Kingston, 21 August 2024 – The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and Ministry of Tourism have proposed the twinning of Montego Bay, Jamaica with the Brazilian city of São Luís.

The Minister of Tourism, Edmund Barlett, made the proposal on a visit to the city on Monday where he signed a cooperation agreement with his Brazilian counterpart, Celso Sabino, aimed at strengthening tourism and cultural ties between both countries.

In his address, Minister Bartlett said: “after deliberation with the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, we propose to twin the cities of Montego Bay and São Luís as a show of musical fraternity and solidarity, and in recognition of the strong ties that bind both of our peoples.”

São Luís is one of the principal cities of the state of Maranhão which is known for its embrace of and obsession with Reggae music.

In 2018, Maranhão established the first museum, not located in Jamaica, that is dedicated to showcasing Reggae.

Minister Grange said she anticipated future collaborations with the Maranhão museum and the Jamaica Music Museum in Kingston in the promotion of Reggae music.

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