Kingston, 2 March 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has released the following statement at the passing of Bunny Wailer.

Minister’s Statement:

“At the request of the family, I announce with deepest sadness, the passing of the patriarch, brother, friend and Jamaican music icon, the great Bunny Wailer.

Bunny Wailer, whose given name is Neville O’Riley Livingstone, passed away at 9am today at Medical Associates Hospital in Kingston. He had been in hospital since December 2020.

We mourn the passing of this outstanding singer, songwriter and percussionist and celebrate his life and many accomplishments.

We remain grateful for the role that Bunny Wailer played in the development and popularity of Reggae music across the world.

We remember with great pride how Bunny, Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, took Reggae music to the four corners of the earth.

Today, the last surviving Wailer has passed.

His son Abijah said to me this morning that ‘Bunny Wailer cannot die, he has transitioned’.

What Bunny Wailer has done for Reggae, as one of the pioneers and standard-bearers of our country’s music, lives on.

Let us hold dear Bunny’s music, his memory and his family.

I ask that you remember his family, including his wider Reggae family, in your prayers at this time.”

Bunny Wailer was awarded Jamaica’s fourth highest honour, the Order of the Merit in 2017.

END

Kingston, 23 February 2021 - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has expressed deep sadness at the passing of Constance Christie, mother of international dancehall artiste Shabba Ranks.

“She was someone I knew very well and I had made plans to touch base with her very soon. To hear of her passing is devastating.”

Minister Grange along with Clifton “Specialist” Dillon managed Shabba Ranks for many years and brought him to international stardom.

Shabba Ranking never graced a stage without paying respect to his mother whom he held in the highest esteem.

“Shabba would talk about 'Mama Christie' at every opportunity he got. She was a beautiful soul who supported her son in all his endeavours. She was his biggest cheerleader. In fact, it was Shabba’s public display of love and affection that led to so many younger artistes singing about their mothers.

“I know that Shabba Ranks is hurting deeply right now and I just want to tell him to take comfort because he did all that a child could have done for a parent. He fought his way through the music business and became very successful so that she could have been comfortable.”

Constance Christie passed away after a long battle with illness.

“We will all miss 'Mama Christie'. May her soul rest in peace,” Minister Grange added.

END

Kingston, 14 December 2020 – More than 700 participants from 130 countries are registered to participate in the meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage being chaired by the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange.

The meeting which will run from today (Monday, December 14) to Saturday, December 19 is being held online because of the ongoing covid-19 pandemic.

Minister Grange said:
“We had hoped to be welcoming you all to Jamaica for the Committee [but] this has not been possible due to the pandemic. However, as your Chairperson, I will do my best to convey to you the Jamaican warmth and hospitality so that you can all feel like you are with us here in Kingston. In short, let’s get together and feel alright."

The Committee will consider 40 requests for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Committee members will also have to decide on four nominations for inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding; four projects being proposed for inclusion in the Register of Good Practices for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage; and examine two requests for international assistance submitted by Malawi and the Central African Republic. 

The opening session featured ‘Reggae Greetings from Jamaica’ - a special performance by Jamaican music stars including Peetah Morgan of Morgan Heritage, Marcia Griffiths, and Mykal Rose of Black Uhuru, appearing alongside the Inner Circle Band.

The Committee sessions will be broadcast online at https://ich.unesco.org/en/15com.

END

Kingston, 15 November 2020 (JIS) - Late Reggae singer and cultural icon, Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert, joins a select list of distinguished Jamaicans who have been laid to rest within the hallowed walls of the National Heroes Park in Kingston.

He died at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in St Andrew on September 11 at age 77, after a bout of illness.

On hand to witness the interment and bid farewell to Mr. Hibbert on Sunday (November 15) were: Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange; his widow, Doreen Hibbert, and family members, as well as friends and well-wishers.

Sunday’s ceremony featured musical tributes from well-known members of the local entertainment fraternity, among them: saxophonist, Dean Fraser; performing arts company, Nexxus; drummer, Bogo Herman; and singer, Demario McDowell.

The tributes also included several medleys of Mr. Hibbert’s vast musical repertoire.

The act of committal was undertaken by Pastor of Fellowship Tabernacle in Kingston, Rev. Merrick ‘Al’ Miller, and Dr. Carlene Davis.

In an interview with JIS News, Minister Grange said Mr. Hibbert stood out as one of Jamaica’s most outstanding singers, songwriters, performers, patriots, and loyalists, while describing him as a countryman “who was true to his roots”.

