Passionate about protecting cultural heritage from the threat of climate change?

The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has launched a heritage animation competition in collaboration with UNESCO and the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO, for you to share your ideas and win prizes.

We want you to make an animated film focusing on the impact of disasters and climate change on Jamaican Cultural Heritage.

Are you up to it?

Click here to enter  

 *Entries open on October 29, 2021 and close on December 10, 2021

Kingston, 21 October 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said an assessment meeting held today as Jamaica continues its pursuit of World Heritage inscription for the Sunken City of Port Royal was of immense cultural importance.

Minister Grange said: “The sunken city of Port Royal is one of only three such sites in the world.” [The other two sites are located in Alexandria, Greece and in Bahia, Italy.]

“This is a big deal! It will have a tremendous impact on our heritage tourism product for destination Jamaica as we prepare our nomination for UNESCO designation of ‘the Sunken City of Port Royal’ as a World Heritage Site”, she said of the project which is a historic collaboration between Jamaica, Mexico and Japan.

Minister Grange highlighted that it was, “a game changing meeting with underwater experts, Dr. Roberto Junco from Mexico and Professor Kotaro Yamafune, from Japan who led the team in the introduction of Photogrammetry photography of the Sunken City of Port Royal which has never been done before. This new technology will have far reaching implications for our cultural heritage and for Port Royal itself.”

The Heritage Impact Assessment will take place in three phases. The first phase includes the photogrammetry, which is the taking of detailed photographs of the underwater city.

This new technology will be used for monitoring of the site, developing 3-D models and for data analysis which can be used for research and tourism activities, among other things.

Phase two will involve a larger team of underwater archeologists from Japan, Canada, Mexico and the Netherlands. They will elaborate on the analysis provided by the photogrammetry and also carry out further training of the JNHT team.

Phase three will see the preparation of the final report, expected to be presented in April 2022.

Present at today’s meeting were Ambassador of Mexico, Juan José González Mijares; the Ambassador of Japan, Masaya Fujiwara; as well as officers of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.

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Kingston, 1 November 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has been nominated as a Vice President for the UNESCO General Conference scheduled to begin on November 9, 2021 in Paris, France.

Minister Grange’s nomination will be ratified at the beginning of the General Conference.

This important General Conference will, among other things, elect the Director General of UNESCO for the 2021-25 period as well as approve the organisation’s Programme and Budget for the next five years.

Minister Grange previously served as a Vice President at the UNESCO General Conference in 2019. 

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Kingston, 29 March 2021 – The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution proclaiming October 24 to 31 each year as the Global Media and Information Literacy Week.

The idea for the declaration of the Global Media and Information Literacy Week within the United Nations system was first proposed by the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange.

The proposal was previously accepted by UNESCO’s Executive Board and by its Commission on Communication and Information.

Minister Grange said she was “very happy that the draft resolution was adopted by consensus” during a meeting of the UN General Assembly last week in New York.

100 members states co-sponsored the Global Media and Information Literacy Week resolution.

Minister Grange said the proclamation of the Global Media and Information Literacy Week was “quite timely,” adding that “it will help to address the spread and proliferation of disinformation and misinformation which we have seen, especially in regard to the covid-19 pandemic.”

Making her case at the UNESCO General Conference in 2019, Minister Grange argued that a global declaration and celebration of Media and Information Literacy Week would bring attention to and encourage action to ensure that citizens have the skills to critically analyse and use media and information.

The Minister also said:
“Responsible media and technology play a vital role in promoting democratic values and fostering inclusive societies. Digital literacy is critical in preparing our people for the far-reaching disruptions, displacement and opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution. This is particularly relevant to Small Island Developing States, given our low levels of GDP and labour intensive economies, which are most susceptible to the negative consequences of automation in the short to medium term.

The approval of the declaration of October 24 to 31, as Global Media and Information Literacy Week, would give these important issues the global attention which they need and deserve.”

Minister Grange expressed appreciation to the team at the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport as well as at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and to all the countries who supported the resolution.

The Secretary General of the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO, Everton Hannam, said it is “really a significant achievement that Jamaica, a Small Island Developing State, has led the process for the proclamation of Global Media and Information Literacy Week. Congratulations to Minister Grange and the Jamaican delegation to UNESCO and the UN who made it a reality.”

Minister Grange said she looked forward to this year’s observation and the various plans and strategies to tackle the issue of disinformation and misinformation, as well as to empower all people and facilitate digital inclusion and global connectivity.

