Government of Jamaica
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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Passionate about protecting cultural heritage from the threat of climate change?
The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has launched a heritage animation competition in collaboration with UNESCO and the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO, for you to share your ideas and win prizes.
We want you to make an animated film focusing on the impact of disasters and climate change on Jamaican Cultural Heritage.
Are you up to it?
*Entries open on October 29, 2021 and close on December 10, 2021
Kingston, 21 October 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said an assessment meeting held today as Jamaica continues its pursuit of World Heritage inscription for the Sunken City of Port Royal was of immense cultural importance.
Minister Grange said: “The sunken city of Port Royal is one of only three such sites in the world.” [The other two sites are located in Alexandria, Greece and in Bahia, Italy.]
“This is a big deal! It will have a tremendous impact on our heritage tourism product for destination Jamaica as we prepare our nomination for UNESCO designation of ‘the Sunken City of Port Royal’ as a World Heritage Site”, she said of the project which is a historic collaboration between Jamaica, Mexico and Japan.
Minister Grange highlighted that it was, “a game changing meeting with underwater experts, Dr. Roberto Junco from Mexico and Professor Kotaro Yamafune, from Japan who led the team in the introduction of Photogrammetry photography of the Sunken City of Port Royal which has never been done before. This new technology will have far reaching implications for our cultural heritage and for Port Royal itself.”
The Heritage Impact Assessment will take place in three phases. The first phase includes the photogrammetry, which is the taking of detailed photographs of the underwater city.
This new technology will be used for monitoring of the site, developing 3-D models and for data analysis which can be used for research and tourism activities, among other things.
Phase two will involve a larger team of underwater archeologists from Japan, Canada, Mexico and the Netherlands. They will elaborate on the analysis provided by the photogrammetry and also carry out further training of the JNHT team.
Phase three will see the preparation of the final report, expected to be presented in April 2022.
Present at today’s meeting were Ambassador of Mexico, Juan José González Mijares; the Ambassador of Japan, Masaya Fujiwara; as well as officers of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.
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Kingston, 14 December 2020 – More than 700 participants from 130 countries are registered to participate in the meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage being chaired by the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange.
The meeting which will run from today (Monday, December 14) to Saturday, December 19 is being held online because of the ongoing covid-19 pandemic.
Minister Grange said:
“We had hoped to be welcoming you all to Jamaica for the Committee [but] this has not been possible due to the pandemic. However, as your Chairperson, I will do my best to convey to you the Jamaican warmth and hospitality so that you can all feel like you are with us here in Kingston. In short, let’s get together and feel alright."
The Committee will consider 40 requests for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Committee members will also have to decide on four nominations for inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding; four projects being proposed for inclusion in the Register of Good Practices for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage; and examine two requests for international assistance submitted by Malawi and the Central African Republic.
The opening session featured ‘Reggae Greetings from Jamaica’ - a special performance by Jamaican music stars including Peetah Morgan of Morgan Heritage, Marcia Griffiths, and Mykal Rose of Black Uhuru, appearing alongside the Inner Circle Band.
The Committee sessions will be broadcast online at https://ich.unesco.org/en/15com.
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Kingston, 12 November 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has been elected a Vice-President of the 40th Session of the UNESCO General Conference which is underway in Paris, France.
The General Conference, which happens every two years, brings together the 193 members of UNESCO to decide on the policies and work of the organisation.
Minister Grange was elected Vice-President in her absence. She will leave Jamaica on Wednesday (tomorrow) to participate in the General Conference as well as the meeting of the powerful UNESCO Executive Board.
The 58-member Executive Board is responsible for the overall management of UNESCO. Jamaica is serving the Board on a 4-year term, which will end in 2021.
Minister Grange said she was “delighted by the news” of her election as Vice President for the General Conference, adding that it is another opportunity “to serve and to ensure that the voices of countries from the Caribbean and Latin America as well as Small Island Developing States are heard and that we all benefit from UNESCO’s work.”
Minister Grange’s election follows her just-concluded successful two-year term as Chair of the UNESCO Committee on Conventions and Recommendations; and her recent re-election as Vice Chair of the Culture Committee of the Organisation of American States.
While in Paris, Minister Grange will also serve as a panellist at the High-Level Meeting of Ministers of Culture.
Minister Grange will return to the island on 21 November 2019.
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Kingston, 4 October 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says National Heritage Week — October 13-21 — will be celebrated under the theme ‘Our Heritage… A Great Legacy.’
Minister Grange has urged Jamaicans across the world to join the celebration.
Minister Grange said:
“Let us seize this opportunity to remind ourselves of the rich heritage left to us by our ancestors and the great legacy that it has become. Let National Heritage Week be a time to inspire our people to play their part in building the Jamaica that we all desire while advancing the welfare of the whole human race.”
The main activities for National Heritage Week will take place on Heroes Day, Monday, 21 October 2019 when the nation will “pay homage to its seven National Heroes as well as to our everyday heroes who follow in the footsteps of the seven by dedicating their lives to, and giving great sacrifice in service to others."