“He embodies everything that you would look for in a true Jamaican of African descent. You couldn’t find a warmer person, more loving individual, and a better human being,” she shared, noting that Jamaica and the world will miss his unique sound. “His music is a treasure chest. His performance is something else. No-one else can perform like Toots. We have some great artistes, we have some great performers and songwriters. But there is just nobody like Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert… and I will say that over and over and over again without apology,” she added.

Ms. Grange urged his family to honour the name of the cultural icon who has performed outstandingly over the years.

“He loved everyone and his family has a responsibility to show that warmth and appreciation to each other and to others who are not family,” she said.

The Minister commended the medical team at the University Hospital of the West Indies who attended to Mr. Hibbert after he fell ill and was admitted.

“I just want to commend them for all the attention they gave him and all the work that they are doing to keep other Jamaicans alive and to have them survive this COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

Dean Fraser, who spoke with JIS News, described Mr. Hibbert as “one of the real superstars out of Jamaica”.

“His vocal ability was huge… better than the rest; and this is a real loss which can’t be replaced,” he shared.

Rev. Miller said Jamaica has lost an icon who has served Jamaica well, noting that “he means so much to so many of us all around the world”.

“Let us not just look at the loss; it is real, it is part of the journey of life. But remember Toots [as] the daddy, the husband, the brother, the friend who you knew, and remember him for who he is… and give thanks for his contribution to life,” he said

Mr. Hibbert’s group, Toots and the Maytals, which was formed in the 1960s, was pivotal in birthing, shaping and popularising Reggae music.

The group’s 1968 single, ‘Do the Reggay’, was the first song to use the word ‘Reggae’, which led to the genre’s naming and their subsequent introduction of the music form to a global audience. Other popular songs by the group include ‘Monkey Man’, ‘Pressure Drop’, ‘Sweet and Dandy’, and ‘Bam’.  The latter two singles are among the three that propelled the group to the National Festival Song titles during the competition’s formative years, between 1966 and 1972.
The group topped the inaugural competition in 1966, with ‘Bam-Bam’, and replicated the feat in 1969 with ‘Sweet & Dandy’, and 1972 with ‘Pomps & Pride’. Toots and the Maytals returned to the competition, which became their signature stomping ground, 48 years after their last triumph to participate in the 2020 edition with their entry ‘Rise up Jamaica’, which was among the 10 finalists.

Among the other notable accolades the group earned were: the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album with ‘True Love’, while Mr. Hibbert was recognised by the Government in 2012 with the Order of Jamaica for his contribution to Jamaica’s music.

Mr. Hibbert was laid to rest beside another globally-acclaimed Jamaica icon, the undisputed ‘Crown Prince of Reggae’, singer - Dennis Emanuel Brown.

END

Kingston, 17 October 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced that the Reggae legend, Toots Hibbert, will be laid to rest in National Heroes Park.

Minister Grange said this had become possible thanks to the generosity of the family of the late Charles Hyatt — the actor, broadcaster, director and author — whose remains were due to be re-interred in the last burial spot for cultural icons at National Heroes Park.

The Minister’s statement follows:

“At the time of his death in January, 2007, the family of our dear Charles Hyatt had requested that he be buried in National Heroes Park, but they were told that there were no more spaces available and he was instead interred at the Meadowrest Memorial Park in St. Catherine. 

It was later discovered that there was one final burial space available in the relevant section at National Heroes Park and the government went back to the family who decided that they would exhume Mr Hyatt’s remains and re-inter them in National Heroes Park.

It has been several years since that decision.

Given the current need for a suitable burial place for the late Toots Hibbert, the Hyatt family has generously consented to allow the Reggae legend to be interred in the final burial spot in the section for cultural icons in National Heroes Park.

I have received the approval of the Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, to proceed with plans for the interment of Toots Hibbert in National Heroes Park.

I deeply appreciate the consideration of the Hyatt family in this matter.

Toots is without question one of the pioneers of Reggae Music. He has even been credited with giving the genre its name. He is a national treasure whose humble demeanour and affable personality belied his towering global stature.

Interment in National Heroes Park will suitably memorialise his contribution to Jamaica and reignite the unity in his family, among his peers and his fans which is required at this time.

I also endorse plans to erect a monument to Toots in his home town.

The current situation has highlighted the need for the establishment of a Memorial Park for the interment of Jamaica's Cultural Icons.

We started work on the establishment of this Memorial Park in the Bruce Golding Administration.

So far we have developed a concept, identified a location where the relevant tests, including soil testing, have been completed. We will now move to develop the designs and budget to present a detailed proposal to the Cabinet.