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Kingston, 18 December 2020 – Declaring that the meeting had “done what no other session of the Intergovernmental Committee has accomplished before,” the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, brought an end to the deliberations of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee.

Minister Grange had the responsibility of chairing the week-long meeting, which is held annually.

For the first time, the meeting was held completely online due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic.

Minister Grange said it was a highly productive meeting which met all its targets and ended with one day to spare.

Addressing the closing session, Minister Grange said:
“You have managed to debate and decide on all of the items in our agenda in a fully online modality — with only half of our normal daily working hours.

Thanks to your enthusiasm, cooperation and your willingness to work together in the spirit of consensus, we have accomplished a tremendous number of tasks. Your flexibility to work in a new way and your commitment to make this a successful session despite many challenges have made my work as Chairperson thoroughly rewarding”

More than 830 delegates from 141 countries registered to participate in the meeting. Minister Grange told the global press conference that “at moments more than 1,100 people were simultaneously connected [online] to follow our debates.”

Minister Grange said the meeting “accomplished a great deal.”
Minister Grange said:

“We examined 44 files: 3 elements were added to the Urgent Safeguarding List; 29 were added to the Representative List; and 3 programmes to the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.

For the first time, Finland, Malta, Paraguay and Singapore had inscriptions on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, which now feature elements from a total of 131 States.

This year also saw the highest number of multi-country nominations, with 14 inscriptions testifying to the ability of intangible cultural heritage to bring people together and promote international cooperation.

These are great achievements for all of humanity."

Minister Grange said she was disappointed that the delegates could not come to Kingston as planned, but expressed sincere gratitude to the reaction of the meeting towards the special effort to include elements of Jamaica’s culture, particularly Reggae Music, into the sessions.

The opening session on Monday 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.

Today’s closing session featured Julian Marley.

Throughout the week, there were Reggae Chill Moments featuring Reggae performances from artistes across the globe who are part of the Playing For Change Movement.

The Culture Minister said she continues to be in awe at the global appreciation of Jamaica’s music.

“As I chaired this meeting, I could not help but reflect on my own pride, the pride of my country, and the pride of the people of the world when Reggae Music was added in 2018 to the Representative List.

I still remember the personal testimonies from delegates from across the world, about what Reggae music means to them and how it acts as the healing balm or an elixir at times of trouble and distress.”

Minister Grange said she continues to be witness to the power of culture and heritage in building solid bridges between the peoples of the world, “especially at this time when all of us face a great and common challenge, I reflect on the words of the Jamaica National Pledge, which calls us to do our part towards advancing the welfare of the whole human race. I believe that the work of UNESCO truly epitomises that ideal.”

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Kingston, 13 December 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, will chair the meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage.

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

Among other things, the Committee will consider 40 requests for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — a compendium of traditions, customs, carnivals and ceremonies from across the world, which includes the Reggae Music of Jamaica and the Maroon Heritage of Moore Town.

The opening session will be held in Kingston from 7:30 am on Monday and will include the participation of the Director General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, who will launch the innovative graphic tool “Dive into Intangible Cultural Heritage”, which highlights the contribution of living heritage to the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Also in attendance will be the Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Alando Terrelonge; the Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Pearnel Charles Jr; and the recently appointed Director and Representative of the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean, Dr. Saadia Sanchez.

The opening session will also include a special performance of Reggae music by some of Jamaica’s most noted artistes.

More than 400 participants from 100 countries have registered to participate. The sessions will be broadcast online at https://ich.unesco.org/en/15com.

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Kingston, 2 December 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that Jamaica is supporting the call for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to be a “Global Priority” in the next Medium Term Strategy of UNESCO.

Minister Grange, as leader of Jamaica’s delegation, addressed the opening plenary at the 210th Session of the UNESCO Executive Board in a virtual presentation today (December 2).

The next medium term strategy of UNESCO is from 2022 to 2029 and Minister Grange said, “the prospect of crafting new guiding documents brings renewed hope and vision for the Organisation.”

She said the inclusion of SIDS as a Global Priority would realise long held aspirations for recognition of this Group of countries within UNESCO and would serve to enhance the relationship with the SIDS globally, including across other international organisations.

The Culture Minister also reiterated Jamaica’s support for maintaining Africa, Gender and Youth as global priorities; and called for sharp focus also on Education with attention to other vital areas such as Sports, Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence. “We recognise and value the efforts made in this regard in the recent Medium-Term Strategy.”

Minister Grange welcomed Dr. Saadia Sanchez, who replaces Katherine Grigsby as Director of the UNESCO Caribbean Cluster Office in Kingston. Other new assignees are Programme Specialists in Education, Social and Human Science and Natural Science.

