Last June, a little more than a month after the lockdown is lifted on French territory (17 March 2020-11 May 2020), a large meeting was organized in Guadeloupe to present a federation of event and communication professions in the presence of political and economic personalities from the archipelago such as Ary Chalus (President of the Regional Council of Guadeloupe) and Patrick Vial-Collet (President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Islands of Guadeloupe).
According to what was said during this meeting, words reported by other media – the magazine Kariculture, launched nearly 4 years ago, which is however specialized in Caribbean culture and heritage, was not invited – these professionals said their sector recorded a loss of € 20 million since the global covid-19 epidemic, according to a study; if we had been there, we would have asked them for more information on this famous study…
The Regional Council of Guadeloupe immediately released 500,000 euros in aid to these companies in order to help them get through this health crisis. A few days later, we heard that this half-million euro was considered very insufficient by these professionals…
In the weeks that followed, we heard about the creation of other organizations and then finally a sort of big coalition of these event professionals which was received notably at the Prefecture of Guadeloupe. Among its objectives: obtaining a relaxation of health measures in order to allow communication agencies, companies producing shows, fairs, exhibitions and festivals, discotheques, performance venues, etc. to finally start up their activities again, even a charter had to be drafted and signed… and also obtaining substantial financial aid from the State.
The explosion of new cases of Covid-19 in Guadeloupe, Martinique or even St Martin led these same unions to highlight their professionalism unlike amateurs who set up unsupervised festive events…
On August 4, the French Government announced the resumption of gatherings of more than 5,000 people from September 1, 2020 with sometimes prefectural exceptions from August 15 and new health measures on August 24 but a week later, this ban in place since February 29 was extended to October 30, as the epidemic situation had deteriorated. All the hopes of event professionals were then showered. They even said they feared the total destruction of this sector.
However, as soon as the epidemic began, the Government implemented emergency aid. Indeed, the Centre National de la Musique (CNM) in Paris, which was allocated 11.5 million euros to support music and entertainment actors, announced last May that it had already helped some 300 French companies (VSEs or SMEs) in great difficulty (lack of cash) due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Last June, Kariculture asked the CNM if our companies in this sector had requested this emergency aid. Its answer is clear: “5 requests from the French Overseas territories for the FDS (Emergency Fund), including 5 from La Reunion, and no request from Guadeloupe”. The file had to be completed online…
On August 27, the Government announced that out of the €2 billion euros of aid planned to support the entire cultural sector, €432 million would be used to a recovery plan for performing arts. A large part of these funds (€100 million) will be managed by the same Centre National de la Musique, so it’s better to be in good standing with this organization.
On September 3, we interviewed the CNM again, and we were told: “Our aid is open to holders of a performing arts entrepreneur’s licence (provided that the companies are affiliated –affiliées–to the CNM), so discotheque managers with a licence can access it. Aid from the emergency fund shall be granted on the condition that the company can prove a cash deficit and a loss of income. It is not enough to have a licence, the needs must be justified”.
Are our companies in good standing? So we are surprised that these event organisations systematically turn to the Regional Council of Guadeloupe for support when there are other public bodies that can help them. It is true that during election periods, some people tend to consider politicians as “Santa Claus” who can give all sorts of gifts…
Do these companies expect to get “cash” the €20 million in losses they claim? It would be too good to be true, because this unprecedented health and economic crisis will not leave unscathed many companies, and in all sectors (including the media), the strongest or best prepared will remain standing.
Unfortunately, despite all the millions that will be put on the table by the State and the local authorities, some companies will have to accept to die or to transform themselves.
