Kingston, 14 June 2023 (JIS) — The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, is reporting that submissions for the redevelopment of the Independence Park Complex have found favour with the Public Investment Management Committee.

She said the Ministry has been directed to proceed to develop detailed designs for the proposed works.

“We have also been directed to coordinate the planning of the National Stadium development with the activities of the National Water Commission and the National Works Agency, among other requirements,” Minister Grange said.

She was speaking during her contribution to the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 13).

In addition to upgraded stands, seating, lighting and other renovations, the National Stadium’s redevelopment will include a new Velodrome (outside the main facility) and the National Sports Museum.

“We have set a timeline of 12 months to report back to the Public Investment Management Committee with all that is required to take the project to the next stage of the approval process,” Minister Grange indicated.

“I'm heartened by the support of my colleague, the Minister of Finance and the Public Service, who has undertaken to provide the resources to assist us to prepare the necessary drawings and plans to move the National Stadium development forward,” she added.

Minister Grange also reiterated that much preparatory work still needs to be done, while advising that there is an estimated 36-month timeline to complete the construction.

“We have come a far way, but there’s further to go. We will realise our ambition of a modern, state-of-the-art National Stadium and Sports Museum, monuments to our greatness as we set things right,” the Minister said.

Minister Grange indicated that the redevelopment of the Independence Park Complex, which houses the National Stadium, has been a strategic focus for her.

She noted that it requires a lot of work, but “we have been working diligently to transform it and make it representative of the home of the best sportsmen and sportswomen in the world”.

“During the last few years, we have resurfaced the running tracks in the complex, upgraded the aquatic centre, [and] upgraded the basketball and Leila Robinson Netball courts, among other improvements, including the repurposing of the car park as an entertainment venue,” Minister Grange said.

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Kingston, 25 April 2023 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has praised the late singer, actor and civil rights activist, Harry Belafonte as a “voice, face and inspiration for black people everywhere.”

Minister Grange was responding to news of the passing of Harry Belafonte today in New York at the age of 96.

She said he was an “important promoter of our folk music—bringing ‘Day-O’, ‘Jamaica Farewell’ and other songs to America and elsewhere.”

Belafonte ignited a craze for Caribbean music in the United States where his album ‘Calypso’ which featured ‘Day-O’ and ‘Jamaica Farewell’ topped the Billboard chart shortly after release in 1956 and remained at the top for 31 weeks. ‘Calypso’ was said to be the first album by a single artist to sell more than a million copies.

Minister Grange said Belafonte used “folk music to become the biggest star in music at one point.” During his career, he won two Grammy Awards and was credited with helping to organise the USA for Africa project out of which came the all-star recording ‘We Are the World’ in 1985 that raised money to fight famine in Africa.

For outstanding contribution in the field of music, the Government of Jamaica awarded him the nation’s fourth highest award, the Order of Merit in 2018.

He also became one of the first black actors to achieve success in Hollywood as a leading man.

Belafonte (whose original name was Bellanfanti before his father changed the family name) was born in New York in 1927. His mother, Melvine, was born in Jamaica. She moved back to Jamaica in 1936 with Harry and his younger brother, but went back to America soon afterwards leaving the boys to be looked after by relatives and to immerse in the Jamaican culture. They rejoined her in New York in 1940.

Belafonte went on to study black history at the urging of his shipmates in the US Navy and worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement.

Minister Grange has offered condolences to his widow Pamela, children, grandchildren and friends.

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Kingston, 27 June 2022 (JIS) - The Ward Theatre stands as a historic monument at North Parade in the bustling downtown district of Kingston.

The 110-year-old building was completed in 1912, after the old structure was destroyed by the Great 1907 Kingston Earthquake.

It has deteriorated over the years, and a decision was taken to close the building in the early 2000s, after the final blow was delivered by Hurricane Ivan.

The Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, which manages the Ward Theatre, began restoration work on the site in 2017 to bring it back to full use as a theatre and a centre for cultural expression.

“What is significant to us in the Ward Theatre, though the architecture is important, is the use of the space. The building would have changed several times over the history of the space. What would not have changed is its use as a theatre space. So, part of maintaining the use of the space is keeping up with modern requirements for a theatre,” Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams, tells JIS News.

Some of these modern requirements include infrastructural changes that are being carried out by the KSAMC.

These changes, Mayor Williams assures, are not to modify the history held within the walls of Ward Theatre, but to ensure its viability and resilience in the modern creative climate.

He points out that much progress has been made on the restoration, which includes extensive roofing work, painting, plumbing, retiling and general renovations to the seating areas, the gallery and entrance, bathrooms, dressing rooms, emergency exits and main exit doors.

The KSAMC is now approaching the next phase of renovation, which involves the electrical rewiring and the upgrading of the air-conditioning system.

