After ten years in operation, businessman Derek Chin has announced a decision to permanently close the Movie Towne Chaguanas branch. 

“I wish to inform you that we will be closing our Movietowne Chaguanas branch for good as the pandemic along with a difficult landlord has made it uneconomical for us to continue,” Chin said in a statement.

With cinemas closed for the majority of the COVID-19 period, the development was perhaps inevitable.

In June, government lifted the restriction for cinemas, however a spike in cases saw that decision being rescinded weeks later.

“The extended shut down and the continued uncertainty has made it extremely difficult to continue and in the interest of keeping our overall business in a survival mode we felt this was the best alternative for us,” he said.

The owner is hoping that once COVID-19 restrictions allow, operations will continue at Movietowne’s other locations in Port of Spain, C3 San Fernando and Tobago.