Kingston, 11 November 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says Jamaica has been reaping the benefits of signing on to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression.

The Minister was speaking at the recent National Consultation on Cultural Diversity.

Minister Grange said:
“It is not always easy to connect the dots from treaties and conventions signed and ratified to actual evidence of improvements in the sector… [However], I can speak to developments in our Jamaican creative sector as a result of this Convention.”

According to Minister Grange, Jamaica played a leading role in the development of the Convention which promotes “two very significant tenets: the promotion of international cooperation in culture for development; and, even more importantly, the provision of preferential treatment to developing countries for the mobility of artists and cultural practitioners as well as movement of goods and services from developing to developed countries.”

Minister Grange said there has been an increase in the output of the creative sector as a result of the Convention, as “Jamaica partnered with promoters in Europe, Canada and the United States, particularly in 2008 when the European Union adopted the Convention in the development of its Protocol on Cultural Cooperation and in the liberalisation of preferential trade in culture for contractural services suppliers as part of the Economic Partnership Agreement.”

The Minister pointed to the number of Jamaican artistes, technicians and cultural academics participating in Reggae festivals in Europe as a successful outcome of formal engagement under the Convention. But she said “there is still scope to take greater advantage of the elements of the Convention.”

Minister Grange said the National Consultation and the three-day workshop, which followed, were part of the Ministry’s programme to encourage Jamaican creatives to engage more with developed countries as the government seeks to promote even greater prosperity for the sector.

Minister Grange also used the opportunity to update stakeholders on the government’s plan to review the Copyright Act to incorporate the WIPO-Administered Marrakech Treaty — which makes the production and international transfer of specially-adapted books for people with blindness or visual impairments easier — among other amendments.

The National Consultation titled ‘Reshaping Cultural Policies for the Promotion of Fundamental Freedoms and the Diversity of Cultural Expressions’ and the workshop received technical support from Ms Avril Joffe, a member of UNESCO’s Panel of Experts on Cultural Policy and Governance through the generous support of UNESCO and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The Consultation and workshop focused on reporting on Jamaica’s actions under the Convention and saw the participation of a wide cross-section of members of Jamaica’s Cultural and Creative Industries.

END

Kingston, 18 October 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says Jamaica will benefit from the staging of Kanye West’s ‘Sunday Service’ concert in Kingston this evening.

The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has been working closely with a number of government entities to facilitate the staging of the concert at Emancipation Park in New Kingston, beginning at 7pm.

Addressing a number of issues surrounding the staging of the concert, Minister Grange said:

“It is at no cost to the Jamaican government or the Ministry and Jamaica is benefitting.

Kanye West is paying for absolutely everything… and will be spending over one million US dollars for this event in Jamaica. They’ve covered their own air charter [and] local hotel accommodation. They’re spending a substantial amount on technical services (to be provided by local suppliers), a large number of Jamaicans will be hired to treat with the production. And the facilities that we are providing that are to be paid for will be covered by Kanye West.”

Minister Grange is also reassuring the public that steps are being taken by the Jamaica Constabulary Force to address traffic concerns.

The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation is making its four parking lots on St Lucia Avenue available to patrons free of cost.

Parking will also be available at the National Housing Trust, the Golf Academy, and at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre from where a bus shuttle service will begin at 6 o’clock.

Minister Grange is thanking the public for their patience and understanding.

“I really want to reassure the public that we are doing everything humanly possible to minimise any inconvenience they may experience.

Jamaica is trending at this time across the world because of Kanye West Sunday Service being held in Kingston. Jamaica is open for business. They reached out based on the recommendation of a Jamaican who works with Kanye West. The best we could do is to facilitate them in making the arrangements.

I want to thank the public for their consideration and patience.

Let us welcome another group of visitors to our country because we are open for business.”

The concert will be streamed live at www.sundayservice.com.

END

MESSAGE BY THE HONOURABLE OLIVIA GRANGE, CD, MP

MINISTER OF CULTURE, GENDER, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORT

FOR INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY

30 April 2019

Today, we celebrate International Jazz Day and the power of the music to bring people together in love, peace and unity.

We also celebrate the influence of Jazz on Jamaican music and the contribution of Jamaican musicians to Jazz internationally.

Our musicians such as Bertie King, Dizzy Reece, Monty Alexander and Ernie Ranglin established themselves internationally — long before ska, rock steady and Reggae captivated the world.

Those early Jazz musicians set the foundation for Bob Marley and others to place Jamaica at the top of the international music scene.

