Kingston, 2 August 2023 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has described the national team’s historic qualification to the knockout stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup this morning as the “proudest moment in Jamaica’s football history.”

The Reggae Girlz advanced to the round of 16 for the first time by drawing 0-0 with Brazil.

Minister Grange said: “Their hard fought and determined draw against powerhouse Brazil is most commendable… I could not help shedding a few tears of joy.”

The Reggae Girlz are undefeated and have not given up a goal at the 2023 tournament having earlier drawn 0-0 with the fifth ranked team, France, and beating Panama 1-nil for their first-ever victory at the World Cup. Jamaica finished their group in second place, behind France.

In her communications with the Girlz following today’s game, Minister Grange congratulated them on their performance and reminded them that the entire nation was proud and cheering for them.

Minister Grange reiterated her message which she wrote to the team on the eve of their game against France: “I can never tire of telling you how much your presence on the world stage means to Jamaica and the pride we all feel when we see you donned in the national colours.”

The Minister said that through the Reggae Girlz “we see that dreams do come true” and the girls are a source of inspiration for Jamaica and fully deserving of our full support.

“I am happy that my government has been able to support the Jamaica Football Federation and the women’s programme on yet another successful World Cup campaign.”

The Government, through the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and the Sports Development Foundation provides a monthly subvention of J$3M (J$36M per annum) to the JFF for its programmes. This year, the government allocated an additional J$20M specifically for the Reggae Girlz World Cup campaign, J$10M of which is to be paid directly to members of the squad under the Ministry’s Athlete Assistance Programme. In addition, the government insures the Reggae Girlz under the Jamaica Athlete Insurance Plan which covers all health related services including injuries and overseas emergency services up to US$100,000 per athlete.

“Our girls, particularly the Reggae Girlz, the Sunshine Girls (the national netballers who are competing in the World Netball World Cup in South Africa), and the women’s volleyball team (which won the Cazova Championship on the weekend) have made us very proud and have given us such a special gift as we celebrate our nation’s 61st anniversary of Independence. We are proud of them.”

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Kingston, 10 June 21 (JIS) - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says the special support package for members of the entertainment, culture and creative industries has now been increased to $50 million.

A sum of $40 million had previously been promised, but due to technical issues with the electronic portal for disbursement, members of the sectors were unable to access the funds.

“We have now migrated to a different platform and we’re in the final phase of developing an app that will allow more members of the entertainment, culture and creative industries to register to the e-Registry and apply for grants,” she said. 

The Minister, who was making her contribution to the 2021/22 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 8), said she is still in dialogue with the Minister of Finance and the Public Service “to see how we can further increase funding for the sector, as the needs are many”.

Minister Grange pointed out that despite the technical challenges that were experienced last year, the Government was still able to provide support for industry members, including the provision of grants to more than 700 practitioners through the Covid-19 Allocation of Resources for Employees (CARE) programme, as well as special grants from the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. 

She added that the Ministry also provided $14 million for Jamaican creatives via direct sponsorship. 

“We are also providing direct financial support in excess of $40 million to our athletes as they prepare for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. So far, through the Institute of Sports, we have paid out a little over $16 million in monthly payments to 87 athletes under the Athletes Assistance Programme,” she said.

Minister Grange said the Government also sought to address the mental well-being of athletes “to get them in the best frame of mind as they prepare for upcoming competitions”, noting that the Government worked closely with Optimisation Hub, which operates out of Australia, and with local mental health specialists, to develop a mental health programme for athletes, coaches and their support teams. 

“We staged a successful online seminar, which was titled ‘Elevate the Game: Building the Muscle of the Mind’. [Through] this intervention, athletes, coaches and their support teams were given the skills to cope, and importantly, there will be a new programme related to mental health for coaches and athletes at the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport. The Ministry will subsidise this programme in the sum of $2.2 million,” she said. 

Minister Grange noted that her Ministry is also giving support to the sports sector through Independence Park Limited, which manages sports facilities at the National Stadium. 

She said that IPL has been subsidising the cost of using these facilities by as much as 50 per cent and that the entity has supported the staging of several development meets organised by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association in the sum of $13.5 million. 

“We will support the National Senior Championships in the sum of $12 million in direct funding, in addition to the subsidy for use of the facilities at the National Stadium…We also assisted with the staging of Boys and Girls’ Champs this year and we are giving support to the National Premier League,” she noted.

