Ellana Kalounisiga of Knox Entertainment says one of the biggest challenges for the performing arts sector across Fiji is the curfew.
She highlighted this during the MSME Policy Dialogue.
Kalounisiga asked for an update on what is happening to the curfew, what is the reason we still have a curfew and when will it be lifted.
She further says it affects the performing arts sector and the tourism sector.
Kalounisiga adds the performing arts sector has taken massive hits time and time again during the pandemic and the natural disasters.
She further raised the question on the logic behind group gatherings allowed for 20 people at an inside event while as parents, they have to allow kids to go back to school and we all know that a lot of our local schools have classroom sizes that are 40 plus.
The Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Trade Shaheen Ali says the issue of curfew has been raised a number of times with the ministry and it is not a policy measure that is applied by the ministry.
Ali told the participants that they have heard from the Health Ministry and other agencies that this would be one of the measures that would be considered once we have truly gone past the pandemic.
He adds his ministry has always done its utmost best to facilitate curfew passes to ensure businesses are able to operate within the curfew hours.
We have sent questions to the Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong and are awaiting his response.
