Kingston, 27 July 2019 - Raldene ‘Loaded Eagle’ Dyer’ is the 2019 Jamaica Festival Song Winner.

His winning song, Big Up Jamaica, will become the soundtrack for Jamaica’s 57th Anniversary of Independence, which is being celebrated under the theme One Nation, One People.

Dyer took home the coveted title at the 2019 Jamaica Festival Song Competition’s free Grand Final concert which was held on Saturday at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston.

In addition to winning the competition and its respective $1 million cash award, Dyer, took home the award for Writer of the Winning Song, which also carried $1 million cash award, as well as the sectional prizes for Best Performance and Best Vocalist, which carry a cash award of $300 000 each.

Second place in the competition and its respective cash award of $400 000 went to Alero ‘Alley Bless’ Perrier with Her song Queen Jamaica.

While third place and it’s respective cash award of $250 000 went to Jerome ‘Jay Smith’ Smith for his song Embassy Appointment, which also saw him receiving the sectional award for Most Popular on Social Media, and its respective cash award of $300 000.

Beginning at 8:00 pm, the Grand Final concert saw all 11 of the competition’s finalists going head to head in a battle of performances.

The other finalists who competed for the title were: Edwin Meyers with Piece A Jamaica, Jason ‘Iya Concord’ Wright with Hero Fight; Percival “Dharma” Lord with A Jamaica We Love; Escarpment Road New Testament Church of God Choir with Jamaica Bless; Nickoy ‘Shawn-D’ Green with Sweet Jamaica; Nester ‘Humility’ Chung with Battlefield; Vernon ‘Ramize’ Smith with Jamaica Fi Life; and Meckedah ‘McKada’ Henry with Love for Jamaica.

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ABOUT THE WINNER:
Raldene ‘Loaded Eagle’ Dyer
Reggae and Dancehall artiste Raldene ‘Loaded Eagle’ Dyer became interested in the music industry younger than most. Born in Steer Town, St. Ann, Dyer’s love for music first sparked when he witnessed his mother singing on the church choir. Now an energetic performer, Dyer is a seasoned artiste in the dancehall arena as both vocalist and professional dancer. In 1998, Dyer, then a member of Cosby Kids, entered the JCDC Performing Arts National Finals in the area of Dance, placing first in their class. Loaded Eagle began his solo recording career in 2005 with “Nowadays” a local hit that won him much notoriety in St. Ann. He is currently collaborating with producer Lenworth “Jupiter Phillips” Phillpots, with whom he teamed up for his festival song entry “Big Up Jamaica”.


A signature programme of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), an Agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Jamaica Festival Song Competition started in 1966, and continues to serve as a musical platform for cultural exposition and for entrants to make an indelible mark on Jamaica and the world. The competition boasts past winners like Toots and the Maytals, Desmond Decker, Eric Donaldson, Roy Rayon, Heather Grant and Stanley Beckford.

The 2019 Jamaica Festival Song Competition is sponsored by Tastee, Geoland, Lasco Money, JF MILLS, Shirley Biscuits, Shades of Africa, and Jamaica Corporate Credit Union League (JCCUL).

Kingston, 24 July 2019 (JIS): Jamaica is to celebrate the centenary of Louise Bennett-Coverley (Miss Lou) over a period of 100 days, with special activities across the country.

These will be organised by various agencies, including the National Library of Jamaica, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) and the Bureau of Gender Affairs.

This was disclosed by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, during her contribution to the 2019/20 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 23.

“This year, on September 7, we will celebrate the centenary of our beloved Miss Lou. [She] will be celebrated as social commentator, poet and advocate, and in particular, as chief exponent and proponent of the Jamaican language,” Ms. Grange said.

She also noted that in a tribute to Miss Lou, the Ministry has engaged the University of the West Indies to use the celebration of her life as the catalyst of a national dialogue on the status of the Jamaican patois.

“This will have implication for how patois is positioned in social and official discourse,” Ms. Grange said.

Additionally, the Minister announced that March 21 is to be celebrated each year as National Poetry Day.

She also thanked Jamaica’s National Poet Laureate, Dr. Lorna Goodison, for her work in the promotion of poetry.

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20 July 2019 (OPM) - The Government of Jamaica is pleased to announce that His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, will pay a State Visit to Jamaica as special guest for the nation’s 57th Anniversary of Independence celebrations. The President will be accompanied by First Lady, Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta and an official delegation.
 
The visit also provides an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations between Jamaica and Kenya, focused on the development of an economically strategic partnership through the fostering of trade and investment ties and the promotion of increased technical cooperation in areas such as tourism, education, sport and culture.
 
The Kenyan President is scheduled to arrive in Jamaica for the three-day State Visit on August 5.
 