I commit to ensuring that the late Charles Hyatt is memorialised in the proposed park.”


END

Kingston, 6 May 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has expressed sadness at the passing of Jamaica’s first international female superstar, Millicent “Millie” Small.

The ‘My Boy Lollipop’ singer died in the United Kingdom on Tuesday (yesterday) at the age of 73, after suffering a stroke.

Minister Grange said:
“Millie Small will forever be remembered as one of Jamaica’s great music icons. Under the guidance of legendary producer Chris Blackwell she brought Jamaican music to the world, with ‘My Boy Lollipop’ getting to number two on the US and UK charts in 1964 and selling seven million copies.

I recall spending time with Millie when I accompanied the late former Prime Minister Edward Seaga on a visit to Island Records in the UK. We had a lovely time with her — and her baby daughter, Jaelee, who is now an accomplished musician — and found her to be that same warm, engaging, fun-loving, bubbly and charming woman that we heard singing ‘My Boy Lollipop’; and we found that she was also a wonderful mother.

Millie’s story is one of resilience and the strength of the human spirit. She took the sweet with the bitter as she navigated the music industry at a time when Jamaican music and Jamaican female artistes were still new concepts to the world.

Jamaica will remain eternally grateful to Millie Small as she paved the way for Ska to explode on the world scene through numerous television appearances around the world, including the BBC’s Top of the Pops. Her unique sound attracted audiences around the world and turned attention on Jamaican music, which allowed other genres to break through internationally.”

Millie Small was born in Clarendon and developed an early interest in music, entering various talent competitions across the island. By her teenage years she was recording for Sir Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One label. She was then spotted by Blackwell who took her to London where ‘My Boy Lollipop' was recorded.

Millie Small’s ‘Enoch Power’ — a defiant response to British Conservative politician Enoch Powell’s anti-immigration speech — became an anthem for the newly arrived Windrush generation.

Millie Small was also an actor, painter and dancer.

She was awarded the national honour of Commander of the Order of Distinction in 2011.

Minister Grange has expressed condolences to her daughter Jaelee and other members of her family.

END

STATEMENT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
By the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport
The Honourable Olivia Grange, CD, MP
Wednesday, 15 April 2020

Mr. Speaker, as a St Catherine Member of Parliament, I would like to begin by offering words of solace to the people of the parish — particularly the people of Central St Catherine — who must be very anxious and concerned today.

I say to them: remain calm.

I know the lockdown is difficult, but it is a necessary measure to fight the spread of covid-19. If we all follow the orders, we will stop further spread of the virus and soon we’ll be able to remove the restrictions.

As difficult as it is, I appeal to you to stay home — I cannot emphasise that enough. Please … Tan Ah U Yaad

Practise social distancing. Don’t invite people over to your house and don’t go to theirs. This is not the time for socialising. It’s not the time to play sports in the community centre. This is not the time to meet up for a drink.

If you stay home you will slow the spread of covid-19 and you will save lives. It’s as simple as that. The life you save could be your very own.

The quicker we all do the right things, the quicker we can remove the restrictions that we have had to implement.

Continue to wash your hands regularly with soap and water. And call the hotline 888-ONE-LOVE if you develop flu-like symptoms.

Mr. Speaker, today I also express gratitude to the people on the frontline: our nurses, our doctors, the porters — everyone in the health service and the security forces who risk their lives daily to keep the rest of us safe.
I speak for all of Jamaica when I say we appreciate all that they continue to do. And we must do all we can to ensure that they are safe and protected while they fight covid-19 on the frontlines.

This is why the government was pleased to recently host a six-hour virtual telethon to raise additional funds to procure urgently needed personal protective equipment for our frontline workers.

The idea of a telethon was born out of conversations with our Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks; our Consul General in New York, Alsion Roach Wilson; and our Consul General in Miami, Oliver Mair. They had received several inquiries from members of our Diaspora who wanted an avenue to support Jamaica in the covid-19 fight. They reached out after seeing how the virus had affected first world countries with stronger health systems than Jamaica.

As my colleague Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith will concur, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade teams have shared how inspired they have been by our global diaspora because in times like this — when we all face the same enemy — it is easy to think every man for himself. But here was a group of people who were distressed and experiencing pain and personal loss, but their loyalty and love for the country of their birth, moved them to be concerned enough to start thinking of ways in which they could help Jamaica. Such was their display of dedication to our island home.

Telethon Jamaica: Together We Stand was born with the goal of directing the global goodwill and desire to support Jamaica into one major event.

