Kingston, 20 April 2021 - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, said today that, “Sadly, ‘Sharpe Talk’ has come to end with the passing of Michael Sharpe, easily one of the country’s most influential broadcast journalists.”

Michael Sharpe, the longest serving journalist in the RJR/GLEANER Group, died this morning at the age of 65.

Minister Grange said:
“Michael will be remembered for his special brand of journalism which saw him becoming an outstanding talk show host as well as one who provided insightful political coverage and commentaries.

In fact, he played a large role in popularising night time talk radio with the introduction of his legendary Sharpe Talk show. It is on record that Sharpe Talk reached out to many disadvantaged persons who brought their needs and concerns to Michael and whom he helped through his fund raising efforts.

We will also recall that he won national recognition for his coverage of the one-party parliament in the 1980s. Also very popular was his “Inside Gordon House” review which spoke about happenings in the Lower and Upper Houses.

Not only had his voice become familiar to the nation, so was his face as he became one of Jamaica’s top prime time television news presenters.

In his latter days, not only was Michael News Operations Manager at Jamaica News Network, but he took to teaching. That was the measure of the man.

For Michael Sharpe, Journalism was not merely a profession but was his passion. We certainly will miss the voice and face of a man who through this passion provided us with news, views and much more.

My sincerest condolences to his family, to the RJR/Gleaner Group and to his colleagues, friends and associates inside and outside of the media fraternity.

May his soul rest in peace."

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Kingston, 18 April 2021 - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said she is deeply saddened by the sudden death of former Reggae Boy, Tremaine Stewart.

Stewart, who represented Jamaica in 2012, died after collapsing while playing football this morning.

Minister Grange said:

”My spirit fell when I received the news about Tremaine this morning. We have lost yet another of our sportsmen whose contribution added much.

Tremaine did well from early, representing his school, Eltham High, in the Manning Cup competition, and later all of three clubs: August Town, Portmore United and Waterhouse. Death came following his recent signing with another club, Dunbeholden.

I am proud of the fact that Tremaine was a product of Gordon Pen, Spanish Town, which is in my constituency of Central St. Catherine.

The citizens were so proud of him and the young people saw him as an inspiration. I am so sorry that he won’t be around to see the completion of the Gordon Pen Sports and Entertainment Complex, now being built, and the critical role he would play in the  transformation of the surrounding communities through this facility.

My heart goes out to his family, his friends and associates and to the entire football fraternity.

Rest in peace Tremaine.”

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Kingston, 15 April 2021 (OPM) - Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government plans to invest in the entertainment industry.

Kingston, 12 April 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has congratulated Ricky Skerritt, Cricket West Indies President, his Vice President, Dr Kishore Shallow, and the rest of the CWI administration on being re-elected unopposed.

Minister Grange said, “I wish the President, the Vice President and the other members of administration all the very best as they seek to keep their promise to ‘work untiringly to help achieve sustainable improvement, both on and off the field, for West Indies cricket.’”

The Skerritt Administration was re-elected at the 22nd Annual General Meeting of CWI, held on Sunday, April 11, 2021.

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Kingston, 11 April 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has condemned a video showing a violent confrontation between a man and a woman which is being circulated on social media.

Minister Grange said she was “deeply disturbed” by the video and the allegation that a Member of Parliament was involved.

Minister Grange has discussed the video with the Minister of National Security, the Honourable Dr Horace Chang, who has asked the police to investigate the matter.

Minister Grange said:
“The Government is firmly against acts of violence. This video is deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable. We cannot condone any act of gender-based or family violence; we cannot turn a blind eye.

I keep saying that we can end the violence, but it requires all of us to end the violence; and that means that we each have a role to play in ending the violence. We have to intervene in what we know happens next door and we have to make a report.

We will continue with our anti-gender-based violence campaign as we have to develop a mindset and practice in Jamaica that there is no excuse for abuse.”

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Kingston, 9 April 2021 - Registration will open on Thursday, April 15, 2021, for the forum which will start the mental health programme being conducted by Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport to help the nation’s athletes to cope with the effects of covid-19.

The forum with the theme, Elevate the Game…Building the Muscle of the Mind of Jamaica, will look at mental resilience in sport and sport performance post-covid-19.

The Registration period will run from April 15 up to April 21, the day of the event, until half an hour prior to the start.

Applicants should download the Whova app from the App Store for iPhone users and from the Play Store for Android users. A link will be sent directly to the applicant after registration is completed. The applicant will then be able to access the webinar. Registration is complimentary via a #MCGESgamechanger ticket.
 
There will be use of subtitles for the hearing impaired athletes.

In her earlier announcement of the mental health programme for Jamaican athletes, Minister Grange said: “The covid-19 pandemic has seriously disrupted the lives and livelihood of our athletes, coaches, and their support staff; and we feel that it is extremely important to provide them with the support.

“We’ve provided financial support and we also think that they need support through a mental health programme to help them to deal with the existing situation,” said Minister Grange.

Minister Grange said the Ministry was staging the forum in collaboration with Optimisation Hub, which operates out of Australia. They have worked closely with the Olympics and other international bodies in these matters. Our local partners include mental health specialists such as psychologists and psychiatrists, led by Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Saphire Longmore.

Dr Longmore is available to provide counselling and information that any athlete, coach, or federation/association may require.

The mental health programme is the latest in a series of actions by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport to “assist athletes, coaches, and their support teams to go through this trying period,” Minister Grange said.

