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Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange

‘Emancipendence’ 2020 Message from Minister Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport

Happy Emancipendence Jamaica! Fellow Jamaicans, we celebrate the 58th anniversary of our nation’s Independence and 182nd anniversary of our Emancipation amid the impact of a global pandemic, COVID-19, which has upended our society and threatened our lives and livelihood. And...

Fireworks for Jamaica 58 Independence Celebration

Members of the winning teams for the various categories in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) ‘Perform A Yaad’ Social Media Competition, along with their respective teachers pose for a photograph after collecting their prizes at an awards presentation ceremony for the competition, held at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St. Andrew, on Tuesday (August 4).

The group-based competition, which ran on the JCDC’s Facebook and Instagram pages, saw participating groups submitting a video recording of their best at-home performance. It targeted previous participants of the JCDC’s National Festival of the Performing Arts, covering the five performing arts subject areas of:Dance, Drama, Music, Speech and Traditional Folk Forms, and was hosted in an effort to keep JCDC performing arts junior participants engaged during the stay-at-home orders stipulated by the Government as part of measures to contain the local spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). — Members of the winning teams for the various categories in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) ‘Perform A Yaad’ Social Media Competition, along with their respective teachers pose for a photograph after collecting their prizes at an awards presentation ceremony for the competition, held at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St. Andrew, on Tuesday (August 4). The group-based competition, which ran on the JCDC’s Facebook and Instagram pages, saw participating groups submitting a video recording of their best at-home performance. It targeted previous participants of the JCDC’s National Festival of the Performing Arts, covering the five performing arts subject areas of:Dance, Drama, Music, Speech and Traditional Folk Forms, and was hosted in an effort to keep JCDC performing arts junior participants engaged during the stay-at-home orders stipulated by the Government as part of measures to contain the local spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

PHOTOS: Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) ‘Perform A Yaad’ Social Media Competition Awards Ceremony

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (centre); Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (left) and Custos of Kingston, Hon. Steadman Fuller, recite the National Pledge, at the Emancipation and Independence Church Service, held at the Portmore Church of God in Edgewater, St Catherine, on Sunday (August 3)

Jamaicans Encouraged To Recommit To Nation Building

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, speaking at the Emancipation and Independence thanksgiving service at the Portmore Church of God in South Edgewater, St. Catherine, on Sunday (August 2).

Minister Grange Says Jamaicans Have Been “Resilient And Strong” In COVID-19 Fight

6 years ago CultureIndependence

Minister Grange announces Independence honour for Shaggy, Marcia Griffiths and Ken Boothe

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced that the Jamaican music stars, Shaggy, Marcia Griffiths and Ken Boothe will be honoured during the nation’s Independence celebrations on Thursday (August 6). The three will be presented with Jamaica Reggae Icon Awards at the Independence Spectacular, a virtual edition of the annual Independence Grand Gala,...

6 years ago Culture

“Our children must not be discriminated against, or deprived of their right to an education on the basis of their hairstyle,” – Prime Minister Andrew Holness

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has noted with concern, the developments surrounding the case of a seven-year-old Jamaican child who was barred from attending school because of the style of her hair. “While we await the written judgement to determine the basis of the ruling issued by our Supreme Court, which by media reports, have suggested that the child’s constitutional rights...

6 years ago Culture

Statement from the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange

“I have seen the media reports regarding the decision of the Supreme Court in a matter to do with the denial of access of a young child to education at a primary school because of her hairstyle. Like many of you, I’m extremely concerned about the reports on the decision as reported and I have asked to see the written...

Social Historian and Director of the Centre for Reparation Research at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Professor Verene Shepherd, makes a point while addressing a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank on Thursday (July 30) at the agency

6 years ago CultureJIS Think Tank

Historian Wants Subject To Be Compulsory In Schools

As Jamaica marks 182 years since Emancipation on August 1, Social Historian and Director of the Centre for Reparation Research at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Professor Verene Shepherd, is calling for the teaching of history to be made compulsory at all levels of the education system. “We must teach the children the truth and to balance...

6 years ago CultureEmancipationIndependence

Emancipendence Church Service At Portmore Church Of God

The National Service of Thanksgiving to mark Jamaica’s 182nd anniversary of Emancipation and 58 years since Independence will take place on Sunday, August 2, at the Portmore Church of God, 58A Barbara Avenue, South Edgewater, at 9:00 a.m. Emancipation Day is observed on Saturday, August 1 and Independence Day is on Thursday, August 6. The Government, through the Ministry of...

Actress, Screenwriter and Behaviour Change Specialist, Dahlia Harris, speaks at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, held Thursday (July 30), at the JIS head office in Kingston.

6 years ago CultureJIS Think Tank

Citizens Need To Appreciate Beauty Of Jamaican Language

As Jamaica approaches Emancipation 2020, citizens need to appreciate the beauty of the Jamaican Language. This view was expressed by Actress, Screenwriter and Behaviour Change Specialist, Dahlia Harris, while speaking at an Emancipation ‘Think Tank’ held on Thursday(July 30) at the JIS head office in Kingston. Emancipation Day will be celebrated on Saturday, August 1. Miss Harris said that Jamaicans...

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange (left) presents the Jamaica Festival Song trophy to Buju Banton. The Reggae singer was named winner of the competition on Sunday (July 26) following a public vote.

6 years ago CultureEntertainment

Buju Banton wins Jamaica Festival Song Competition

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has congratulated the Reggae star, Buju Banton, on winning the 2020 Jamaica Festival Song competition. Buju Banton emerged winner of the competition on Sunday (yesterday) with his song titled, ‘I Am A Jamaican’ following a public vote. Minister Grange said she was happy with the decision to have...