“We offer them our usual Jamaican hospitality and cooperation,” the Minister concluded.

Jamaica is one of four Caribbean countries on the 58-member Executive Board of UNESCO.

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Kingston, 2 December 2019 – UNESCO has accepted Jamaica’s proposal for the declaration of a Global Media and Information Literacy Week.

The proposal, presented by the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange has been accepted by UNESCO’s Executive Board and by its Commission on Communication and Information.

Minister Grange said a global declaration and celebration of Media and Information Literacy Week would bring attention to and encourage action to ensure that citizens have the skills to critically analyse and use media and information.

Making the case to UNESCO’s General Conference in Paris recently, Minister Grange said:
“Responsible media and technology play a vital role in promoting democratic values and fostering inclusive societies. Digital literacy is critical in preparing our people for the far-reaching disruptions, displacement and opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution. This is particularly relevant to Small Island Developing States, given our low levels of GDP and labour intensive economies, which are most susceptible to the negative consequences of automation in the short to medium term.

The approval of the declaration of October 24 to 31, as Global Media and Information Literacy Week, would give these important issues the global attention which they need and deserve.”

The resolution now needs the approval of the United Nations General Assembly which will meet again in 2020.

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Statement by the Minister of Culture, Gender,
Entertainment and Sport
the Honourable Olivia Grange, CD, MP
Jamaica’s Policy Statement to the 40th Session of the
UNESCO General Conference
Paris, France
15 November 2019

Salutations

President of the General Conference
Chairman of the Executive Board
Director General

Last year, on November 29, the Reggae Music of Jamaica was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and we all celebrated by singing Bob Marley’s “One Love”.

Previously, Kingston, our capital city, was declared a Creative City Of Music by UNESCO, and our Blue and John Crow Mountains were designated a world heritage site.

Our country understands the value of UNESCO in recognising and protecting cultural heritage. These achievements are also in keeping with Jamaica’s recognition of its creative economy. For this reason, Jamaica is taking concrete steps to establish a National Culture and Creative Industries Council “Jamaica Creative” to realise the objectives of the 2005 Convention on the protection and promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

In the field of Education, we are moving solidly to support the Global Convention on the Mobility of Higher Education and Qualification. Jamaica is committed to the promotion of equity, and has pursued the realisation of SDG 4, through the Prior Learning and Assessment Recognition, and other forward looking initiatives. We have prioritised TVET and STEM integration and are making important strides in reducing gender gaps in educational institutions and transforming the early childhood sector.

As we look to the future, the views and development of our young people are important. Jamaica is pleased to have two vibrant representatives in attendance at the UNESCO Youth Forum.
In relation to Science, we have embraced the urgency which must be attached to the pursuit of Open Science, of women and girls in Science, and in managing the digital transformation. In February 2020, Jamaica and the UNESCO Caribbean Cluster Office will be hosting a Conference on Artificial Intelligence for the Caribbean, and will also explore its use to promote integrity in Sport which we call ‘physical culture’. We are convinced of the significant contribution which UNESCO can make to setting global standards in this area.

We also attach great significance to media and information literacy, as responsible media and technology play a vital role in promoting democratic values and fostering inclusive societies. Digital literacy is critical in preparing our people for the far-reaching disruptions, displacement and opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution. This is particularly relevant to SIDS, given our low levels of GDP and labour intensive economies, which are most susceptible to the negative consequences of automation in the short to medium term.

UNESCO’s approval of the declaration of October 24 to 31, as Global Media and Information Literacy Week, would give these important issues the global attention which they need and deserve. We look forward to the support of Member States.

Mr. President, today, Jamaica re-affirms its commitment to pursue the Organisation’s goals and aspirations at the country level.

Today, we are further challenging UNESCO to intensify the mutually reinforcing relationship with its membership, given the unique role assigned to it as a force for good - in national and global development. UNESCO is an organisation which is best placed to demonstrate multilateralism at work.

Jamaica joins other Small Island Developing States in continuing to press for UNESCO to advance a global priority plan towards SIDS imperatives, of which climate change is a critical component.

My delegation acknowledges the many successes of the UNESCO family, including the Regional Offices and National Commissions. We commend the Director General for her vision and for the work underway in the implementation of the strategic transformation to strengthen UNESCO’s capacity and effectiveness. While this is a work in progress, we declare that its success will only be assured, when all Member States are able to see themselves in the outcomes and impact.

One Love, One Heart, One Destiny!

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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