The Sport Minister said the Ministry will continue to provide financial support to the sports sector.

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Kingston, 8 April 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced the resumption of the Athletes Assistance Programme, which will provide more than J$45 million in direct financial support to Jamaican athletes who are preparing for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Minister Grange said:
“The Ministry in collaboration with the Institute of Sports [is] providing financial support for those who are preparing for the Olympics. Approximately 124 athletes will benefit from the initiative. They will be provided with funds at two week periods from now through to the Olympics. It will total approximately 45 million dollars in support.”

Athletes from six disciplines, including swimming, rugby, gymnastics, boxing, karate and track and field will begin receiving disbursements in a matter of days as the final list of athletes is now being validated by the Athletes Assistance Programme Committee.

Payment of stipends to Paralympic athletes will begin in 3 weeks in keeping with the commitment of the Government of Jamaica to provide support for 18 weeks leading up to the Paralympic Games.

The Athletes Assistance Programme was implemented for the first time in March 2020. It was suspended following the decision by the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government to postpone the Games.

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Kingston, 1 April 2021 - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has issued the following statement at the passing of Bert Rose:

“I am deeply saddened at the passing of Bert Rose, outstanding dancer, choreographer and creative, founding member of the NDTC and co-founder of the Jamaica School of Dance.

“Bert Rose stands among those creative artists and practitioners with which our country has been blessed since the time of our Independence. Founding member of the National Dance Theatre Company, Bertie, as he was affectionately known, enjoyed the honour of performing on the occasion of our country’s Independence. From that moment, Bertie became a part of the dance-scape of Jamaica, carving out Jamaican-Caribbean dance techniques, eager to bolster the scope of innovation that underpinned the move to create a Caribbean dance aesthetic.

“As a dancer, Bert Rose lit up every stage on which he appeared with his energy, faultless technique and enthusiasm. As choreographer, even while still performing, he brought to Jamaica’s dance development, passion, innovation and drive that resulted in new creations well received by audiences. Bertie exuded dance in his every step, discussion and creation. He felt and displayed the pulse of the Jamaican people as he took to stages across the world. From the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York, to participation in off-Broadway productions there, to his two-year stint in Austria to his performances with the NDTC across the world, Bertie was electric and electrifying.

“Bert Rose was also loved by audiences and students for his willingness to give of himself to others and to the sustaining of a Jamaican-Caribbean dance form. He taught for many years at the School of Dance and encouraged his students to strive for excellence. For him, like his many times choreographer, the late Rex Nettleford, the creation of a Jamaican-Caribbean aesthetic must be a part of our definition as an independent Jamaica.

“Later in his life, Bertie displayed his versatility and flexibility when, after retiring from the performance space, he established Rose and Company to create and provide props and technical artistic support to productions.

“As creative, his work was amazing and again well-received in government and corporate circles. His work in this area included the Grand Gala in the National Stadium and other local and national events. Again, as before, Bertie stamped his emblem on all his creations. You knew it was Bertie’s work once you saw it.

“Among the roles for which Bertie has been forever revered is his performance in Nettleford’s Dialogue for Three. Among his earliest choreographies that will always be remembered was Thursday’s Child and Glory Road. Ironically, Bert made his transition to dance on Glory Road today, Thursday of Holy Week.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, I wish to express deepest condolences to his family, including the NDTC family, friends and enthusiasts. Bertie will always be with us as his memory will loom large in every activity of creative dance that provides passion, artistic excellence, faultless technique and flair. Jamaica has indeed lost another outstanding son. He will be missed. Walk good Bertie on Glory Road.”

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Kingston, 2 April 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that she is pleased that the Rastafari Coral Gardens Elders Home, established at Norwood in St James with funds provided by her Ministry, is now operational.

Minister Grange spoke at the official opening on April 1, 2021, of the Rastafari Coral Gardens Elders Home which is a facility set up to care for the medical and social needs of the survivors of the 1963 Coral Gardens incident. It is managed by the Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society.

“It is pleasing and quite an accomplishment to have the Home now up and running and I must say job well done to the Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society which spent the funds prudently to make the Home fully functional.

“I know that it is much appreciated by the elders resident here, the Rastafari community and by their Member of Parliament, the Honourable Dr Horace Chang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security,” the Culture Minister said.

She also spoke of what had been done since the apology in Parliament in April 2017 by the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister, to the Rastafari community when he also announced the setting up of a Trust Fund to be administered by the Administrator General as compensation to the survivors.

Minister Grange said the Fund was now far in excess of the initial amount of Thirteen Million Dollars which was placed in it in 2018. Survivors have been receiving regular disbursements since then.

She gave credit to those who assisted in establishing the Home such as Dr Chang; Food for the Poor through Mr. Craig Moss Solomon, Cultural Liaison Barbara Blake Hannah, the Team from the Ministry and private donors.

Dr. Chang, who cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony, spoke of the respect he and the Government had for the contributions of the Rastafari citizens, and his own pledge to continuing to work with the Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society to ensure that commitments for further development will be implemented.

These, he said, included the promise of a permanent structure to house the elders, an office for the Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society and 50 acres of land to develop a community and farm.

Other speakers included Sister Pamela Williams, Secretary of the Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society; attorney and broadcaster, Miguel Lorne; ganja activist, Ras Iyah V; and Sister Kathy Howell.

The opening ceremony, which was in the form of a mixture of face to face and virtual setting, ended with the beating of drums and the singing of Rastafari chants.

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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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