Prime Minister Andrew Holness will hold bilateral talks with President Kenyatta, which will be followed by a press statement. The Kenyan President will also undertake other engagements and activities, including a courtesy call on the Governor-General who will host a State Dinner in his honour at King’s House.
 
The President is also expected to meet with the Leader of the Opposition.
 
As the special guest for Independence 57, which is being held under the theme: One Nation, One People, President Kenyatta will be fully exposed to Jamaica’s rich history and culture.
 
President Kenyatta will lay a floral tribute at the shrine of the country’s first national hero, the Rt. Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey at the National Heroes Park after which he will also visit the Bob Marley museum.
 
Prime Minister Holness will host the Kenyan President at the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in Clarendon on Independence Day. Later in the evening, President Kenyatta will attend the 57th Anniversary Independence Grand Gala.
 
The President will depart the island on August 7.

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Kingston, 18 July 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has expressed deep sadness at the passing of the Jamaican singer Pat Kelly.

Minister’s Statement follows:

“I feel a deep sense of personal loss at the passing of Pat Kelly. He and I go back a long way to our days at Chocomo Lawn, a place where so many of our artistes and musicians got their start, thanks to Edward Seaga.

I was the president of the Victor’s Youth Club at Chocomo Lawn and Pat was a member. It was there that he began developing his talent which has seen him become a great Jamaican singer and outstanding audio engineer.

I have been very proud of his success with The Techniques and in his solo career; and satisfied with his contribution to our music.

I offer sincerest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues at this time.”

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Kingston 27 June 2019 - Jamaica’s 57th anniversary of Independence is to be celebrated under the theme “One Nation, One People.”

This has been disclosed by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange.

Minister Grange said the theme was chosen because it speaks to a very important area of focus on which the nation must pay attention:

“We are at a very critical time in our life as a nation. We are witnessing the transition from one generation to the next and I believe that unity has to be a very important ingredient in the process to help us to solidify the gains we have made so far and build on them for the future.”

Ms. Grange said that while the country continues to celebrate the International Decade for People of African Ancestry, it is very important in the wider Jamaican context to observe the tenets of the national motto, ‘Out of Many, One People’.

“We must always be reminded that this nation is a melting pot of cultures, built by people from many different ancestries. It is remarkable what we have been able to achieve by working together and it is that spirit of unity that we want to engender as we celebrate our Independence and look to the future,” she added.

Minister Grange said that Jamaicans at home and abroad should look forward to a very spirited Independence celebration as the Ministry is working hard to make sure that events such as the Jamaica Festival Song Competition, the Jamaica Festival Queen Competition, the Jamaica Gospel Song Competition and the Grand Gala are spectacles to be remembered.

“This year we will welcome various Heads of Government for Independence and we intend to display the best of Jamaica as the eyes of the world will be upon us. We will be streaming most of our activities to the Diaspora so that everyone feels a part of the Jamaica 57 celebrations. We are well advanced in our planning and things have been going well,” she said.

The Jamaica Festival Song Grand Final will be held on July 27, at the National Arena in Kingston, with the Emancipation Jubilee slated for July 31, at Seville in St. Ann. The National Arena will also host the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Grand Coronation on Emancipation Day, August 1, the World Reggae Dance Championship Grand Final on August 2, Mello-Go-Roun on August 3, the Jamaica Gospel Song Grand Final on August 4 and the Pop and Variety Grand Final on August 5. Grand Gala will be held on Independence Day, August 6 at the National Stadium.

For more information on the Independence celebrations, persons may contact the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission at: the JCDC Head Office at 3-5 Phoenix Avenue in Kingston Tel: (876) 926-5726-9, or on the JCDC’s website www.jcdc.gov.jm.

Kingston 26 June 2019 – The Minister of the Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange says she’s seen major improvements in the performance of local sports people who have participated in first year of the sports cooperation agreement with the People’s Republic of China.

Minister Grange signed the agreement last year, under which more than 400 Jamaican sportspeople in seven disciplines will receive specialised training in China over three years.

The first batch of 138 athletes and coaches completed a 60-day training programme in September 2018.

Referring to early signs of the success of the project, Minister Grange said:
“Five of the [women’s] footballers trained have matriculated to the Under-20 national programme. Thalia Richardson from badminton has advanced to become the national female champion. It has also been shown that the times and techniques of the swimmers have improved since the training they have received through the project. We have seen that the gymnasts have shown great improvement performing in regional competitions.

“So the Report Card on the Jamaica/China Technical Cooperation Project on Sport Coaching so far is most satisfying…"

Minister Grange was speaking at the official send-off for the second batch of 138 athletes and coaches who will begin travelling on Saturday to specialised training facilities across China.

The schedule of departures is as follows:
29 June - Women’s Football
30 June - Women’s Volleyball
2 July - Gymnastics
3 July - Women’s Basketball
6 July - Swimming and Synchronised Swimming
7 July - Badminton

Minister Grange urged the athletes and coaches to make the most of this training opportunity. “Get as much as you can as you hone your skills. I know you will never be the same after China. You will be better for it; Jamaica will be better for it.”

