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.

END

Kingston, 24 March 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has released the following statement at the passing of racehorse trainer, Wayne DaCosta.

Minister’s Statement

"I join with the family, the racehorse industry, and wider national sports family in mourning the passing of trainer, Wayne DaCosta.

We had been praying for his full recovery and I had heard through his son, Jason, that Wayne was regaining his strength; so I was shocked to receive this very sad news today.

Wayne DaCosta served horseracing with distinction. His contribution has been mammoth and his impact will continue to be felt for a long time. Wayne DaCosta is simply one of the greatest trainers that Jamaica has produced and he quite rightly won the trainers’ title a record 18 times.

If horseracing is indeed the sport of kings, then Wayne wore his crown with distinction.

I offer deepest condolences to his widow, his children, and other members of the family. I ask that we keep them in our prayers at this time.”

END

Kingston, 21 March 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has issued the following statement at the passing of Peter Moodie.

Minister’s Statement

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of former race car champion driver and mechanic, Peter Moodie, Snr.

Peter in no uncertain way, has earned himself a place in the top drawer of motor sports in Jamaica.

His superb skills as a race car driver were matched only by his phenomenal knowledge of the workings of motor vehicles. In fact, he was one of the pioneers and for the last four decades, the leading figure in circuit and go-cart racing.

In addition, Peter was a top notch instructor, ensuring that the knowledge was passed on to the succeeding drivers in the sport.

With the passing of Peter Moodie, Snr, Jamaica has lost one who was totally dedicated to the development of his sport and his country.

My heart goes out to his family, his friends, and all those involved in motor sports in general.

May his soul rest in peace.”

END

Kingston, 14 January 2021 – The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange says her Ministry will be moving to finalise the transformation and streamlining of the national sports entities during this calendar year.

The national sports entities are the Sports Development Foundation, Independence Park Limited, and the Institute of Sports.

Minister Grange gave the update during a meeting of the Board of Directors of Independence Park Limited on Wednesday (yesterday).

She said the transformation was aimed at creating a more efficient and a more effective government sport system.

Minister Grange urged the new Board to pick up the pace of project implementation. She said it was vital that the National Stadium and Trelawny Stadium infrastructure development project, which was affected by delays caused by covid-19 and weather conditions, gets back on track as soon as possible.

The proposal for the Redevelopment and Upgrading of the National Stadium and Trelawny Stadium is going through all the required stages of the Public Investment Management Secretariat, including submission of a comprehensive project proposal, architectural drawings and the development of a 5-year Business Plan.

The project is now at the final stage which includes submitting financial projections before it can be recommended to the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service for funding.

The members of the Board of Independence Park Limited are:

Dr. the Honourable Michael Fennell (Chairman)
Mr. David Shirley (Deputy Chairman)
Mrs. Annmarie Heron
Assistant Commissioner Terrence Bent
Lieutenant Colonel Dameon Creary
Mr. Lenford Salmon
Mr. Carlton Dennis
Ms. Audrey Chin
Mr. Edward Barnes
Dr. Peter Charles
Ms. Shaneek Clacken
Ms. Stefani Dewar
Major Desmon Brown, General Manager (ex officio)

The members have been appointed to serve for two years. The new Board was constituted in keeping with the National Policy for Gender Equality to ensure that a minimum of 30 per cent of either sex makes up the composition of government boards.

END

Kingston, 1 July 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, said this evening that, “the West Indies and in fact the entire cricketing world is regretting the passing today of one of the greatest exponents of the game, Sir Everton DeCourcy Weekes.”

Minister Grange, who also paid tribute to Sir Everton on Barbados radio, said: “This cricketing hero has left us at age 95, almost scoring the century of life to add to the several that he scored in his illustrious cricket career."

The Minister said that Sir Everton, who was born into humble circumstances in his native Barbados, rose to take his place among the finest batsmen ever to play the game.

Minister Grange said:

“Starting his test cricket career at the same time as Frank Worrell and Clyde Walcott, two other West Indies greats, it was not surprising that they were dubbed “Three W’s”, and that there would be a Three W’s Oval named in their honour.

