By Lesroy W. Williams

Observer Reporter

(Basseterre, St. Kitts)—Moviegoers and movie lovers can now look forward to going to the movies: air-conditioned comfort, Dolby stereo surround system, stadium seating with retractable and reclining chairs equipped with cup-holders, plenty of space, a 35 mm projector, multi-screens, a wide assortment of the most up-to-date movies, games arcade, kids party room, concession stands, bathrooms designed for handicaps and a dining room.

Hard chairs, run-down conditions, limited space, a narrow assortment of movies and a dilapidated movie house on the Bay Road, Basseterre, are things of the past.

Caribbean Cinemas St. Kitts Ltd, located at Buckley’s Estate, officially opened Megaplex 7, at a ceremony on September 24.

Many dignitaries, government officials, members of the diplomatic and consular corps, invited guest and members of the general public were present to witness the opening of the state-of-the- art cinema that boasts seven screen areas.

Governor General, His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Sam Condor, Speaker of the National Assembly, the Hon. Curtis Martin, Chief Secretary, Mr. Joseph Edmeade, Minister of Public Works and Utilities, and the Hon. Earl Assim Martin, were present for the opening ceremony.

The cinema project, a US$7 million investment, was the brainchild of Mr. Shervin White, Director of Business Development for Caribbean Cinemas in St. Kitts, who ran with the idea and got in contact with Mr. Robert Carrady, President of Caribbean Cinemas, located in Puerto Rico.

It is out of this relationship that Caribbean Cinemas St. Kitts Ltd was born four years ago with work starting on the theatre in Octobe,r 2007.

President of VIP Connected Entertainment, Lexy Brooks, chairperson of the opening ceremony, said that there were “challenges and speed bumps in executing the project but that “time and effort equals success.”

The Hon. Sam Condor, who was deputizing for Prime Minister Douglas, who is off island, said he was extremely pleased about the opening of the modern cinema.

“This project is a good example of the cooperation envisaged and encouraged between the government, private sector and residents, which enables meaningful development to be pursued and completed uninterrupted for the good of all,” Mr. Condor said.

“I wish to congratulate the developers of Caribbean Cinemas St. Kitts Ltd on this far-sighted initiative and for the wonderful work accomplished here thus far, giving a face-lift of aesthetics, a sense of function, opportunity and value to Buckley’s Estate Yard,” he said.

“Sirs, I want to thank you most sincerely for enjoining this journey of progress, development and success with us,” Mr. Condor said.

“I ask for your indulgence as I clear the political and historic air somewhat. The Puerto Rico based Caribbean Cinemas Ltd…has partnered with Mr. Shervin White to bring this enterprise to St. Kitts and Nevis. We laud and applaud this partnership of local and Caribbean entrepreneurs and are indeed grateful that they chose our shores for investment and further development and the empowerment of our young businessmen (women),” he said.

A few families had to relocate from the site on which the cinema was built to facilitate its construction, Mr. Condor said.

He also said that the land on which the cinema was built had previously been allocated as housing lots.

President of Caribbean Cinemas Ltd, Mr. Robert Carrady, said, “This is a very proud night for our company. . .We were introduced to building a theatre in St. Kitts four years ago by Shervin White.”

“We appreciate the support and collaboration we have received from the government of St. Kitts and Nevis and our local construction team,” Mr. Carrady said.

“Construction is about coordination and respect for all parties to work towards the same purpose and with the same direction. This has been a united effort with one vision to bring world class state-of-the-art theatres to St. Kitts,” he said.

He thanked Prime Minister Douglas, the Hon. Ricky Skerritt and Mr. Wendell Lawrence for the good graces offered by their offices. He also thanked the engineers and contractors.

The theatre will offer entertainment for everyone in the form of suspense, family, action and comedy movies.

Caribbean Cinemas Ltd, which is a Puerto Rican based company, is also located in St. Lucia, the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Trinidad and Tobago. They are the 10th largest movie company in the United States of America.

The project in St. Kitts created 70 jobs during construction and 40 persons are employed for its operation.

The theatre will be available for rental for private screenings. The theatre has a total seating capacity for 1,280 persons: four stadium screens have a seating capacity of 770 persons and three sloping floors screen have a seating capacity of 510 persons.