“The Ministry is offering the Premier League Association a 50 per cent discount on rental of the Independence Park facilities…Premier League clubs were among the first to receive assistance in the early days of the pandemic when each club was granted $500,000 to help their situation,” the Minister said.

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Kingston, 20 May 2021 - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that she is deeply saddened that, “we are once again mourning the passing of one of Jamaica's truly great sportsmen.”


Minister Grange's comment follows the death of Olympian, Neville Myton, who passed this week, a few days short of the 75th anniversary of his birthday which would have been on May 28.


Minister Grange said:
"Middle distance runner, Neville Myton, who hailed from Old Harbour Bay in St Catharine, was regarded by many as the greatest school boy athlete produced by Jamaica, representing the country at the 1964 Olympics while still attending Excelsior High School.


"Neville was famous for the records he created from very early in his career. As he set records at several meets, he became the first Jamaican Junior Record Holder in 1964 when he ran 880 yards in 47.2 seconds, a record that still stands. He was also the first high school athlete to win an open event at the Penn Relays.

"He represented his country at two Olympics, at the Commonwealth Games and at the Pan American Games. He was a double gold medallist at the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games.


"We must note that Neville's stellar contribution to sports continued long after his days on the track. He went on to coach and mentor several of Jamaica's top athletes including Veronica Campbell Brown, Simone Facey and Shereefa Lloyd.


"But his depth and versatility also saw Neville successfully coaching schoolboy cricket and football in addition to track and field. Vere Technical High School, Tivoli Gardens High School and Old Harbour High School benefitted from his vast knowledge and direction as a coach. Managing the Jamalco Sports Club also formed part of his formidable contribution to sports.


"It is not surprising that Jamaica honoured him with the award of the Order of Distinction in 2006 and that in 2016, he was inducted into Hall of Fame of San Jose State University, which he attended and where he never lost a half-mile event.


“As Minister of Sport, I wish to extend to Neville's wife Paulette and the rest of his family, my sincerest condolences. To the track and field fraternity in particular and sports people in general, I also express my sympathy.


“With the passing of Neville Myton, a track and field icon is gone from us but there is already much evidence that his legacy will live on.


“Rest in peace, Neville.”

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Kingston, 23 April 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that sadly the race of life is finished for Dennis Johnson and the nation must say goodbye to its first world record holder in the short sprint.

Dennis Johnson, passed away on Thursday night, April 22, 2021, at the age of 81.

Minister Grange said:

“He never set a world record. But, in a six-week period in 1961 he equaled the 100-yards world record on all of three occasions. This was but one measure of the man Dennis Johnson, who was honoured with the Order of Distinction in 2001.

“The passing of Dennis has closed the chapter on one who made an iconic contribution to the development of track and field in Jamaica not only as a sprinter himself but also through his efforts to develop other sprinters to world class standards right here at home. It was the genesis that changed us from the thinking that our athletes had to go abroad to become the best that they could.

“It is with irony, that we recall that it was the then Principal of the College of Arts, Science, and Technology, Dr Rae Davis, who himself died a few days ago, who invited Dennis to establish a collegiate sports programme at the institution.

 “The records show Dennis as serving as the first director of sports at CAST which later became the University of Technology, Chairman of the Sports Advisory Council, adjunct associate professor of sport science and head of the special projects for intercollegiate sports.

“His work at UTech as an administrator and coach has come to be regarded as a fundamental contributing factor to Jamaica’s consistent top performances in world sprinting.

"As I express my condolences to Dennis’ sons Peter and Johnny and his daughter Dawn, his friends and associates as well as the track and field community, I must also say how disappointed I feel that Dennis did not live to see the documentary on his life that has been commissioned by my Ministry to be produced by Clyde McKenzie, media and entertainment specialist.

“Dennis was a jovial, sharp witted person, who thought the only thing that he could do better than sprinting was to play dominoes. He was well liked and will be missed not just in sport circles but by the many who knew him or learnt of his exploits.

“Your record on the track has its own very special place in the history of track and field in Jamaica, Dennis Johnson. Rest in peace.”

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Kingston, 31 March 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has told the Fifth Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development that the key to rebuild the sport sector after the covid-19 pandemic is investing in initiatives to mainstream sport and physical activity as part of policy integration across public health, education and economic development.

The Minister was specially invited by the Commonwealth Secretariat to participate in the Debate, a virtual event that took place on March 30, 2021. It is among the leading global policy focused events held to mark International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, celebrated on April 6.