Mayor Williams says completion of these would mark a “major achievement” in the renovation, after which “there is no turning back”.

The following phase would be to complete the theatre’s stage area.

At the same time, the Mayor discloses that there are plans for the exterior of the Ward Theatre, which is currently being designed.

“We want to start that quickly. We want it to be part of our Kingston 150 Project in that we would complete the design for the front of Ward Theatre and implement,” Mayor Williams shares.

“It is not an elaborate design. It is very simple, but we believe that based on where we are going it will be aesthetically pleasing to the public, which will be part of transforming the entire Parade area. We have identified the funding for that, and the outside should be done before the end of the year,” he says.

Senator Williams explains that the plans for the exterior are not focused on the architecture of the building but rather managing the space at the front of the theatre, which includes managing pedestrian use.

The Ward Theatre was declared a national monument in January 2000 as a protected heritage by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.

It is the location where both the People’s National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party were launched in September 1938 and July 1943, respectively. The Ward Theatre also hosted the opening of the National Pantomime annually since 1951.

There has been tremendous support for the Ward’s restoration from key organisational and financial partners, including the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the CHASE Fund and the Tourism Enhancement Fund.

All changes to the building must receive the approval of the JNHT, the entity monitoring the renovations, to ensure that the building’s historical value and integrity are maintained.

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Pennsylvania, 29 April 2022 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has issued the following statement from the Penn Relays in the United States.

Minister’s Statement

I can confirm that one of our young Jamaican athletes — Samantha Pryce who represents Holmwood Technical High School — was injured while competing in the 4x800m at the Penn Relays today.

She has been taken to the Penn Medical Centre and we have been informed that she broke her leg when she fell in that race.

She is currently being prepared for surgery.

Samantha and all the Jamaican high school athletes competing at the Penn Relays have been registered on the Ministry’s Athletes’ Insurance Programme; and we are making the arrangements to ensure that she gets the best care.

I pray for a successful surgery and her speedy recovery.

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London, 24 April 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has congratulated “exceptional” Elaine Thompson-Herah after the Jamaican sprinter won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award.

Minister Grange said winning the Laureus award was “another well-deserved recognition of the best athlete in the world”.

According to Minister Grange, this “latest success for the fastest woman alive is a tribute to Thompson-Herah’s hard work and sacrifice.”

Thompson-Herah is the first Jamaican woman to win the Laureus award.

Her compatriot, Usain Bolt, won the Laureus award four times.

Minister Grange sent her congratulations from London where she will launch the Jamaica 60 programme of activities in the United Kingdom on Monday evening at the White City House.

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Kingston, 4 April 2022 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, in welcoming the return of the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys’ and Girls' Championships with spectators, has said Jamaica derives significant economic benefit from what is the premier secondary school athletic championships in the world.

Minister Grange said:

“The impact of top class sporting activities, including Champs, is clear to see.

When Champs is on, there’s increased air travel to Jamaica, increased ground transport, increased occupancy at hotels, we see a lot of merchandising from the schools, there’s the broadcasting revenue, there are stage, light and sound, there are opportunities for the small peanut vendors as well…

There are several industries and families that benefit from the staging of Champs.

I am happy that Grace Kennedy continues to support Champs by being the lead sponsor. I commend all others for their support.

The Government of Jamaica continues to support the staging of Champs and we’re happy to welcome back Champs and spectators from across Jamaica and the world.”

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Kingston, 30 March 2022 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced a public viewing of the remains of the late Reggae artiste Denroy Morgan on Friday, April 8, 2022 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

The Minister said members of the public attending the Centre to pay their respects to this “pioneer of Reggae music” would be required to wear masks, sanitise and observe physical distancing.

Minister Grange said the public viewing will be followed by “a series of tribute performances by members of the Entertainment fraternity.”

Minister Grange said:
“Though Denroy Morgan was a devout Rastafarian, he always advocated for unity between the lion and the lamb, with the lion representing the Rastafarian faith and the lamb representing the Christian faith. He had many Christians in his family and he was always respectful to them and their beliefs. As such the gathering at the National Indoor Sports Centre will be in keeping with his firm belief in peace and unity”.

On Saturday, April 9, 2022, family, friends and well-wishers will travel in a convoy from Perry’s Funeral Home in Spanish Town, St Catherine to Heritage Estate in St Thomas, for the interment.

The farewell activities in Jamaica follow a private Service of Thanksgiving in Atlanta, USA earlier this month.

Denroy Morgan had a successful solo career and commercial success in the 1980’s with the hit single ‘I’ll Do Anything for You’, which peaked at number nine on the American Soul Chart and led to him becoming the first Jamaican act to be signed by a major record label.