The inquiries about how to support Jamaica in this time came from members of the Diaspora in various parts of the world: North America, UK and Europe, Asia, Africa. Under the leadership of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council and the National Association of Jamaican and Supportive Organisations (NAJASO) a global alliance of diaspora leaders and friends of Jamaica was formed; and I was asked to chair the initiative and to produce the show.

Mr. Speaker, the team and I reached out to the entertainment community and the eager response was, how can we help? Again, such dedication to our island home.

We established the main objectives of Telethon Jamaica. First, it would be a fundraising initiative towards equipping our frontline workers with the appropriate gear to fight covid-19.

Our aim was to raise as much as possible to support the need of US$10.5m, which is the itemised cost of additional Personal Protective Equipment, testing kits, ventilators and other equipment needed to strengthen our health system and ensure that our health professionals would be able to respond effectively to a rapid spike, as we’ve seen in other countries.

Telethon Jamaica took place on Easter Sunday; and it was a success — a fantastic show of generosity and the strength of the human spirit.

Mr. Speaker, I want to express gratitude to Jamaicans at home and abroad as well as friends of Jamaica who responded with great enthusiasm to this telethon. Thanks to their kind donations we are now able to contribute over J$50 million dollars ($50,261,320.00) to be exact after conversion of multiple currency contributions, towards procuring the personal protective equipment for our frontline workers. We say a big thank you to everyone who was able to donate. We appreciate you.

But the telethon had another important objective, Mr. Speaker.

Each and every person, each and every community, each and every country, each and every region, the whole of humanity is in this fight against covid-19. We are all in this thing together.

Jamaica doesn’t have money to help other nations to fight covid-19. Jamaica doesn’t have equipment to share with other nations in need. Jamaica doesn’t have a brigade of health professionals to send overseas to help.

But what Jamaica has is tremendous talent and a music that has been and continues to be a balm in times of trouble. Our Reggae music evolved as our response to the challenges of years of oppression. Throughout its history, Reggae has been anthems of resilience, substance and identity, peace and love, not only for us Jamaicans, but also for many people across the world.

And so the second — and equally important — objective of Telethon Jamaica: Together We Stand was to use our Reggae music to provide comfort and hope; not only to Jamaica and our Diaspora, but to the world.

We have been heartened by the many messages from people who are hurting and worried about the coronavirus, that they felt uplifted by the messages and songs of inspiration from the telethon. We are happy that our music brought comfort to people during this time.

As we continue to rotate the broadcast across the various regions of the world, we hope more and more people will be comforted. As we believe that Telethon Jamaica has the potential to not only raise funds towards Jamaica’s covid fight but also start a necessary conversation and present a platform whereby persons can continue to support the cause for as long as this crisis exists.

Members of the diaspora have encourage the continued sharing of these messages and songs of inspiration across the world as they continue to raise funds to provide additional resources for our health service.

Mr. Speaker, I am therefore pleased to advise that the telephone lines and the website will remain up and running so that anyone who was unable to make a donation on Sunday, can still participate by Watching the concert and making a donation online – by visiting jatogetherwestand.com or in Jamaica mypaymaster.com.

To donate by telephone, 1-866-228-8393 (toll free from the United States or Canada) or +44 0808 189 6147 (toll free from UK and Europe) and from Jamaica, 888-729-2455 (toll free), 876-960-9635, WhatsApp 876-550-1754.
Cash and cheque donations are accepted at any Paymaster location in Jamaica or any branch of Citibank to account number 9250709218 (outside of Jamaica).

Mr. Speaker, I close by thanking everyone who helped to make Telethon Jamaica a reality. Our team accomplished in ten days, what would normally get done over the course of a year. I thank them for working around the clock — even in the midst of the national curfew — to support this effort to equip our frontline workers.

The performance line-up for the telethon was simply fantastic. Some of the biggest names in entertainment and sports participated in and/or endorsed Telethon Jamaica. Mr. Speaker, I thank them all and their management teams for being part of this important initiative. We can always count on our entertainment community.

To the donors: we appreciate every single donation. We are happy to name those who pledged four million, or two million, or half a million dollars. But we are as equally grateful to those who pledged 20 dollars or 100 dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I also thank the many members on both sides of this Honourable House who supported this cause and I am sure they will all now join me in thanking all who came together with hands, hearts and pockets to make the Together We Stand Covid-19 Telethon a reality.

Kingston, 13 April 2020 – “His contribution to the popularity of Reggae music in North America has been immense,” says the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, as she paid tribute to the late broadcaster Gil Bailey.

