Kingston, 6 December 2022 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, opened a debate in the House of Representatives on Monday (today) on a motion for the amendment of the Standing Orders to establish the Bicameral Caucus of Women Parliamentarians.

Minister Grange said the Caucus would “provide a collaborative space for all women parliamentarians, regardless of party affiliation... facilitate dialogue on issues of women’s rights and gender equality and undertake actions to positively impact the inclusiveness of the legislature, legislative process and our country as a whole.”

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Most Honourable Juliet Holness, and the Opposition MP, Dr Angela Brown Burke, spoke in favour of the establishment of the caucus of women parliamentarians at the opening of the debate on the motion.

This follows a weekend training retreat of women Members of Parliament and Senators that discussed several issues including the setting up of the caucus.

The retreat also focused on promoting women's political participation, gender equality concepts in relation to legislative work, ongoing gender equality initiatives in Jamaica as well as opportunities for collaboration among women parliamentarians on priority issues that transcend politics such as gender-based violence, and capacity building on applying a gender perspective in legislative work.

The training retreat on Saturday and Sunday (December 3 and December 4) in Ocho Rios, St Ann was attended by several women MPs and Senators as well as Councillors from both sides of the political divide.

This activity was made possible with the support of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative and the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada. It was organised
by the Bureau of Gender Affairs in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport with the support of ParlAmericas, the UN Women Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean and the Jamaica Houses of Parliament.

The retreat was a response to the request for training by women parliamentarians towards achieving inclusive and effective outcomes for their constituents and the continued implementation of the National Policy for Gender Equality (2011).

The decision-makers in attendance committed to working together to promote gender equality in legislative work. They also reached consensus on the importance of trust and a commitment to honest communication and collaborative advocacy on issues specific to women and children in the legislative process; learning more about and prioritising people-centred approaches in legislative work; and to holding a follow-up meeting by March 2023.

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Kingston, 15 December 2021 – “I’m so happy we have a second shelter that is ready” said the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, as she opened the second government-run shelter for victims of domestic abuse.

The Minister cut the ribbon, symbolising the opening of the facility, in the presence of the High Commissioner of Canada, as well as representatives of the European Union Delegation to Jamaica, the UNFPA and UN Women who have been assisting the Ministry to establish safe spaces for women.

Minister Grange said this latest shelter — the second of three being established by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport — “is ready to accept women and their children who have had abusive situations and need to move from that kind of situation into a shelter where they get protection.”

The Minister said this second shelter was in a remote location and would focus on housing “very high risk victims”. However any woman who needs the shelter should call the National Helpline on 876-553-0372.

The opening and tour of the new facility took place on Human Rights Day — at the end of the 16 Days of Activism towards eliminating violence against women.

“We are celebrating 16 Days of Activism against violence against women and I scheduled this tour so that I could demonstrate that we are doing something about protecting our women and that we have facilities that are ready to be occupied. So here we have additional facilities. This facility can house approximately 13 persons. It’s a comfortable facility… What we have been able to do is to say to the public that we are ensuring that our women are protected — that we create safe spaces for them,” said Minister Grange.

Women who go to government shelters will receive counselling in an environment free from violence or judgment.

“The environment is quite therapeutic; it is evident that this is a place to heal,” said the Programme Manager for the European Union Delegation to Jamaica, Vanna Lawrence.

The European Union has provided €8M, under the Spotlight Initiative, “to support Jamaica in its fight against violence against women and the EU is very pleased to be associated with this second shelter because it does carry forward the EU’s passion for supporting women and girls in their fight against violence,” said Ms Lawrence.

The Spotlight Initiative is a partnership between the European Union and the United Nations. The Director for the United Nations Population Fund Caribbean Office, Alyson Drayton, said her organisation had been assisting the Ministry to produce a manual of special operating procedures for the shelters, providing equipment as well as training counsellors and hiring of staff who will work with women who come to the shelters.

Mrs Drayton explains that the shelters will provide a lifeline for some women. “Many women experience violence in the course of their relationship and, unfortunately for many of them, they remain in the relationship because they see no options, nowhere to go…The shelters are important in terms of providing an option that someone can go, they can be safe, and they can start to put their lives back together.”

Aside from counselling, women who attend the government shelters will also receive training to increase their economic options. One of the new training programmes, which will begin in the new year, will be sponsored by the High Commission of Canada.

“So we have something called the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives,” said the High Commissioner of Canada, Her Excellency Emina Tudakovic. “There’ll be a project starting probably January that will do income generation or stuff to keep the women and their families busy including hydroponics… We’re looking at about 15 beneficiaries and it’ll be a small scale project but it’ll be enough to hopefully get people back on their feet.”

The establishment of the government-run shelters for women who need to leave violent relationships has been one of the priority programmes of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. Since 2018, the Ministry has been acquiring properties and transforming them into facilities to house women who are victims of gender-based violence and their children. This new shelter is the second of three that have been promised by Minister Grange.

The work to transform the third property into a shelter continues.
All the partners in the establishment of the government-run shelters have expressed satisfaction with what has been achieved so far.

