Kingston, 12 November 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has been elected a Vice-President of the 40th Session of the UNESCO General Conference which is underway in Paris, France.

The General Conference, which happens every two years, brings together the 193 members of UNESCO to decide on the policies and work of the organisation.

Minister Grange was elected Vice-President in her absence. She will leave Jamaica on Wednesday (tomorrow) to participate in the General Conference as well as the meeting of the powerful UNESCO Executive Board.

The 58-member Executive Board is responsible for the overall management of UNESCO. Jamaica is serving the Board on a 4-year term, which will end in 2021.

Minister Grange said she was “delighted by the news” of her election as Vice President for the General Conference, adding that it is another opportunity “to serve and to ensure that the voices of countries from the Caribbean and Latin America as well as Small Island Developing States are heard and that we all benefit from UNESCO’s work.”

Minister Grange’s election follows her just-concluded successful two-year term as Chair of the UNESCO Committee on Conventions and Recommendations; and her recent re-election as Vice Chair of the Culture Committee of the Organisation of American States.

While in Paris, Minister Grange will also serve as a panellist at the High-Level Meeting of Ministers of Culture.

Minister Grange will return to the island on 21 November 2019.

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Kingston, 11 November 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says Jamaica has been reaping the benefits of signing on to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression.

The Minister was speaking at the recent National Consultation on Cultural Diversity.

Minister Grange said:
“It is not always easy to connect the dots from treaties and conventions signed and ratified to actual evidence of improvements in the sector… [However], I can speak to developments in our Jamaican creative sector as a result of this Convention.”

According to Minister Grange, Jamaica played a leading role in the development of the Convention which promotes “two very significant tenets: the promotion of international cooperation in culture for development; and, even more importantly, the provision of preferential treatment to developing countries for the mobility of artists and cultural practitioners as well as movement of goods and services from developing to developed countries.”

Minister Grange said there has been an increase in the output of the creative sector as a result of the Convention, as “Jamaica partnered with promoters in Europe, Canada and the United States, particularly in 2008 when the European Union adopted the Convention in the development of its Protocol on Cultural Cooperation and in the liberalisation of preferential trade in culture for contractural services suppliers as part of the Economic Partnership Agreement.”

The Minister pointed to the number of Jamaican artistes, technicians and cultural academics participating in Reggae festivals in Europe as a successful outcome of formal engagement under the Convention. But she said “there is still scope to take greater advantage of the elements of the Convention.”

Minister Grange said the National Consultation and the three-day workshop, which followed, were part of the Ministry’s programme to encourage Jamaican creatives to engage more with developed countries as the government seeks to promote even greater prosperity for the sector.

Minister Grange also used the opportunity to update stakeholders on the government’s plan to review the Copyright Act to incorporate the WIPO-Administered Marrakech Treaty — which makes the production and international transfer of specially-adapted books for people with blindness or visual impairments easier — among other amendments.

The National Consultation titled ‘Reshaping Cultural Policies for the Promotion of Fundamental Freedoms and the Diversity of Cultural Expressions’ and the workshop received technical support from Ms Avril Joffe, a member of UNESCO’s Panel of Experts on Cultural Policy and Governance through the generous support of UNESCO and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The Consultation and workshop focused on reporting on Jamaica’s actions under the Convention and saw the participation of a wide cross-section of members of Jamaica’s Cultural and Creative Industries.

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Kingston, 6 November 2019 - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that news today of the death of Olympian Michael Fray has left her feeling really sad.

“Michael was one of those sprinters who performed exceptionally well for Jamaica in the Nineteen Sixties and was a member of our four-by-one relay team which broke the world record with a 38.3 seconds clocking in the semi-finals in the Mexico Olympics. Of note is the fact that this 38.3 clocking still stands as the world record for athletes under twenty-three years old.

“His promise was evident from high school days and while at college in the United States he set the National Junior College 200 metres record in 1967 and was ranked number 10 in the world in the 200 meters in 1968 by Track & Field News magazine.

