20 July 2019 (OPM) - The Government of Jamaica is pleased to announce that His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, will pay a State Visit to Jamaica as special guest for the nation’s 57th Anniversary of Independence celebrations. The President will be accompanied by First Lady, Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta and an official delegation.
 
The visit also provides an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations between Jamaica and Kenya, focused on the development of an economically strategic partnership through the fostering of trade and investment ties and the promotion of increased technical cooperation in areas such as tourism, education, sport and culture.
 
The Kenyan President is scheduled to arrive in Jamaica for the three-day State Visit on August 5.
 
Prime Minister Andrew Holness will hold bilateral talks with President Kenyatta, which will be followed by a press statement. The Kenyan President will also undertake other engagements and activities, including a courtesy call on the Governor-General who will host a State Dinner in his honour at King’s House.
 
The President is also expected to meet with the Leader of the Opposition.
 
As the special guest for Independence 57, which is being held under the theme: One Nation, One People, President Kenyatta will be fully exposed to Jamaica’s rich history and culture.
 
President Kenyatta will lay a floral tribute at the shrine of the country’s first national hero, the Rt. Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey at the National Heroes Park after which he will also visit the Bob Marley museum.
 
Prime Minister Holness will host the Kenyan President at the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in Clarendon on Independence Day. Later in the evening, President Kenyatta will attend the 57th Anniversary Independence Grand Gala.
 
The President will depart the island on August 7.

END

Kingston 27 June 2019 - Jamaica’s 57th anniversary of Independence is to be celebrated under the theme “One Nation, One People.”

This has been disclosed by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange.

Minister Grange said the theme was chosen because it speaks to a very important area of focus on which the nation must pay attention:

“We are at a very critical time in our life as a nation. We are witnessing the transition from one generation to the next and I believe that unity has to be a very important ingredient in the process to help us to solidify the gains we have made so far and build on them for the future.”

Ms. Grange said that while the country continues to celebrate the International Decade for People of African Ancestry, it is very important in the wider Jamaican context to observe the tenets of the national motto, ‘Out of Many, One People’.

“We must always be reminded that this nation is a melting pot of cultures, built by people from many different ancestries. It is remarkable what we have been able to achieve by working together and it is that spirit of unity that we want to engender as we celebrate our Independence and look to the future,” she added.

Minister Grange said that Jamaicans at home and abroad should look forward to a very spirited Independence celebration as the Ministry is working hard to make sure that events such as the Jamaica Festival Song Competition, the Jamaica Festival Queen Competition, the Jamaica Gospel Song Competition and the Grand Gala are spectacles to be remembered.

“This year we will welcome various Heads of Government for Independence and we intend to display the best of Jamaica as the eyes of the world will be upon us. We will be streaming most of our activities to the Diaspora so that everyone feels a part of the Jamaica 57 celebrations. We are well advanced in our planning and things have been going well,” she said.

The Jamaica Festival Song Grand Final will be held on July 27, at the National Arena in Kingston, with the Emancipation Jubilee slated for July 31, at Seville in St. Ann. The National Arena will also host the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Grand Coronation on Emancipation Day, August 1, the World Reggae Dance Championship Grand Final on August 2, Mello-Go-Roun on August 3, the Jamaica Gospel Song Grand Final on August 4 and the Pop and Variety Grand Final on August 5. Grand Gala will be held on Independence Day, August 6 at the National Stadium.

For more information on the Independence celebrations, persons may contact the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission at: the JCDC Head Office at 3-5 Phoenix Avenue in Kingston Tel: (876) 926-5726-9, or on the JCDC’s website www.jcdc.gov.jm.

Kingston 19 June 2019 (JIS) - The Government will continue to pursue strategic policies and initiatives geared towards advancing the cultural and creative industries for the benefit of all Jamaicans.

This was stated by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, while addressing a session of the eighth Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston today (June 19).

“Recently, we got the green light to begin operationalising the National Cultural and Creative Industries Council. It represents a next step in providing meaningful support to our creatives, to ensure that they earn from their creations and abilities. The Council will be called Jamaica Creative or Creative Jamaica,” she said.

