The Giftland Mall yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Caribbean Cinemas, which will build and operate eight state-of-the-art 3D theatres in the soon to be completed mall complex at Pattensen, East Coast Demerara.
The agreement was signed between Robert Carrady, President of Caribbean Cinemas, and Ian Ramdeo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Giftland Mall at the Georgetown Club.
At a news conference that accompanied the signing, Roy Beepat, CEO of Giftland OfficeMax, said that the selection of Caribbean Cinemas was based on its satisfying his criteria of providing a “modern, state-of-the-art cinema.” After searching the region and assessing what the various service providers had to offer, he said Caribbean Cinemas was chosen based on its style, customer service and expertise.
Carrady, meanwhile, expressed his excitement at the prospect of working with the Giftland Mall, primarily because the venture will be the first time the company will be opening cinemas in a non-island nation.
Carrady did express concerns about the pirating of movies, noting that the practice had at one point dealt significant blows to the cinema business and forced his company to adapt to remain relevant and to compete with the cheap means of attaining movies.
As a result, he emphasised that the product his company offers is of the highest quality and is capable of withstanding the threat of the bootleg industry. In fact, he claimed that it is quite possible that after experiencing his product, the lure of bootlegged movies will most likely diminish.
In all, the sum total of the investment being made by the company is approximately US$3 million, and it is expected that all plans for operations will be finalized by March next year. Under the agreement with the Giftland Mall, Caribbean Cinemas will be providing eight 3D movie theatres, complete with plush stadium seating, state-of-the-art digital sound systems, digital projection, air-conditioning and accessible seating. Some of the lesser amenities that will be provided are cleaning of the cinemas between shows, cup holders, arm rests and concession stands.
Although the local cinema industry has been reduced to the lone Astor Cinema, the Giftland venture along with Trinidad-based MovieTowne’s planned multi-cinema complex and shopping mall at Turkeyen represent attempts to revive it.
Speaking on behalf of the private sector at the signing yesterday, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Clinton Urling declared that “it’s about darn time.” He lauded the vision shown by both companies, stating that such an endeavor takes “courage, audacity, tenacity.” He added that such undertakings are also proof that “Guyana’s private sector is on the rise.”
Also addressing the problem of piracy, Urling said he is committed to working with all stakeholders to put new measures in place as well as to strengthen those already in existence to tackle the problem.
Local film critic Terrence Roberts, who was invited to give brief remarks from the audience at the signing, congratulated the partners in the venture and also encouraged them to demonstrate variety in the movies they choose to show.
The society largely pays attention to movies made by the United States, Roberts stated, but added that French and Italian films are also wholesome options, and in many cases, better than US-made films. “My interest is not in cinema, but in films,” he said, as he appealed to the service providers to choose quality over popularity.
When asked about the possibility of featuring local films, Carrady stated that he has always been supportive of the local film industry of the countries in which his company operates. Although he was unaware of the size and nature of the Guyanese film industry, he said he would be more than willing to support it by showing local films.
On the matter of pricing, although a specific ticket price has not been decided upon, Carrady said it will take into consideration the state of Guyana’s economic landscape and prices set will be affordable to persons from all income brackets.
Caribbean Cinemas is the largest theatre circuit today in the Caribbean, with 269 screens in 32 locations in Puerto Rico, 99 screens in 14 locations in the Dominican Republic, and 53 screens in seven locations in the English-speaking Caribbean, the most recent openings being in Antigua and Aruba in 2010.