It would have been hard to conceive that a batsman could score five test centuries in consecutive innings. But Everton Weekes did so in his first series against India, setting a record that still stands. Seven half-centuries in consecutive test matches was also another record of his.

Throughout his career, Sir Everton notched up fifteen test centuries but was no slouch in the field either as he was regarded as one of the best slip fielders in the world.

As we all know, Sir Everton received plethora of awards including the Order of the British Empire, the Barbados Gold Crown of Merit, culminating with his being knighted by the Queen.

Without any doubt, he played a magnificent innings, not only for his native Barbados but for the entire Caribbean and indeed the game of cricket.

Jamaica joins with Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean in celebrating the life of this giant of a sportsman, Sir Everton DeCourcy Weekes.

May his soul rest in peace.”

END

Kingston, 24 March 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has released the following statement on the postponement of the Olympic Games.

Minister’s Statement

“We have received confirmation from the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government that the Tokyo Olympics have been postponed. We accept this decision and we think it is a good move.

For one thing, it provides well-needed clarity for our athletes.

It is difficult to prepare for international competition in the best of times, so we can imagine how much more difficult it has been for them during this time of uncertainty.

We committed to provide stipends for athletes while they train for the Games under the Athlete Assistance Programme. We will pay the sums up to the end of March as our athletes put their training programmes on hold.

I know the disappointment that athletes feel, but I know they understand the reasons for the postponement.

We look forward to them resuming training and representing Jamaica with distinction when it is safe to do so. At that time the Games will also be a celebration of humanity’s triumph over this virus.

In the meantime, I encourage our athletes to take steps to keep themselves safe by practising social distancing and washing their hands regularly with soap and water.”

END

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. 

END

Kingston, 16 January 2020 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has received the all clear from the Jamaican Olympian Asafa Powell to move forward with plans to erect a monument in his honour at Independence Park at the National Stadium.

The sprinter and his wife, Alyshia, signed off on the maquette during a recent call on Minister Grange.

The Powells remarked that the sculptor got the details “just right.”

Minister Grange said the “sign-off by Asafa is an extremely important part of the process” which has included months of discussions and review of models between the sculptor, Basil Watson, and the athlete.

Having received the all clear, Minister Grange says she will now move ahead with the unveiling of the statue at the National Stadium on Sunday, February 9, 2020 at 4:00pm.

The bronze statue — to the scale of one and quarter life size — is the last of four monuments in tribute to outstanding Jamaican sports stars that have been commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport under the Jamaica 55 Legacy Programme.

The statues of Usain Bolt, Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce and Veronica Campbell Brown have been completed and installed.

END

Kingston, 6 November 2019 - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that news today of the death of Olympian Michael Fray has left her feeling really sad.

“Michael was one of those sprinters who performed exceptionally well for Jamaica in the Nineteen Sixties and was a member of our four-by-one relay team which broke the world record with a 38.3 seconds clocking in the semi-finals in the Mexico Olympics. Of note is the fact that this 38.3 clocking still stands as the world record for athletes under twenty-three years old.

“His promise was evident from high school days and while at college in the United States he set the National Junior College 200 metres record in 1967 and was ranked number 10 in the world in the 200 meters in 1968 by Track & Field News magazine.

“It is really sad to lose another of our outstanding athletes so soon after the death of talented footballer Tarania Clarke.”

“I wish on behalf of the Government to extended my deepest condolences to Michael’s brother Robert “Bobby” Fray, his sister, Cecile, his other relatives, friends and members of the track and field fraternity.”

END

Kingston, 7 September 2019 - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has congratulated the Jamaica Senior Men’s Ice Hockey team for “a splendid display in which you created history by winning the AmeriGol-Latam Cup in Coral Springs, Florida in the USA.”

The Jamaica team beat Colombia 2-0 on penalties in the final today after the match was tied 2-2 at full time. The other teams in the competition were Venezuela, Mexico, Chile, Brazil and Argentina.

Minister Grange said:

“Jamaica continues to show the rest of the world how good we can be in sports which are not traditional to us and I really want our Senior Men’s Ice Hockey Team to know how proud we are of what they have accomplished on the ice.”

Miss Grange said the Jamaica Ice Hockey Federation must also be highly commended for the fine showing of the team.

END