“It is really sad to lose another of our outstanding athletes so soon after the death of talented footballer Tarania Clarke.”

“I wish on behalf of the Government to extended my deepest condolences to Michael’s brother Robert “Bobby” Fray, his sister, Cecile, his other relatives, friends and members of the track and field fraternity.”

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Kingston, 5 November 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has released the following statement at the passing of Franklyn St Juste.

Minister’s Statement

“It is with great sadness that I learnt today of the passing of Franklyn St Juste, whose contribution to the Jamaican stage, film and television industries has been invaluable.

Chappie, as we all called him, was a master of stage and lighting, an excellent film maker and television producer, and an outstanding teacher.

He has played a major role in the development of lighting, film and television professionals, not only in Jamaica, but across the Caribbean.

This Ministry benefited first hand from Chappie’s technical skills, and critical analysis of issues, especially at the Creative Production and Training Centre where he’s been serving as a member of the Board of Management since 2016.

At the time of his passing, he had been leading a process to repatriate Jamaican films which have been found in databases overseas.

With his passing, we have lost a giant of the creative industries.

I offer condolences to his sons, Brian and Francois; his daughter, Maya; other members of his family; his friends; and colleagues.”

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Kingston, 1 November 2019 - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said she is deeply saddened by the killing of Tarania Clarke, a talented footballer who was a member of the Jamaica national women’s football team.

Minister Grange said it was a senseless, wanton act that cut short the life of Tarania, who also captained the Excelsior High School football team and was a member of the Waterhouse Football team in St. Andrew.

“She was not only a brilliant footballer and leader but a wonderful individual. It is so painful that she will not be able to take up the scholarship that she was awarded to study at Daytona College in Florida, in the United States, next year.

“My condolences on behalf of the Government to Tarania’s parents and relatives, friends, present and former team mates, the Jamaica Football Federation, the Water House Football Club and the Excelsior High School family.”

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Kingston, 23 October 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says that the statue in honour of Veronica Campbell Brown at the National Stadium is a fitting tribute to an outstanding athlete.

The Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, unveiled the statue of the Olympic and World Champion sprinter on Sunday.

The statue was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport as a Jamaica 55 Legacy Project to celebrate the country’s glorious heritage in track and field.

In her tribute to Veronica Campbell Brown at the unveiling of the statue, Minister Grange said that “VCB will always be remembered as a young woman of no mean order, one who was always able to draw on her inner strength and come through with literally flying colours when her country and fellow athletes demanded it.”

Since 1997, VCB has won 49 medals, including 27 gold, representing Jamaica in international competitions. During her glittering career, she became the first Jamaican to win a global 100 metres title, the first woman to win the sprint double at the IAAF World Junior Championships, the youngest Jamaican woman to win an Olympic medal, the first Caribbean woman to win an Olympic sprint title, among other achievements.

Minister Grange said:

“Not many of our athletes can speak to the longevity and consistency of VCB. From her earliest days as a teenager blazing on the tracks of the regional championships and then at the National Stadium, representing her school, Vere Technical, in Girls’ Champs, to even this point in her life, she has had a long and distinguished career for which she must be justly proud. Some of us have been able to watch her grow through junior, youth and professional athletics.
In every sphere of competition, VCB stood out. She stamped her class in every arena of local, national and global sport.”

The statue in tribute to Campbell Brown — to the scale of one and quarter life size — has been mounted at Statue Park in the National Stadium beside the statue of her role model, Merlene Ottey.

The VCB statue is the third of four designed by Basil Watson for the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

The first two statues of Usain Bolt and Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce were unveiled in 2017 and 2018 respectively. The statue of Asafa Powell, the last in the series, will be unveiled in 2020.

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Kingston, 19 October 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has given the following statement on the use of national symbols and emblems on items for sale online.

Minister’s Statement

It has come to my attention that items of clothing printed with national symbols and emblems are being offered for sale online.