Minister Grange advocated that:
“The focus of investment must be on factors identified in restoring human rights, social inclusion, prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases and enhanced access to the benefits of sport post-covid-19.

“These are the problems emerging from the onset of the pandemic: the sport sector relies extensively on human contact and is disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

“We must rethink the role of sport. There is now a shift in focus to investment in safeguarding policies globally among governments, international bodies and national initiatives strengthening of human rights through and for sport.

“We all agree with the results of research presented by the Commonwealth Secretariat which confirms that ‘sport is effective in generating employment because it is community-based and depends on human interaction. As such, one policy implication is that investing in sport can be an economic tool to help a country reduce unemployment during a recession. This is a valuable insight for the rebuilding the sport sector in the post covid-19 period’ according to the publication.

“Economic prosperity is important for the development of sport as an economic activity. Economic downturns usually result in governments reducing spending on sectors like sport unless there is strong scientific evidence to demonstrate how vital the sport sector is to development of the economy.

“The World Bank’s global economic prospects (2020) fittingly describes ‘covid-19 as the most adverse peacetime shock to the global economy in a century!’ Furthermore, the President of the World Bank Group reminds us that: ‘making the right investments now is vital, and urgently needed to support the recovery and foster resilience. The response to the pandemic crisis today will shape our common future for years to come. We should seize the opportunity to lay the foundations for a durable, equitable, and sustainable global economy.’

“Technology has a role to play in sport, it is a constituent for sport. However, investment in technology cannot by itself be the key to rebuild sport sector post covid-19.

“In the Caribbean and Latin American Region (ECLAC) it is estimated that there will be a contraction of minus 1.8% in regional gross domestic product, which could lead to unemployment in the region rising by 10 percentage points.  In 2018-(pre covid era) the WHO reported that NCDs were killing 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally.

“To rebuild the sport sector post covid-19, it is clear that we must invest in empirical research and other measurement framework, to demonstrate the contribution of sport the SDGs, while securing the sustainability of the sport sector.

“The lack of adequate evidence-based practice and measurement framework has led to undervaluing the contribution of sport to global and national development.
Let us examine some of the on-going consequences and impact of the covid-19 pandemic as the intervening factor in our lives and societies worldwide.

“The SDGs agenda recognises sport as ‘an important enabler of sustainable development’ and highlights its impact on health, education, social inclusion, women’s empowerment and youth development. The achievement of goals is impacted by pandemic and related policy/regulatory responses.

“Based on the results of the Deloitte Global Millennial Survey (2020), the demands for social justice is transforming the sports world. There is a shifting societal dynamic, with athletes having a stronger voice, demanding action, and playing an even bigger part as role models.

“Sport organisations’ level of commitment to combating social injustice now directly affects their brand, bottom line and business relationships with athletes.”

The Debate is delivered as part of the Commonwealth’s leadership supporting countries as they protect and promote the contribution sport can make to human and social development.

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Kingston, 17 March 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said her Ministry will give support to the former Jamaican distance runner, Kemoy Campbell, who made an appeal for help following surgery in the United States.

Minister Grange said “everything must be done to assist Kemoy.”

The athlete reported on social media that he underwent surgery on the weekend to replace an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) in his chest after passing out while driving. He said the new device would also function as a pacemaker.

The Minister said she was “relieved that Kemoy was not hurt when he passed out while driving and that the surgery was a success.”

She thanked all those who have been attending to the athlete and said the Ministry “stands ready to assist him.”

Minister Grange said Campbell was covered under the Jamaica Athletes Insurance Plan — which provides health, life and personal accident coverage — and he is entitled to use it to deal with medical expenses.

Under the Group Health component of the Plan, Campbell can get 80 per cent coverage for hospital fees. Minister Grange said the Ministry would assist him with the balance, if required.

Minister Grange said:
“We continue to pray for Kemoy’s recovery and will do what is necessary to assist him at this time.”

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Kingston, 13 March 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced the closure of cultural and sport facilities, including museums, galleries, and stadia run by the government.

Minister Grange says the closures — with effect from Saturday, 14 March 2020 — are in keeping with the Government’s strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Jamaica and to minimise the potential health impact on the country.