Miss Grange informed that the Council has been charged with the establishment of a digital distribution and promotion platform for Jamaican music, video and fashion; the establishment of a Kingston Creative Media Village for increased visibility and accessibility of creative practitioners; the establishment of the Creative Skills Council, and the establishment of a Culture and Creative Industries Fund for Jamaica.

The Minister said the recent successful nomination of the Reggae Music of Jamaica to the intangible cultural heritage list of UNESCO, the successful nomination of the Blue and John Crow Mountains to the World Heritage list and the current bid for Port Royal to be inscribed on the World Heritage list should be seen as the Government facilitating and creating opportunities for the people to lift themselves using cultural and physical assets.

She noted that the Government has been investing in preparing Jamaicans to benefit from the economic activities that will come with the inscriptions, adding that several economic opportunity workshops are being staged in communities close to a designated, nominated or soon to be nominated site for world heritage list inscription.

The Minister said the island’s creative and athletic talents have done well on the world stage, and that it is a priority of the Government to ensure that earnings are realised.

Ms. Grange said many Jamaicans have been able to use the cultural and creative industries to move from poverty to prosperity.
The cultural and creative industries, also known as the ‘orange economy’, include activities such as architecture, audiovisual arts, digital services, fashion, graphic and industrial design, handicrafts, music and software.

In 2012, the global income generated from the orange economy was estimated at US$547 billion.

The Diaspora Conference is being held from June 16 to 20, under the theme, ‘Jamaica and the Diaspora: Pathways for Sustainable Development’.

Kingston 4 June 2019 – The Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Honourable Karl Samuda says schools will recognise the passing of the late former Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga on Wednesday (June 5).

Minister Samuda who has responsibility for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information says “students will mark Mr Seaga’s passing through either a cultural or religious expression during the final hour of the school day on Wednesday.”

Wednesday marks nine days since the passing of Mr Seaga.

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has welcomed the initiative of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and has called on all Jamaicans to join the celebration of Mr Seaga’s life through their own observances.

Minister Grange says “each Jamaican can celebrate Mr Seaga’s life and contribution through musical or other cultural expressions, candle light services, prayer vigils, church services, sports or any community activity that provides safe spaces for residents to come together and reflect.”

Mr Seaga, who was Jamaica’s fifth Prime Minister, died on May 28 on his 89th birthday.

Kingston 4 June 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, is encouraging Jamaicans to observe ‘nine night’ in honour of the late former Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga.

“Wednesday will be nine days since the transition of Mr Seaga and, as you all know, our tradition is to observe the ninth night,” said Minister Grange who announced that a traditional ‘nine night’ for Mr Seaga will be held in the Tivoli Gardens Square on Wednesday evening, beginning at 7:30.

Minister Grange said Mr Seaga “spent much of his life studying, understanding, appreciating, preserving and promoting Jamaican culture and it was important to him that we take pride in our culture and participate in the rituals that our people have created, and the ‘nine night’ is an important ritual in our culture.”

The ‘nine night’, based on African tradition, is a wake that takes place on the ninth night after a person’s death.

Minister Grange has encouraged Jamaicans who are unable to attend the ‘nine night’ in Tivoli Gardens to organise their own tributes to the former Prime Minister on Wednesday.

Remarks by the Minister of Culture, Gender, 

Entertainment and Sport

the Honourable Olivia Grange, CD, MP 

at News Conference announcing plans to honour

former Prime Minister Seaga 

Jamaica House

3 June 2019

Salutations

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a difficult time for all of us as a nation.

The passing of one of our great sons, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga — who has served us so well — is a time of sadness.  It is a moment for reflection which calls us as a national family to come together in celebration of a life that was devoted to outstanding service, for building Jamaica and enriching its people.

Edward Phillip George Seaga was elected Prime Minister of Jamaica on October 30, 1980 — he became the fifth person to hold that position.

He has also held the posts of:

• Minister of Finance and Planning (1967-1972) 
• Minister of Development and Welfare (1962-1967)

During his service to our country, he was responsible for developing a comprehensive range of financial institutions to make Jamaica's Capital Market network a model for developing countries. 