I noticed Kanye West and members of his choir wearing similarly emblazoned items during their special performance in Kingston last night, but I was not aware at the time that the costumes were being sold online.

We neither received a request for nor did we give permission for our national symbols and emblems to be used for a commercial manner or otherwise.

I have since requested that the items be withdrawn and the vendor has agreed to do so.

We are aware that other vendors are selling Jamaica branded products emblazoned with our national symbols and emblems. Several years ago, when I first served as Minister, I had set up a committee to review and devise a strategy for dealing with the proper use of our emblems and symbols. That work was stopped at the change of administrations. I have been granted permission to reestablish the committee and to continue the work. The membership of the committee with include representatives of the Office of the Prime Minister, the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and others.

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Kingston, 18 October 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says Jamaica will benefit from the staging of Kanye West’s ‘Sunday Service’ concert in Kingston this evening.

The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has been working closely with a number of government entities to facilitate the staging of the concert at Emancipation Park in New Kingston, beginning at 7pm.

Addressing a number of issues surrounding the staging of the concert, Minister Grange said:

“It is at no cost to the Jamaican government or the Ministry and Jamaica is benefitting.

Kanye West is paying for absolutely everything… and will be spending over one million US dollars for this event in Jamaica. They’ve covered their own air charter [and] local hotel accommodation. They’re spending a substantial amount on technical services (to be provided by local suppliers), a large number of Jamaicans will be hired to treat with the production. And the facilities that we are providing that are to be paid for will be covered by Kanye West.”

Minister Grange is also reassuring the public that steps are being taken by the Jamaica Constabulary Force to address traffic concerns.

The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation is making its four parking lots on St Lucia Avenue available to patrons free of cost.

Parking will also be available at the National Housing Trust, the Golf Academy, and at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre from where a bus shuttle service will begin at 6 o’clock.

Minister Grange is thanking the public for their patience and understanding.

“I really want to reassure the public that we are doing everything humanly possible to minimise any inconvenience they may experience.

Jamaica is trending at this time across the world because of Kanye West Sunday Service being held in Kingston. Jamaica is open for business. They reached out based on the recommendation of a Jamaican who works with Kanye West. The best we could do is to facilitate them in making the arrangements.

I want to thank the public for their consideration and patience.

Let us welcome another group of visitors to our country because we are open for business.”

The concert will be streamed live at www.sundayservice.com.

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Kingston, 17 October 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that the British Broadcasting Corporation naming Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to the list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world, “is recognition totally deserving.”

Minister Grange said that Shelly-Ann’s exploits on the track would have been monumental even before her gold medal run at the 2019 IAAF World Championships.

“But at the Doha meet, she demonstrated courage, class and fortitude to take her fourth 100M gold medal at age 32 and after motherhood. She is in indeed one of the greatest examples for women anywhere of what can be accomplished with determination.

The Sport Minister also congratulated Shelly-Ann on being among the nominees for IAAF Athlete of the Year. “We know that the competition is strong but we also know that you have done enough to win it.”

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Kingston, 16 October 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says all is set for the American rapper, Kanye West, to perform in Jamaica.

“I can confirm that Kanye West will take his pop up Sunday Service series to Kingston this Heroes’ Weekend,” said Minister Grange.

Sunday Service is a series of gospel concerts that Kanye West has been hosting across the United States.

Kanye West’s Sunday Service performance in Jamaica will take place on Friday, 18 October 2019 at Emancipation Park in New Kingston beginning at 7pm.

Minister Grange noted that it is “the first time that Kanye West will be hosting Sunday Service outside of the United States and he couldn’t have chosen a better country than Jamaica.”

Minister Grange said:
"The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport is pleased to facilitate Kanye West’s performance in the country as it supports the government’s programme to establish Jamaica as the preferred destination for music and sport events.”

The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport is working closely with the Jamaica Tourist Board; the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency; the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation and other government entities to ensure the success of the event.

More than 100 performers are due to travel with Kanye West to Jamaica.

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