The facilities that will be closed to the public are:

• African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank;
• Alexander Bustamante boyhood home at Blenheim, Hanover 
• Bustamante Museum at Tucker Avenue, St Andrew;
• Paul Bogle Memorial Park at Stony Gut, St Thomas;
• Liberty Hall: The Legacy of Marcus Garvey;
• IOJ Junior Centres; 
• Simón Bolívar Cultural Centre;
• Fort Charles;
• National Gallery of Jamaica;
• Seville Heritage Park;
• National Gallery West;
• Natural History Museum of Jamaica;
• National Museum Jamaica; 
• Jamaica Music Museum;
• National Library of Jamaica;
• National Stadium;
• National Aquatics Centre;
• and Trelawny Stadium

The facilities will remain closed to the public until further notice, however staff will report to work as normal.

Minister Grange says “the closure of the facilities is a necessary precaution in the national effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to keep people safe.”

She has encouraged members of the cultural, sport and entertainment sectors to take all necessary precautions and follow the guidance of the health authorities.

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Kingston, 12 March 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has provided an update to national sport federations on the implications of the urgent and necessary measures being taken by the Government of Jamaica to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

In keeping with the national Containment and Control Strategy, the Government has taken a number of steps including:

• discouraging and restricting non-essential travel outside of Jamaica, especially to countries that have reported cases of the virus which is now a global pandemic;
• discouraging and restricting large gatherings;
• denying and rescinding the granting of permits for the staging of events, during the next 14 days (in the first instance)
• and closing schools for a period of 14 days (in the first instance).

In her letter to the heads of sport federations, Minister Grange noted that the “necessary measures” would have a direct impact on entertainment and sport activities, including Jamaica’s “participation in regional and possibly international competitions as well as the staging of competitions across the island.”

Minister Grange urged the Federations to follow the guidance of the health authorities, noting that “the success of the measures outlined by our Government is dependent on all of us, especially leaders, doing our part.”

Minister Grange made clear that she “cannot support any action outside of the guidance given, including overseas travel for national teams.”  But she noted that the situation is dynamic and subject to regular review and committed to continued dialogue and consultation with the national sport federations as the situation unfolds. 

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Kingston, 7 March 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has expressed sadness at the passing of the outstanding Jamaican photographer, Bryan Cummings.

Cummings, the Photo Editor for the Jamaica Observer newspaper, passed away last evening at the age of 56.

Minister Grange said:

“I wish to express condolences to the family and friends of Bryan Cummings who now mourn the passing of a truly outstanding photographer.

Brian was blessed with that eye that all great photographers possess.

His enduring legacy will be his work in sport where, through his photographs, he told the story of a glorious period in Jamaica sport, particularly track and field.

He was a well respected photographer and editor, a kind and personable man, and I want us to hold up his family and friends in our prayers at this time.”

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Kingston, 23 October 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says that the statue in honour of Veronica Campbell Brown at the National Stadium is a fitting tribute to an outstanding athlete.

The Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, unveiled the statue of the Olympic and World Champion sprinter on Sunday.

The statue was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport as a Jamaica 55 Legacy Project to celebrate the country’s glorious heritage in track and field.

In her tribute to Veronica Campbell Brown at the unveiling of the statue, Minister Grange said that “VCB will always be remembered as a young woman of no mean order, one who was always able to draw on her inner strength and come through with literally flying colours when her country and fellow athletes demanded it.”

Since 1997, VCB has won 49 medals, including 27 gold, representing Jamaica in international competitions. During her glittering career, she became the first Jamaican to win a global 100 metres title, the first woman to win the sprint double at the IAAF World Junior Championships, the youngest Jamaican woman to win an Olympic medal, the first Caribbean woman to win an Olympic sprint title, among other achievements.

Minister Grange said:

“Not many of our athletes can speak to the longevity and consistency of VCB. From her earliest days as a teenager blazing on the tracks of the regional championships and then at the National Stadium, representing her school, Vere Technical, in Girls’ Champs, to even this point in her life, she has had a long and distinguished career for which she must be justly proud. Some of us have been able to watch her grow through junior, youth and professional athletics.
In every sphere of competition, VCB stood out. She stamped her class in every arena of local, national and global sport.”

The statue in tribute to Campbell Brown — to the scale of one and quarter life size — has been mounted at Statue Park in the National Stadium beside the statue of her role model, Merlene Ottey.

The VCB statue is the third of four designed by Basil Watson for the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

The first two statues of Usain Bolt and Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce were unveiled in 2017 and 2018 respectively. The statue of Asafa Powell, the last in the series, will be unveiled in 2020.

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