High Commissioner Tudavic said “I want to commend the Ministry on the work they’ve done. This is largely funded by the Government of Jamaica themselves so really great work. It’s time to do this and I’m really glad that they’re in a position to do this and I wish them all the very best of luck.”

The Principal Director in the Bureau of Gender Affairs, Sharon Coburn-Robinson said “we’re extremely happy about this because for so many years persons have wanted to have this safe space.”

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Kingston, 31 July 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has praised Jamaican women sprinters, led by Elaine Thompson-Herah, for sweeping the medals in the 100 metres at the Tokyo Olympic games in Japan on Saturday (today).

Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah defended her Olympic title by setting a new championship and Jamaican record time of 10.61 seconds in the final to become the second fastest woman on the all-time list.

Thompson-Herah won ahead of compatriots Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.74) and Shericka Jackson (10.76) who ran her personal best time.

Minister Grange said it was one of the greatest achievements in Jamaica’s sports history.

The Minister said:
“My tears flow for a grateful nation. Jamaica leads the world in female sprint. I want to congratulate Elaine Thompson-Herah on successfully defending her Olympic title.

She has made our small nation extremely proud once again, winning gold in a new Olympic Record of 10.61 and becoming the second fastest woman of all time. I am overwhelmed.

I want to also congratulate Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce on her silver medal. She worked very hard and she’s deserving of being on the podium.

I also congratulate Shericka Jackson on winning the bronze. Again, I have to commend her. She has really shone and she has really made us proud.

So, for the second time in Olympic history, Jamaica has swept the podium places. What a great nation!

I’m so happy as the Minister of Sport and I’m sure all of Jamaica shares my joy. At home the pans and the pots would have sounded.

Clean sweep Team Jamaica."

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Kingston, 8 March 2021 (JIS) - State Minister in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Alando Terrelonge, says the Government continues to work to strengthen legislation aimed at eliminating acts of violence against women.

“From a national perspective, we have taken several measures to combat violence against women. Jamaica has ratified several gender-related international instruments that promote the protection and preservation of human rights and discourage gender-based violence,” he said.

Mr. Terrelonge was addressing the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) HIV, Law & Human Rights virtual symposium, held today (March 8), under the theme ‘Unmasking Violence against Women within the context of HIV and AIDS’.

This theme is in keeping with the issues of sexual and gender-based violence and its intersectionality with HIV.

The virtual symposium was part of the local activities to commemorate International Women’s Day 2021.

The State Minister said that some progress has been made in fulfilling its obligations under these instruments in adopting, signing and amending gender legislation to address the prevalence of gender-based violence.

“Sexual offences against women, children and the elderly and other such violent crimes have taken prominence in terms of addressing sentences, among other things,” he added.

The State Minister said recommendations have also been made for legislation to be amended to facilitate better administration of justice and effective protection of these special groups of persons.

Some of these recommendations include harsher penalties for breaching the Domestic Violence Act.

Mr. Terrelonge said another landmark achievement in addressing violence against women is the Sexual Harassment Bill, which was tabled in the House of Representatives on July 9, 2019.

“A Joint Select Committee has been set up and is looking at that legislation and its provisions, to make sure that it becomes a reality soon,” he said.

The symposium aimed to show the connectivity between gender-based violence and HIV and AIDS, as well as to facilitate discussions on the impact of violence against women and its classification as a human rights violation and the role of government and other key stakeholders in protecting the rights of women, particularly those living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.

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Kingston, 22 February 2021 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced that the President of the African National Congress Women’s League, Bathabile Dlamini, will give the keynote address at a special webinar focusing on the role of women in the fight for freedom, equitable treatment and justice.

The webinar, titled ‘Resistance, Resilience and Recognition’ will take place on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 beginning at 11am.

Minister Grange said:
“Throughout our shared history, women have, with tenacity, played a critical role in all aspects of leadership, freedom movements, democracy, diplomacy, nation building and advancement. And now, in the International Decade of People of African Descent, we think it is fitting to recognise the strong history of resistance and resilience of women in Africa and Jamaica. We must continue to transmit the history and heighten awareness of the contribution of women to empower and inspire this generation, and those to come.”

Ms Dlamini will be joined by Precious Banda, the Convenor of the Young Women’s Desk at the ANC Women’s League. Together, they will highlight the multi-dimensional force of women in South Africa that toppled the oppressive apartheid regime, shaped a democracy, and continues to influence the country’s development.

Minister Grange will also address the webinar on the contribution of women to in nation building, before and since Independence.

Tuesday’s webinar will be the first in a series of online discussions dubbed ‘Conversation with Africa’ which is being staged by the National Council on Reparation in collaboration with the South African High Commission in Jamaica.

The decision to collaborate came out of discussions between Minister Grange and the South African High Commissioner to Jamaica, Her Excellency Lumka Yengeni.

Minister Grange said:
“Jamaica and South Africa share a special bond and long history of solidarity in the fight for freedom, equitable treatment and justice. Our governments see it as timely to engage with the communities of Continental Africa and her Diaspora in a meaningful and inclusive way. The technological platform is allowing us the opportunity and the space to do so, and we are seizing the moment.”