Gil Bailey died in New York today (Monday).

Minister Grange said:

“Gil Bailey was personal friend and we worked together for several years to promote Jamaica and our music in North America. Gil became known as the godfather of New York Reggae radio, but when he just started out in the 1960s no one was playing Jamaican music on radio in America. He came along and changed that by introducing Reggae music to American radio audiences. His contribution to the popularity of Reggae music in North America has been immense.

I am truly saddened by his passing and remain grateful for the role he played in the development of Reggae music.

I extend sincerest condolences to his family, friends and fans.”

END

Kingston, 14 April 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said “a big thank you” to all those who contributed to Telethon Jamaica: Together We Stand.

“I wish to thank all who came together with hands, hearts and pockets to make the Together We Stand Covid-19 Telethon a reality. It was a fantastic show of generosity and the strength of the human spirit,” said Minister Grange.

The six-hour, virtual telethon was held on Sunday and broadcast in its entirety online. It was conceived to raise funds to provide Jamaica’s frontline workers, including doctors and nurses, with the necessary equipment to battle covid-19.

Minister Grange said:
“We are grateful for this response from Jamaicans at home and abroad as well as friends of Jamaica who responded to this telethon. Thanks to their kind donations we are now able to contribute over J$50 million dollars towards procuring the personal protective equipment for our frontline workers. We say a big thank you to everyone who was able to donate. We appreciate you.”

Minister Grange has also expressed gratitude and appreciation for all the artistes, celebrities, and members of the production team “who worked day and night to put this telethon together in just over a week’s time.” Minister Grange added, “a production of this magnitude would normally take a year to get done, but the team worked around the clock because of the urgent need to give support to our frontline workers.”

The Minister said the telethon is still being viewed across the world.

Minister Grange said:
“We are rotating the Telethon for the European and Asian time zones to continue to raise funds. We hope that our Reggae music will bring inspiration and hope to those regions as well. We have been heartened by the many messages from home and abroad from people who are hurting and worried about the coronavirus that they felt uplifted by the messages and songs of inspiration from the telethon.

We are happy that our music brought comfort to people during this time.

As we continue to rotate the broadcast, we hope more people will be comforted.

We will continue this effort across the world to raise the funds to provide additional resources for our health service.

The telephone lines and the website are still open so anyone who was unable to make a donation on Sunday can still participate.”

To make a donation online, visit www.jatogetherwestand.com or www.mypaymaster.com.

To donate by telephone, call 888-729-2455 (toll free), 876-960-9635, 1-866-228-8393 (toll free from Jamaica, the United States or Canada) or +44 0808 189 6147 (toll free from UK and Europe); or WhatsApp 876-550-1754.

Cash donations are accepted at any Paymaster location in Jamaica or any branch of Citibank to account number 9250709218 (outside of Jamaica).

END

Kingston, 4 April 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, will launch a fund-raising initiative dubbed ‘Telethon Jamaica: Together We Stand’ towards providing much-needed additional resources to our health services in the wake of Covid-19.

The initiative is a joint effort of Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Minister Grange will launch the initiative during a live online performance by Jamaican singer, Christopher Martin, on Sunday, 5 April 2020 beginning at 7pm.

Telethon Jamaica: Together We Stand will be a six-hour live event, featuring performances by some of Jamaica’s leading artistes, which will be streamed live on the VP Records YouTube channel which has close to one million subscribers.

The feed will also be rotated across various regions of the world so that all members of the Diaspora, and other well-wishers will be able to view and make donations.

A portion of the broadcast will also be carried live on TVJ, 1spotmedia.com and other platforms across the Diaspora.

Minister Grange said proceeds from Telethon Jamaica will be used to provide “much-needed additional resources for our health services including ventilators in hospitals and personal protective equipment for frontline staff.”

The Minister also thanked members of the entertainment fraternity who have willingly agreed to participate in Telethon Jamaica. “We have always been able to rely on our artistes in times of crises; and I am really grateful for the way they have been responding to our invitation to participate in this life-saving effort.”

‘Telethon Jamaica: Together We Stand’ was inspired by the new single of the Jamaican Reggae singer, Richie Spice, titled ‘Together We Stand’.

The platforms to make donations to ‘Telethon Jamaica: Together We Stand' are now open.

To make a donation, visit www.jatogetherwestand.com or call 1-866-228-8393 toll free from Jamaica, the United States or Canada; or +44 0808 189 6147 from the UK and Europe.

END