On Heroes Day, more than 100 people will be honoured and awarded for their service at the National Honours and Awards Ceremony at Kings House.
In addition, there will be a Heritage celebration activity in each parish capital on Heroes Day beginning at 7pm.
Other activities for National Heritage Week include:
- the Heroes of Reggae Vintage Concert at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Saturday, 19 October 2019 beginning at 7pm;
- the Unveiling of the statue of Veronica Campbell Brown at Statue Park at the National Stadium on Sunday, 20 October 2019 beginning at 4pm;
- Revival Time Music Festival at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Sunday, 20 October 2019.
- National Heritage Week will begin with a Church Service on Sunday, 13 October 2019 at the Calvary Gospel Assembly, 129 Sundown Crescent, St Andrew.
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Kingston, 9 August 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says that Jamaica and Kenya have agreed to cooperate in the fields of sports, culture and heritage.
Minister Grange says the agreement was finalised during the recent State Visit of the President of Kenya, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta.
Minister Grange signed the Memorandum of Understanding formalising the cooperation agreement with the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage, Ambassador Amina Mohamed.
Under the MOU, Jamaica and Kenya have agreed to cooperate in the organising of major sporting events in track and field, water sports, football, cycling, cricket, netball, boxing, tennis, golf, martial arts, basketball, rugby and any other discipline that both countries may mutually decide upon.
Minister Grange said:
“Jamaica is the sprint capital of the world and Kenya has a great reputation of producing some of the finest long-distance runners that we have ever known. I believe there is much that we can share not only in track and field, but in other sporting disciplines as well. And so we look forward to exchanges of coaches, administrators and physical education teachers; welcoming Kenyan athletes for training here in Jamaica among other initiatives which will benefit both of our countries.”
Jamaica and Kenya have also agreed to collaborate on sports science, the promotion of sports for people with special needs, and the implementation of anti-doping policies, procedures and practices within the World Anti-Doping Agency system.
Regarding culture and heritage, the areas of cooperation will include collaboration between the National Archives of both countries with a focus on digitisation and modernisation of the entities; cultural exchange in the cultural and creative industries; cooperation between the national museums in the field of heritage research, protection, conservation and management as well as exchange of experts.
Minister Grange said: We would wish to see visits of cultural and creative practitioners including musicians, dancers, actors, theatre groups and visual artists. And so we encourage the participation of our cultural and creative practitioners in festivals in both countries with a view to enhancing the strong cultural links between Jamaica and Kenya.
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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
Kingston 16 April 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has expressed sadness at the devastation by fire of the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, France.
Minister Grange said she was “truly saddened to see images of the fire that ravaged the Notre-Dame” and that the “ruin of the World Heritage Site, which took centuries to construct, was a blow to humanity.”
She added: “I express sympathy to the people of France, particularly those who worship at the cathedral, which is considered one of the great architectural achievements of humanity."
Minister Grange noted that this devastation has come just a few days before we celebrate World Heritage Day on Thursday, 18 April 2019, by highlighting our important cultural monuments and sites.
Kingston 27 January 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says Jamaica endorses the “Year of Return, Ghana 2019”.
The “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” is an initiative of the Government of the Republic of Ghana which is intended to encourage people of African descent to visit Africa.
Speaking at the Caribbean launch of the Year of Return in Kingston on Sunday (today), Minister Grange said:
“Jamaica looks forward to a successful Year of Return and we will work with Ghana towards a successful year. Jamaica observes the International Decade of People of African Descent and so it is all very timely that we work together.
“We are connected. Ghana was a major hub for the transatlantic slave trade from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and we are happy that you have opened the door this year for people in the African Diaspora to return.”
“And as Jamaicans, we’re proud to see that our Reggae music will form the soundtrack for the Year of Return.”
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Ghana, Her Excellency Catherine Afeku said it was important to begin the Year of Return programme for the Caribbean in Jamaica.
Minister Afeku said:
“This is the Maroon country where liberation struggles started even before Independence. So we started here for symbolism. We want to invite you home, but we want to invite you coming back with that sense of strength that you are a descendant that survived.”
Minister Afeku said the Year of Return was an opportunity to highlight the strength of African peoples who survived the transatlantic slave trade.
According to her, “We have scientists who are the descendants of slaves, we have astronauts who are descendants of slaves. We have the Bob Marleys who are the descendants of slaves. We have the Usain Bolts who are the descendants of slaves. That is a positive story.”
The Ghanaian Minister is encouraging Jamaicans to make a pilgrimage to Africa, beginning with her country, even once in their lifetime.
“Ghana is opening its arms. Ghana is opening its doors. We want you to come and take a heritage that belongs to you. So it is not a favour, it is yours. We are here to assure you that you can make a home on the continent starting with Ghana,” said Minister Afeku.
Minister Grange said consideration is being given for direct flights between Jamaica and Ghana in support of the Year of Return initiative.
The year-long celebrations include music and food festivals, summits, investment fora and product exhibitions.