These include the: 

• Jamaica Stock Exchange 
• Introduction of merchant banking
• Jamaica Development Bank Jamaica Mortgage Bank
• Jamaica Unit Trust

Rural and urban planning and the environment have also been prime areas of focus for Mr Seaga.  He spearheaded waterfront development in the main coastal towns and cities, rural and urban township development programmes, and the development of parks and markets. 

Among his achievements are:

• Reclamation and development of Ocho Rios waterfront (Turtle Beach)
• transformation of ‘Back-o-Wall’ slum to develop Tivoli Garden, a modern, fully planned urban development; Hellshire Hills Development; Portmore Town Centre; Torrington Park Housing Scheme
• Reclamation of Montego Bay waterfront

Mr Seaga also led the creation of a wide range of social programmes which expanded training in human resources, aided small enterprises and protected the poor and vulnerable. 

Achievements include:

• Introduction of the National School Feeding Programme
• Introduction of HEART (Human Employment & Resource Training)
• development of Residential halls for UWI, UTECH and Cultural Training Centre (Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts) 

In the area of Culture, Mr Seaga’s achievements are well known.  And he was the quintessential builder of institutions in this country — the majority of which still continue to serve us well today.

Edward Seaga's political career began in 1959, when the Founder of the Jamaica Labour Party, Sir Alexander Bustamante, invited him to serve in the Upper House of the Jamaican Legislature. The Legis­lative Council later became the Senate. His appointment at the age of 29 made him the youngest member in the history of the Legis­lative Council. He was also the youngest member among the architects of the 1962 Constitution which proclaimed Jamaica as an independent country. 

In April 1962, Mr. Seaga was elected Member of Parliament for Western Kingston in the first Parliament of Jamaica — he went on to serve the constituency for more than 40 years. He was made a member of the first Cabinet, and appointed Minister of Development and Welfare. 

The State Funeral accorded to the Most Honourable Edward Seaga continues the tradition of a grateful Nation bidding farewell to its leaders in a formal manner with appropriate dignity and ceremony. 

In the prevailing policy directive, the Government of Jamaica, through its Cabinet accords Official and State Funerals to the following persons:

• Governors-General and Prime Ministers who die whilst in office
• National Heroes
• Members of Cabinet
• Such other persons, including former Governors-General, former Prime Ministers, and Members of Cabinet who the Cabinet may from time to time determine to be eligible for such consideration.

The Office of the Prime Minister convenes and chairs the Inter-Ministerial Planning Committee to co-ordinate the detailed planning and execution of the Funeral. The Committee is comprised of Government entities that typically plan and execute such State ceremonial events.  The Committee may include inter alia the Office of the Governor-General, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, as well as the Military (Jamaica Defence Force) and Security (Jamaica Constabulary Force) Arms of Government.

The Chancery and Protocol Division of the Office of the Prime Minister is therefore responsible for the planning and coordination of State and Official funerals. But it discharges this responsibility with the collaboration of relevant government departments and agencies consequent on the formal Decision taken by the Government through the deliberations of the appointed Inter-Ministerial Planning Committee for State ceremonials.

The Key elements of the process would customarily encompass, the formal announcement by the Prime Minister of the passing of the official of State or Government, and of the decision to accord a State or Official Funeral; the establishment of an Official Period of Mourning (flags at half mast, signing of condolence books); the agreement of a Funeral date, the convening of the Planning Committee; the preparation, coordination and execution in accordance with plans of the State or Official Funeral Service  activities and arrangements including formal interment elements such as  laying of wreaths by high officials of State and Government.

Official Activities:

Monday, June 3, 2019

10am - 3pm: Opening of Condolence Books

Office of the Prime Minister (OPM)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT)

Jamaica’s Missions overseas

Condolence Books will be opened at each Municipality Office in all Parish Capitals

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 – Friday June 21, 2019

10am - 3pm: Opening of Condolence Books

Houses of Parliament (Gordon House)

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

11:00am - 2:00pm:  Lying-In-State

Jamaica Labour Party Headquarters, Belmont Road 

Friday, June 7, 2019

9:00am - 12:00pm:  Lying-In-State

Civic Centre, Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, St James 

2:00pm - 5:00pm:  Lying-In-State

St John’s Anglican Church, Ocho Rios, St Ann

7:00pm:  Candlelight Vigil

Ocho Rios Pier, St Ann (members of Watt Town Revival Church will participate)

