Kingston 16 April 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has expressed sadness at the devastation by fire of the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, France.

Minister Grange said she was “truly saddened to see images of the fire that ravaged the Notre-Dame” and that the “ruin of the World Heritage Site, which took centuries to construct, was a blow to humanity.”

She added: “I express sympathy to the people of France, particularly those who worship at the cathedral, which is considered one of the great architectural achievements of humanity."

Minister Grange noted that this devastation has come just a few days before we celebrate World Heritage Day on Thursday, 18 April 2019, by highlighting our important cultural monuments and sites.