Approximately 300 children from Port-of-Spain South were treated to a movie, a meal, and a snack at CinemaONE IMAX on Tuesday.
For some of the children, it was their first outing for the July, and August vacation.
“It’s nice, I did nothing,” student of Russell Latapy Secondary School Liquesha Mottley said.
For others getting to see Jurassic World Dominion was just the highlight of their holiday.
“I went Fun Station it was good but I never come IMAX, this is the first time I come here, it was amazing,” Nneka Winn who attends Morvant Laventille Secondary School said.
Both girls of Sea Lots and about 298 others from areas like St James, Woodbrook, East Dry River, La Basse, Downtown Port-of-Spain, and Mucarapo were given this opportunity by their MP Keith Scotland who said the idea came from his upbringing.
“My mother worked 24/7 and on holiday we go to a matinee,” he said.
The MP for Port-of-Spain South said gathering the children was a collaborative effort between his office and various councillors.
But before that, he reached out to the chief executive officer of CinemaONE Ltd Ingrid Jahra who said she was immediately on board.
“He had me at hello when he asked if he could host his children here, it was how could we do it,” she said.
Jahra said CinemaONE is a community asset and she looks forward to hosting the children and encouraged Scotland to make Matinee with the MP a termly initiative.
He said if not three times a year, it will happen annually.
“I really feel like this is worth it,” he said.
The MP said he will continue this initiative as a way to let the young ones know that there are other options in life instead of choosing a life of crime.
“I am just going to grow buttress root in Port-of-Spain South, they’re already there but they will be strengthened by these actions…I am starting from the ground up to show them a different way of living,” he said.
Scotland said Matinee with the MP was sponsored by him and one other corporate body.
But he hopes as it continues more partners would come on board to assist, mainly with transportation and ensuring the children’s safety.