Today the Reggae music of Jamaica is at the centre of brand Jamaica.

In celebration of International Jazz Day, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport joins the Edna Manley School of Visual and Performing Arts in staging a Concert at Devon House this evening.

We’re happy to have the acclaimed Trombonist Steve Turre join with our local Jazz musicians for what promises to be a great evening of music.

I hope you’ll join us.

Olivia Grange, CD, MP

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport

Paris, France 4 April 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, is chairing the Committee on Conventions and Recommendations at the 206th Session of the powerful UNESCO Executive Board meeting underway in Paris, France.

The Committee on Conventions and Recommendations is considering, among other matters:

• the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, their Diversity and their Role in Society;
• the Preservation of, and Access to, Documentary Heritage, including in Digital Form; and 
• the Promotion and Use of Multilingualism and Universal Access to Cyberspace.

Minister Grange is also participating in meetings of the UNESCO Executive Board which is considering the programme of work and budget for UNESCO.

While in Paris, Minister Grange will pay a courtesy call on the UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, as well as chair a meeting of Caricom members currently serving on the Executive Board. 

The 206th Session of the UNESCO Executive Board runs from April 3 to 17.

Kingston, March 12 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says Kingston is among the first group of cities selected by UNESCO to participate in its community based Inventorying of intangible cultural heritage in urban contexts pilot project.

The Minister made the announcement at the opening of a week-long workshop examining the types of intangible cultural heritage that exists within communities in Kingston on Monday at the Trench Town Multipurpose Centre.

“Many Jamaicans associate intangible cultural heritage with the rural areas and of a past era when our elders would transmit to us, knowledge about plants, Anansi stories, duppies and how to make the best run dung. This workshop, will, however, for the first time, examine what intangible cultural heritage exists within an urban space. The fact that Jamaica and Kingston, in particular, was selected for this pilot is a signal from UNESCO of the respect it has for the island’s culture and cultural elements,” Minister Grange said.

The workshop includes participants from the communities of Trench Town and Port Royal.

The UNESCO project seeks to contribute to the international debate on safeguarding living heritage in urban contexts with links to sustainable development through community based inventories of intangible cultural heritage in nine cities in different regions of the world. 

The first group of pilot cities will also involve communities in George Town (Malaysia) and Harare (Zimbabwe).

Kingston, 12 February 2019 – As part of its ongoing programme of support to the development of local community radio, the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO (an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport) and the UNESCO Caribbean Office recently sponsored a 3-day training workshop for volunteers of the Accompong Maroon community radio station, Abeng 88.7 FM.

Conducted under the theme: ‘Building a Sustainable Community Radio Station’, the participants received training in news and script-writing, programme production, interview techniques, digital editing, on-air presentation, and studio equipment maintenance.

30 volunteers from the Accompong community benefitted from the training.

Station Manager for Abeng 88.7 FM, Mrs Norma Rowe Edwards, said the training of the station volunteers was timely and welcomed as it equipped them with important skills and techniques they can use to better contribute to the work and functioning of the station.

“As a community radio station, volunteer effort is essential,” Mrs Rowe noted, adding that “the training of the volunteers forms an important part of the strategy towards making Abeng 88.7 FM a viable community radio station.”

The Honourable Olivia Grange, Chair of the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO and the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Culture, underscored the commitment of the Commission in building a sustainable Accompong community radio station.

Minister Grange said,

“The capacity of the station has been strengthened as a result of the training and the people of Accompong and adjoining communities can anticipate not only better programmes but greater people participation in creating content for the radio station.”

Secretary-General, Everton Hannam, said the National Commission remains committed to supporting the further development of Abeng 88.7 FM so it can become a model station within the UNESCO family of community radio stations.

The station was set up two years ago with funding from UNESCO.

Kingston, January 24 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced that Jamaica will establish a National Anti-Doping Compliance Committee as part of measures to enhance the national programme to keep sports clean.

The Committee will ensure that Jamaica conforms to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s code and UNESCO’s International Convention against Doping in Sport.

“We want to ensure that our athletes are playing clean and fair,” said Minister Grange who made the announcement at a symposium organised by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport at the Jamaica Conference Centre on Thursday (January 24).

According to the Minister, the establishment of the Committee will among other things “improve information sharing, promote planning, design and delivery of joint initiatives and enhance the anti-doping programme’s impact and effectiveness.”

She said that the Committee will also ensure a more comprehensive response to the national compliance report to be submitted to UNESCO.

“I am confident that Jamaica will be ranked compliant, however, in order for Jamaica to be successful, there has to be the collaborative effort of all entities and stakeholders in the fight against doping in sport,”

Minister Grange said.

