Southpark finally opensSOUTHPARK Cinemas 10 opened for business last evening, after finally getting the court’s approval to being operations.
The 70-day delay cost the company more than $1 million in losses, said its president Robert Carrady.
A day after it was opened at a gala function on August 20, the complex at Tarouba, San Fernando, was shut down by police and fire officials who said the facility was without the relevant licences.
Since then, the company has come before the court on three occasions applying for an exhibitor licence and ten cinema licences (one for each movie screen). Yesterday the applications were successful. The cinema was opened mere hours later at 4 p.m.
Carrady, who also owns Caribbean Cinemas was present for yesterday’s hearing.
Following the matter, he told reporters that there had been losses of revenue “in excess of $1 million”.
He also said there were “a lot of expenses” which included retraining staff after 50 of the 58 employees resigned following the August closure.
Carrady, of Puerto Rico said, “It is unfortunate that (the closure) happened but it is behind us now... We’re happy to be opening again. We believe in San Fernando.”
The matter was earlier called before San Fernando Magistrate Lucina Cardenas-Ragoonanan.
The company’s director of operations George Borges took the witness stand and under questions posed to him by attorney for the company Romney Thomas, said the applications for the cinema and exhibition licence were made on August 22.
He said he had submitted to the licencing committee the fire officers’ report, completion certificate and public health department certificate from the San Fernando City Corporation, the Board of Inland Revenue number for the businessplace, and a certificate of good character.
The magistrate said a site visit had been done at the Tarouba facility and the committee was satisfied the location was properly cordoned off from the rest of the development.
She granted the licences. Borges was however told he had to “understand the condition under which you operate with respect to the licence. The operation of the cinema must in no way present itself at anytime as a nuisance to environs.”
Cardenas-Ragoonanan said there must be proper parking facilities and “proper access in and out with respect of safety especially”. Caribbean Cinemas also owns and operates Megaplex 8 at Trincity Mall and other theatres throughout the Caribbean.
Source:
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