Monday, June 10, 2019

10:00am - 1:00pm:  Lying-In-State

Tivoli Gardens Community Centre 

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

10:00am - 1:00pm:  Lying-In-State

Denham Town Community Centre 

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

7:30pm: The Arts in Tribute to the Most Honourable Edward Seaga

Little Theatre, Kingston 

(Featuring - NDTC, Jamaica Folk Singers, Tivoli Dance Troupe, et al, and Spoken Tributes from University of the West Indies and University of Technology)

Wednesday, June 19, 2019 to Saturday, June 22, 2019

Official Period of Mourning 

11:00am - 2:00pm:  Lying-In-State

National Arena 

2:00pm: Special Sitting of Both Houses of Parliament in Tribute to the Most Honourable Edward Seaga

Gordon House 

Thursday, June 20, 2019

11:00am - 2:00pm:  Lying-In-State

National Arena 

Sunday, June 23, 2019

12:00pm: State Funeral

Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity

INTERMENT 

National Heroes Park (following Funeral Service)

Additionally, the West Kingston constituency will host a series of activities to celebrate the life of the late former Prime Minister as follows:

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

7:30pm: Nine Night

Tivoli Gardens Square

Sunday, June 16, 2019

TBC Football tribute: Tivoli Gardens Invitational vs Premier League All-Stars

Edward Seaga Sports Complex

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

7:30pm: Revival Table

Tivoli Gardens Community Centre

Saturday, June 22, 2019

7:30pm: Set Up

Tivoli Gardens Square

Please note:

Candlelight Vigils are being planned for areas across the constituency, including Fletcher’s Land, Mid-Town and Denham Town 

Lying in state

As per Family’s wishes, the Casket will remain closed and draped with the National Flag. Those paying their respects will file past solemnly as directed within the ceremonial area.

Music Industry tribute

The Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and its Agencies (JCDC, Jamaica Music Museum, etc) will use International Reggae Day – July 1, 2019, to highlight and celebrate the contribution of the late Most Honourable Edward Seaga to the birth and development of Reggae Music.  The event will be called Music Industry Tribute to the Most Honourable Edward Seaga and will be staged at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston.

Mr. Seaga’s pioneering recognition of the transformative power of the ARTS first came to international recognition when in the late 1960s, as Minister of Development and Welfare, he promoted  the concept of an international “cultural bank” leading to the establishment of the International Fund for the promotion of Culture by UNESCO in the 1970s. This paved the way for intangible cultural patrimony like Reggae Music to gain a foothold in the international arena. 

Recognition of regional and international communities

Notifications of the passing of the former Prime Minister are being issued by the Government through diplomatic channels as is customary.

Announcements will be made at a later date as to foreign personalities who will be in attendance at the funeral. But several tributes from regional and international Governments and Leaders have already been received by the Prime Minister.

Kingston 28 May 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has paid tribute to the former Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga, who passed away today.

Minister’s statement follows:

“Some people make such a telling impact on people, communities and countries — and Edward Seaga was one of them.

He was the kindest, most caring, most brilliant man I’ve ever known and I loved him dearly. It has been my greatest pleasure to learn from him and to work with him.

He taught me to dine with kings and walk with beggars and to give respect to receive respect.

Today on his 89th birthday, Jamaica and the world lost a great leader; and I have lost my teacher, my mentor and my friend.

I give credit to Mr Seaga for much that I have achieved in my professional life. He saw great potential in me and invested his time and effort into helping me to rise and to contribute to the country that we both love.

Mr Seaga loved Jamaica and our people. He understood the value of our culture and way of life in a way that few other people do. He dedicated his life to advancing Jamaica in every way; and we have become a cultural powerhouse because of Mr Seaga’s vision and service.

All of us — especially those of us from West Kingston — are heartbroken today — he was ‘closer than a brother.’ But in this moment, we are also proud to have benefitted from, be associated with, and counted as family by Edward Seaga. And to us, he was and will always be family.

Thank you for your service, Mr Eddie. Thank you for loving us and working so hard for each of us every day. Walk good. I will always love you.”