Minister Grange thanked the Government of the People’s Republic of China for providing training and equipment under the agreement.

The Minister also revealed that on the recommendation of the Chinese coaches, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has acquired the services of a personal trainer to do strength training work among the athletes. The Ministry is also facilitating the use of a gym at no cost to the athletes or their national federations.

The official send-off for the athletes was attended by the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Jamaica, His Excellency Tian Qi. Minister Grange especially acknowledged the efforts of Ambassador Qi, the Chinese Embassy and the China Sport International Company (the state-owned sports cooperation agency) for facilitating the project.

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Kingston 17 June 2019 – The Minister of the Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange has expressed sadness at the passing of Conroy Cooper, the founder of Fab 5 band.

Minister Grange said:
“I was sad to hear of the passing of Conroy Cooper, an exceptionally talented musician, producer, composer and arranger, whose contribution to the development of Jamaican music has been immense.

Cooper was instrumental in introducing our music to new audiences abroad when he led the first tour of Germany by a Jamaican band, the Reggaes (which later became Fab 5).

His work in advertising, creating memorable radio jingles; his work in the theatre composing and arranging music for several productions, including national pantomimes; his work in the studio as a performer and with several artistes including Ernie Smith, Count Ossie and the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari attest to his vision, his creativity and the range of his contribution to Jamaica’s music.

I offer sincerest condolences to his family, especially to his children and his brother Grub, the current leader of Fab 5.”

Conroy Cooper was 74.

Paris, France 8 June 2019 – The Minister of the Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has lauded the efforts of the Reggae Girlz in their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup match on Sunday.

The Jamaicans lost 3-0 to the experienced, 2007 runners-up Brazil in Grenoble.

Minister Grange who has been to see the team to express appreciation for their efforts in the opening game and encourage them ahead of their next games, said:

“They were valiant in their efforts and played their hearts out. They are disappointed at the result, but I want them to know that they did not let down their country. They demonstrated courage and determination. I encourage them to continue to be courageous and to bring steel-like determination and fortitude into their remaining matches.

I also encourage head coach Hugh Menzies and his team who have guided the Girlz on this historic journey.

And I continue to commend Cedella Marley for being the team’s inspiration.

I told them to know that they can continue to count on me as their Minister and #1 cheerleader and on the support of the government and the people of Jamaica.

Let us continue to support them.”

Jamaica will face Italy on Friday in their next game.

Paris, France 8 June 2019 – The Minister of the Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says her government is embarked on a programme to provide greater support for and give better access to women and girls in sport.

Addressing the FIFA Women’s Football Convention in Paris, France on Friday, Minister Grange said the Government of Jamaica was “leading the way” in creating a more friendly environment for women in sport.

Minister Grange said:

“Women in sport do not get as much support [as men] and so women’s football has its challenge in Jamaica. However, the government leads the way in [providing greater access]. In introducing our various sports competitions at the primary and kindergarten school level, we’ve insisted that at least three girls must play on the team with the boys. So we’re institutionalising recognition and promoting of women in sport.”

Minister Grange also told the FIFA Convention that the government was working “very closely with the Jamaica Football Federation to ensure that the support is there for women’s football.”

Minister Grange is in France as a special guest of FIFA. She will attend the senior Jamaican team’s inaugural game at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday.

Minister Grange said the Reggae Girlz historic qualification to the Women’s World Cup had “created waves throughout the country and throughout the Jamaican Diaspora and the Caribbean. They are icons and we are extremely proud of them and they have served to inspire many young girls who now want to play football."

Recently, Minister Grange announced new rules for local sports federations to access funding from the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (including the Sports Development Foundation). The rules require federations to give greater support to special olympians, paralympians, women and girls.

The Ministry, through the Institute of Sports, has also awarded equal prize money for girls and boys teams in its Primary Schools football and netball competitions.

Kingston 4 June 2019 – The Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Honourable Karl Samuda says schools will recognise the passing of the late former Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga on Wednesday (June 5).

Minister Samuda who has responsibility for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information says “students will mark Mr Seaga’s passing through either a cultural or religious expression during the final hour of the school day on Wednesday.”

Wednesday marks nine days since the passing of Mr Seaga.

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has welcomed the initiative of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and has called on all Jamaicans to join the celebration of Mr Seaga’s life through their own observances.

Minister Grange says “each Jamaican can celebrate Mr Seaga’s life and contribution through musical or other cultural expressions, candle light services, prayer vigils, church services, sports or any community activity that provides safe spaces for residents to come together and reflect.”

Mr Seaga, who was Jamaica’s fifth Prime Minister, died on May 28 on his 89th birthday.