Morgan was also the father of Peter "Peetah" Morgan, Una Morgan, Roy "Gramps" Morgan, Nakhamyah "Lukes" Morgan and Memmalatel "Mr. Mojo" Morgan, members of the Grammy Award winning Reggae group Morgan Heritage. The musical trio of Noshayah Morgan, Otiyah "Laza" Morgan and Miriam Morgan are also members of L.M.S., a dancehall/hip-hop band.

“I wish to again, express my sincere condolences to Denroy’s family, friends and the entire entertainment fraternity for this tremendous loss,” Minister Grange said.

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Kingston, 21 March 2022 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has urged the National Council on Reparation to move quickly to finalise the national policy - the Roadmap to Reparation.

Addressing members of the Council at a retreat on Saturday, Minister Grange congratulated them on the work they’ve been doing, but told them that the time had come to step up the pace.

According to Minister Grange, the Council must “seize the moment of the global movement and momentum in favour of the alignment of our local and global human experiences with the human right we have to equality and equity.”

In this regard, the Minister urged the Council to remain singularly focused on developing the Roadmap to Reparation.

Minister Grange said:

“We need a roadmap for legal and diplomatic actions which will bring us monetary reparation. The crafting of a petition is an important start and many thanks to the Council for the tremendous work done in this regard. And I have to single out members [Frank] Phipps and [Anthony] Gifford; and also Mike Henry, though not a member of the Council. Thank you for being so passionate and focused on achieving this goal.

We need that roadmap that will extinguish a debt we have never owed.

We need that roadmap that will see restitution made and institutions established that will show the greatness of our people who were stolen from Africa and in whose name, we will lay our claim for reparation including Repatriation to the Continent…

We need the roadmap to ease of cultural exchange, strategic engagement, strong linkages for commerce, trade, travel, and celebration of each other, with each other.”

Minister Grange said the Roadmap to Reparation must also engage young people from dormancy to full participation in the reparations movement. In this regard, the Minister announced that she would soon assume joint chairmanship of the Council, along with Mrs Laleta Davis Mattis, and would also be expanding the membership of the Council to include the youth, the Attorney General’s Chambers and members of the Diaspora.

The Minster said it was critical that Council ended its weekend retreat with a clear strategy for moving forward with achievable goals.

She urged the Council to continue to “work impatiently for justice for the atrocities committed against our ancestors, and those which flow from this history and persist against our people today…”

The National Council on Reparation is an advisory Council in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. It was established after the Jamaican Parliament unanimously passed a resolution moved by the Honourable Mike Henry to pursue reparations from the British Government, to compensate descendants of Africans, who were enslaved by them.

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Kingston, 8 February 2022 – Reggae Month Echoes of Sound System clash blasts off with a not-to-be-missed Preliminary Round from Wednesday, February 9 to Saturday, February 12. 

The action starts at 9:00pm each evening on Reggae Month TV which is streamed on various online platforms, including the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's YouTube and Facebook pages and the Facebook pages of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and Minister Olivia Grange. The Series will also air on PBCJ each night at the same time.

Eight Sound Systems square off
Eight sound systems, including Ghetto Star, JamRock, Kush Int’l, King Rhino, Ruff Cutt, Nexxt Level, Yumi Hi-Power and Twin Star eagerly responded to social media and direct call-for-entries to battle for the coveted title of Reggae Month 2022 Champion Sound. The organisers then drew lots to determine the four clashes in the Preliminary Round.

They are as follows:
Nexxt Level vs Yumi Hi-Power
King Rhino vs Ruff Cutt; 
Ghetto Star vs JamRock 
Twin Star vs Kush Int’l

All the selectors are pumped up, super charged and ready to rumble, but at the end of the Preliminary Round, the number will be cut in half and only four sounds will be left standing. These four winning sounds will then move on to the Semi Final round and then the top two sounds will square off for bragging rights, the Reggae Month 2022 Champion Sound title, and prizes.

The winning sound will receive J$200,000; second prize J$100,000 and third prize J$50,000.

The official judging panel comprises Admiral Bailey, Skatta Burrell, Jack Scorpio and Rory (from Stone Love).

Reggae Month activities will engage audiences in the virtual space, with the month-long celebration being held under the theme ‘Come Ketch de Riddim’. Like last year’s celebration, it is expected to draw thousands of patrons to Jamaica from locations as far as Europe and Asia.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, said that the virtual celebration will enable people to “get together and feel alright, even from a distance”, as Jamaica “builds back stronger to a brighter and dynamic future”.

Reggae Month is staged by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in collaboration with production partners the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) and funding partners including the CHASE Fund, the Tourism Enhancement Fund, the Jamaica Tourist Board and J Wray & Nephew.

Download the Reggae Jamaica Mobile App, free of charge from the Google or Apple Store, and get real time information on Reggae Month activities including the links to Reggae Month TV broadcasts.

Wake the town and tell the people… it’s Reggae Month 2022. Come ketch de riddim!

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