Kingston, 31 March 2025 – The Minister of the Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has this evening issued the following statement on the passing of Wellesley Bolt.

Minister’s Statement

“Nothing beats the unconditional love of a supportive family.

Wellesley and his wife Jennifer were the picture of a loving and supportive family who were always there for their son, Usain.

They were Usain’s chief motivator, chief cheerleader, source of constant support, and stability.

I found Mr Bolt to be an exceptional and passionate father who was invested in the success of his family. He was the strength of his family.

Every success that Usain has achieved can be attributed to the confidence given to him by his ever-supportive mother and father.

I offer my sincerest condolences to Jennifer, Usain and the rest of the Bolt family on the passing of Wellesley, or Gideon as he was so affectionately called by friends and neighbours in Trelawny.

It is going to be a difficult time, but I encourage them to be comforted by the memory of a very good father.”

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, 12 September 2019 – All is now set for the installation of the statue of the Jamaican Olympic and World Champion sprinter, Veronica Campbell Brown.

On Thursday (today), the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, received the all clear from Campbell Brown.

Minister Grange said:
“We’ve been in discussion with Veronica and the sculptor, Basil Watson, about the design, but today when Veronica saw the maquette she said, ‘Yes, this is it!’. She loves it!"

The statue in tribute to Campbell Brown — to the scale of one and quarter life size — will be mounted at Statue Park in the National Stadium and unveiled during a special ceremony on Sunday, 20 October 2019.

The Campbell Brown statue is the third of four statues in tribute to outstanding Jamaican athletes that are being designed by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport as part of its Jamaica 55 Legacy programme.

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, is being finalised.

END

Kingston, 11 September 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, said today the statue of Veronica Campbell Brown, one of Jamaica’s most celebrated track athletes, will be unveiled at Statue Park at the National Stadium on October 20, 2019.

The Minister made the announcement as she addressed the press conference called by the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Administration to announce Jamaica’s team to the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar between September 27 and October 6,

“Veronica’s statue will join those of Usain Bolt and Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce with the customary the Unveiling Ceremony at Statue Park.”

Minister Grange added that the athlete is now visiting Jamaica as guest of UNESCO and the Jamaica National Commission on UNESCO, of which the Minister is the Chairman.

“You will recall that Veronica Campbell Brown was the first UNESCO designated Champion of Sport in the Americas, that designation having been conferred on her in 2009.
“VCB’s focus has been on women and girls in sports, advocating for equal treatment for them and for clean sports,” Miss Grange said.

END

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, today unveiled a maquette of the statue which will be mounted at Statue Park at the National Stadium in honour of Usain Bolt, considered by many across the world to be the greatest sprinter in the history of track and field.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Honourable Olivia Grange, says she is confident that the Usain Bolt Tracks and Records franchise will make significant contributions to the promotion of Jamaica’s sport, music and cuisine.