Tuesday’s webinar will be moderated by the renowned historian, Professor Verene Shepherd, a specialist in Caribbean Women’s History.

It will be held on zoom and broadcast live on the PBCJ cable and Youtube platforms; as well as on the Facebook page of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and other social media platforms.

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11 February 2020

Science is exciting. Science is useful. Through science we gain a better understanding of our world and devise solutions to many of the challenges that we face.

But science is an area with too few women and girls. We can change that.

This International Day for Women and Girls in Science is an opportunity to critically review and take steps to remove the obstacles that prevent women and girls from building careers in science.

We need science. And science needs more women. Let us invest in women and girls in science for inclusive green growth.

Olivia Grange, CD, MP
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport

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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Kingston, 17 October 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that the British Broadcasting Corporation naming Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to the list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world, “is recognition totally deserving.”

Minister Grange said that Shelly-Ann’s exploits on the track would have been monumental even before her gold medal run at the 2019 IAAF World Championships.

“But at the Doha meet, she demonstrated courage, class and fortitude to take her fourth 100M gold medal at age 32 and after motherhood. She is in indeed one of the greatest examples for women anywhere of what can be accomplished with determination.

The Sport Minister also congratulated Shelly-Ann on being among the nominees for IAAF Athlete of the Year. “We know that the competition is strong but we also know that you have done enough to win it.”

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Kingston, 17 April 2019 - The Honourable Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has told newly-elected President of Cricket West Indies, Mr Ricky Skerritt, that she has two major concerns that she wishes the regional body to address as priority.

Miss Grange spoke with Mr Skerritt who called on her at her New Kingston offices today.

“First, I wish that CWI pay more attention to developing cricket at the national level “as you strive for the further of the development of West Indies cricket.

“Cricket West Indies should invest more in cricket in the various countries from which the West Indies team is drawn,”

the Sport Minister said,

“and the focus must be more so on cricket at the grass root levels right down to infant and prep schools.”

The Minister said there was also the pressing need for the Region to give more attention to women’s cricket. “There are no real leagues for women’s cricket in the Caribbean. There is the Senior and Junior Cups for male players in Jamaica; where is the Senior and Junior Cups for our females?” the Minister asked.

She said that it was to their great credit that the West Indies women had done so well in world cricket without “adequate supporting structures.”

The Minister also called for more women in the leadership of cricket. 

She assured Mr Skerritt that the Ministry was looking forward to continued collaboration with the new administrations of Cricket West Indies and the Jamaica Cricket Association.  

Mr Skerritt said that CWI was taking the Minister’s concerns on board and in fact had plans to invest more in grass root cricket with emphasis on “kiddies cricket”. 

The new CWI President said also that improvements affecting women’s cricket were coming, noting that the process had already begun with increasing the salaries of West Indies women team to the level of those paid to the men.

Mr Skerritt also informed the Minister that the major objective for his visit to Jamaica was to raise funds. He said, “low inflows of cash in the last financial year because of the sparsity of international cricket in the Caribbean, has affected us.”

Mr Skerritt said that so far his visit had been “reaping fruits.”   

The CWI President was accompanied to his meeting with Minister Grange by Mr Wilfred “Billy” Heaven, President of Jamaica Cricket Association; Mr Johnny Grave, CEO of Cricket West Indies; Mr Jimmy Adams, Director of Cricket; and Mr Barry Thomas, Finance Director of Cricket West Indies.  

Kingston 12 April 2019 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says a certain pervasive “idea of masculine identity” is at the root of the high levels of violence, including gender-based violence, in the country.

According to the Minister, “This idea of masculinity that we teach and enforce causes men to see themselves as strong and women as weak.  It makes them feel that they are superior to women and that they can own, control and abuse women.”

Minister Grange says the problem begins early in the lives of our children and has to do with how we choose to raise our boys.

“We tell them that they must be masculine; and that masculinity is the opposite of femininity.  So they grow up to reject feminine traits in favour of masculine ones.  They must be tough.  And we spend a lot of time training them to be tough.  We punish them in certain ways to toughen them up.  We drop lick pon dem — much more than we do girls.”

The Gender Minister says the effect of attempts to toughen up our boys is the “hardening of our society; not only men, but women who must assert themselves in the face of male aggression.”

She says a lasting and practical solution is to change the way we raise our children, especially boys, who are currently subject to violent beatings as part of their upbringing.  “There is a saying, ‘don’t spare the rod and spoil the child,’ but, ladies and gentlemen, I believe we should in our new socialisation of our children, banish corporal punishment from our culture,” declared Minister Grange.

The Minister was addressing the Policy Meeting on Masculinity in the Caribbean at the University of the West Indies Regional Headquarters at Mona.  She welcomed the idea of the policy meeting but cautioned the participant that it cannot be a talk shop.

Minister Grange said: “I know there is no quick fix.  There is no silver bullet.  There is no magic wand.  But we are in a crisis; and our people are impatient for action.  We can study all we want.  We can research all we want.  We can have policy documents all we want.  But if we don’t ensure that we move it from there to the next stage we would be just spinning our wheels, speaking to ourselves and not being able to get to where we really can solve the problem.”

The meeting was organised with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank.