seh to yuh some things a gwaan,” was his candid response.
He added, “Not to say that we are condoning it. The reality now [is that] we talking about a survival issue. It’s easy to just say shut down. The severe economic effects are clearly manifested and people have to do certain things, and let’s not fool ourselves in terms of making a connection to crime. This is something as a EAB we discuss every month because there is that connection.”
For him, one of the good things that has come out of the pandemic “is a better appreciation and understanding of the contribution to the economy – all parts of the economy whether you want to call it formal or informal – of the various legs on which the sector stands and all the other industries that benefit”.
According to McIntosh, sports and entertainment particularly represent the cornerstone of Brand Jamaica and that’s why a lot of people want to visit the island. “Sun beach and sand out of it now. Sports and entertainment are the avenues for many of our young people. There are no barriers to entry and there are multiple careers that people can have. There is suffering now but [the sector] will come back and it will come back. The roaring twenties definitely going to come back again. The grants are just a start to assist those in need, and that is a necessary thing. We now need to focus on permanently putting in the infrastructure and the legislation to ensure that the entertainment, culture and creative industries can fly,” McIntosh stated.
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