Local Cinema beefs up security

The mass shooting that claimed 12 lives at a Colorado theatre showing of the latest Batman movie is said to be among the deadliest in the U.S. in the past 15 years.
The toll approached the 15 killed in the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Aurora, where the shooting occurred during an early morning screening of “The Dark Knight Rises.” The deadliest such incident in the U.S. since then is the Virginia Tech rampage of April 2007 in Blacksburg, Virginia, in which Seung-Hui Cho took 33 lives, including his own.
The man accused of killing 12 people in a shooting rampage at a midnight showing of the new “Batman” film in a Denver suburb made his first court appearance on Monday, looking bleary-eyed and emotionless, his unruly hair dyed shades of orange and red.
James Eagan Holmes, 24, who was arrested outside the theatre after the massacre, appeared groggy during the brief hearing, staring straight ahead and occasionally closing his eyes as if fighting off sleep.
This incident has raised a number of questions regarding safety at cinemas around the world and St Lucia, which has a cinema showing big blockbusters of the like for more than five years now, is no exception. The “Dark Knight Rises” is expected to open this evening and the General Manager for Caribbean Cinemas St Lucia, Michelle Ellis says all is in place to ensure the full safety of patrons.
“It is a very sad and unfortunate incident and being associated with the industry, it is heartbreaking. It is so unfortunate for the lives lost that such an incident occurred on a big opening where everyone came out with their families.
“Although this incident has never occurred in St Lucia, we have added extra security on the inside, both uniformed and plain clothes security. I am confident that they are able to provide all the necessary protection to avert any planned or unplanned incidents at Wednesday’s showing,” said Ellis.
While the cinema does not have any metal detectors, Ellis says this is an option that will be discussed with her management team.
“Our company is based in Puerto Rico and this is definitely something we will speak about but I am quite confident that with the added security, all will go well to have a successful screening of the film.
“On Wednesday, it is expected to be big and a lot of people are expected to come out. With the incident that happened in Colorado, I am not too sure if persons are skeptical about coming out on an opening night but still, I am expecting a crowd.
“It is the start of our summer and I am encouraging everyone to come out to see one of summer’s biggest blockbusters. We can’t let this act impact us in such a way that we live in fear.”