Kingston 11 May 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has expressed deep concern about the reported maltreatment of Reggae artiste JahDore and his family by the police.

Minister Statement follows:

I am shocked and deeply concerned by the allegations against the police made by Rastafari Reggae artiste JahDore. The very serious allegations surround human rights abuses, including physical violence and the infringing of religious freedom involving the alleged feeding of meat which is forbidden by the family and the cutting of locks.

If these allegations are true, they are unacceptable and an affront to justice and the peaceful ‘livity’ that we all desire; they should be condemned in the strongest manner; and the perpetrators left to face the consequences.

Many Jamaicans, including members of the Ratafari community, share my concern about these allegations and are anxious for us to get to the bottom of what happened. I have been in touch with my colleague Minister of National Security, Dr Horace Chang, on the matter and I welcome the quick intervention of the Commissioner of Police to order an immediate investigation.

I have also spoken with JahDore and assured him of the Government’s commitment to investigate and take appropriate action where necessary. I also assured him of my respect for and commitment to the Rastafari community and its beliefs and will fight any act to deprive Rastas of their rights.

MESSAGE BY THE HONOURABLE OLIVIA GRANGE, CD, MP

MINISTER OF CULTURE, GENDER, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORT

FOR INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY

30 April 2019

Today, we celebrate International Jazz Day and the power of the music to bring people together in love, peace and unity.

We also celebrate the influence of Jazz on Jamaican music and the contribution of Jamaican musicians to Jazz internationally.

Our musicians such as Bertie King, Dizzy Reece, Monty Alexander and Ernie Ranglin established themselves internationally — long before ska, rock steady and Reggae captivated the world.

Those early Jazz musicians set the foundation for Bob Marley and others to place Jamaica at the top of the international music scene.

Today the Reggae music of Jamaica is at the centre of brand Jamaica.

In celebration of International Jazz Day, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport joins the Edna Manley School of Visual and Performing Arts in staging a Concert at Devon House this evening.

We’re happy to have the acclaimed Trombonist Steve Turre join with our local Jazz musicians for what promises to be a great evening of music.

I hope you’ll join us.

Olivia Grange, CD, MP

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport

Kingston 27 January 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says Jamaica endorses the “Year of Return, Ghana 2019”.

The “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” is an initiative of the Government of the Republic of Ghana which is intended to encourage people of African descent to visit Africa.

Speaking at the Caribbean launch of the Year of Return in Kingston on Sunday (today), Minister Grange said:

“Jamaica looks forward to a successful Year of Return and we will work with Ghana towards a successful year.  Jamaica observes the International Decade of People of African Descent and so it is all very timely that we work together.  

“We are connected. Ghana was a major hub for the transatlantic slave trade from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and we are happy that you have opened the door this year for people in the African Diaspora to return.”

“And as Jamaicans, we’re proud to see that our Reggae music will form the soundtrack for the Year of Return.”

The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Ghana, Her Excellency Catherine Afeku said it was important to begin the Year of Return programme for the Caribbean in Jamaica.

Minister Afeku said:

“This is the Maroon country where liberation struggles started even before Independence.  So we started here for symbolism.  We want to invite you home, but we want to invite you coming back with that sense of strength that you are a descendant that survived.”

Minister Afeku said the Year of Return was an opportunity to highlight the strength of African peoples who survived the transatlantic slave trade.

According to her, “We have scientists who are the descendants of slaves, we have astronauts who are descendants of slaves.  We have the Bob Marleys who are the descendants of slaves.  We have the Usain Bolts who are the descendants of slaves.  That is a positive story.”

The Ghanaian Minister is encouraging Jamaicans to make a pilgrimage to Africa, beginning with her country, even once in their lifetime.

“Ghana is opening its arms.  Ghana is opening its doors.  We want you to come and take a heritage that belongs to you.  So it is not a favour, it is yours.  We are here to assure you that you can make a home on the continent starting with Ghana,” said Minister Afeku.

Minister Grange said consideration is being given for direct flights between Jamaica and Ghana in support of the Year of Return initiative.

The year-long celebrations include music and food festivals, summits, investment fora and product exhibitions.