Under the International Convention against Doping in Sport Jamaica has a responsibility to report bi-annually on its efforts for a doping free environment in the country.

The National Anti-Doping Compliance Committee will include representatives from the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the private sector, tertiary institutions, law enforcement and health.

Kingston 21 January 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange has announced that the most senior official with responsibility for culture at UNESCO will be her special guest for Reggae Month in February.

Minister Grange made the announcement of Ernesto Ottone Ramirez’s visit at the launch of Reggae Month 2019 on Sunday.  Mr Ottone Ramirez, the former Culture Minister of Chile, is the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture.

Minister Grange said Reggae Month 2019 will be special.

“This Reggae Month is the grand celebration party for the recent inscription of the Reggae Music of Jamaica to the UNESCO list of Intangible treasures for the whole of humanity,” said Minister Grange who added Reggae Month will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of Reggae Music.

The Minister described the recent inscription of the Reggae Music of Jamaica to the UNESCO list as a continuation of efforts to preserve Jamaica’s music.

Minister Grange said: 

“The act of preserving Reggae was exactly the point when we instituted Reggae Month in 2008.  That first official Reggae Month was the culmination of efforts of the many stakeholders in our music to formally recognise the power and reach of Jamaican music.  

“And I am delighted to have worked with the many stakeholders again during the last two years to bring a case to UNESCO to safeguard and recognise Reggae as a unique creation of the Jamaican people.”

Reggae Month 2019 will begin with a Street Party on Orange Street on February 1, 2019.  Other activities include tributes to Bob Marley and Dennis Brown; a month-long exhibition on Reggae Music at the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica; the Global Reggae Conference at the University of the West Indies, Mona; a series of weekly Reggae Films in the Park at Emancipation Park; the JARIA Honour Awards and the Reggae Gold Reception and Awards Ceremony at which 50 icons will be honoured for their contribution to the Reggae Music of Jamaica.

Reggae Month is being organised jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and the Ministry of Tourism with support of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association; the Jamaica Federation of Musicians and Affiliates Union among other stakeholders.

“It is my pleasure — along with my colleague Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Edmund Bartlett — to invite the peoples of the world to join us in Jamaica during the month of February for a celebration of Reggae like no other,” said Minister Grange.

Kingston 28 December 2018 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says next January’s staging of Rebel Salute will be a celebration of “the role played historically by Reggae music in the liberation of oppressed people across the world.”

Minister Grange made the comment on Thursday (27 December) at the launch of the 2019 edition of Rebel Salute, which will be one of the first major Reggae music festivals in Jamaica since Reggae music was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the end of November. 

The Minister said “we had to fight” for this inscription, which is something that we must “never take for granted.”

Rebel Salute 2019, which will receive financial support from the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport is one of Jamaica’s premier entertainment events.

According to Minister Grange: 

“Among the signature features of Rebel Salute is its unabashed presentation of our Jamaican and African heritage.  Tony Rebel and Rebel Salute understand the importance of presenting to our people the dignity and integrity of our African ancestry as represented by the Rastafari culture and ideology.  It is about inspiring our people to stand proud in promoting our heritage.”

Rebel Salute will be held on January 18 and 19, 2019 at Plantation Cove in St Ann.

Kingston, December 5, 2018 – Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and Chairman of the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced that the Youth Advisory Committee of the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO has received a grant for US$15,000.

Minister Grange made the announcement at a ceremony during which the Universal Service Fund (USF) handed over laptops and tablets to the Committee on Wednesday at the Ministry’s Trafalgar Road offices.

The grant was given under UNESCO’s Participation Programme.

The Participation Programme functions as a vital complement to UNESCO’s regular activities by analysing, evaluating and facilitating the implementation of national, sub-regional, inter-regional and regional projects submitted by Member States and NGOs directly related to the activities of the organisation.

“Youth is one of the priority areas of the Participation Programme and this grant will equip the Youth Advisory Committee and enhance the work of its programmes,”

Minister Grange said.

In commenting on the donation from the Universal Service Fund, Minister Grange said that it follows representation at all levels in support of the work of the Youth Advisory Committee Secretariat.

“The Secretariat is moving to implement projects towards empowering youth at risk, including young boys between the ages of 5 and 18 who struggle academically; and teenage mothers who need to be steered towards the programmes of the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation,” Minister Grange added.

The Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation was recognised by UNESCO for helping adolescent mothers to continue their education and was awarded US$50,000 to help further its work.