Latest

Director, Community Cultural Development Services, Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Marjorie Leyden-Vernon.

JCDC Stages Activities for National Heritage Week

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is staging a series of activities across the island from October 8 to 15 in celebration of National Heritage Week, under the theme ‘One Love…One Family…One Heritage’. Director for Community and Cultural Development Services...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Alando Terrelonge (left), converses with Director General in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Dr. Sharon Crooks, at the start of a three-day Climate Change and Gender Focal Points Workshop, at the Melia Braco Resort on September 18.

State Minister Highlights Strengths of Women during Disasters

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (third right) stands next to the statue of Jamaica's late cultural icon, Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverley, at the unveiling in Gordon Town Square, St. Andrew, on September 7. The event coincided with the 99th anniversary of the birth of the late cultural ambassador, who was an acclaimed writer , poet, folklorist , educator and radio and television personality . She was affectionately known as 'Miss. Lou'. Sharing the moment (from left) are: sculptor, Basil Watson; Co-Executor of Miss. Lou's estate, Judge Pamela Appelt; Prime Minister's wife and Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew , the Most. Hon. Juliet Holness; Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange; and Miss Lou's son, Fabian Coverley.

Cheers and Applause Greet Unveiling of Miss Lou Statue

The Honourable Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport cuts the ribbon to signal the official opening of the netball court at the Gaynstead High School. Looking on are: Fabian Brown, Caretaker, Trafalgar Division; Kelsey Jonas, netballer; Pastor Derrick Brown, Board Member, Gaynstead High School, Dr. J. Boyd-Vassell, Principal, Liston Aiken, Vice Principal; Major Clifton Lumsden, Chairman, School Board and Latonya Williams, netballer.

More Assistance for Alma Mater Gaynstead High from Sport Minister Grange

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange (right) completes signing major sport cooperation agreement with the General Manager of the state-owned China Sport International Company, Mr Lu Guoguang (left). Under the agreement, more than 400 athletes from Jamaica will receive high level training at specialised centres in China over the next three years.

Grange signs historic sports cooperation agreement with China

7 years ago CultureEntertainmentGender Affairs

Miss Lou’s statue will be mounted in Gordon Town

The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, says all is set for the unveiling of the statue in honour of the Jamaican cultural icon, Miss Lou. Miss Lou’s statue will be mounted in Gordon Town, St Andrew where she lived before moving to Toronto, Canada. Minister Grange says she’s “happy to see this project finally...

Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington DC, Nicolette Williams (3rd left); President of the Jamaican Association of Maryland (JAM), Rick Nugent (left); and and Maryland State Senator, Shirley Nathan-Pulliam (right), share a moment with JAM awardees at the organisation

7 years ago Culture

Jamaicans Urged to Count Blessings

Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, has called on Jamaicans at home and overseas to use the occasion of the country’s Independence to reflect on the many blessings for which the nation should be thankful. The Ambassador, in a message delivered by Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy, Nicolette Williams, at the Jamaican Association of Maryland’s (JAM) annual Independence...

Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2018, Ackera Gowie (centre), waves to the audience inside the National Arena after she was crowned the winner. At left is first runner-up, Shantae Grant, and at right is second runner-up, Chris Ann Douglas.

7 years ago Culture

Festival Queen Wants to Recycle Plastic Bottles

Within a week of being crowned Jamaica’s Festival Queen for 2018, Ms. Ackera Gowie is optimistic about launching her national project – recycling plastic bottles. According to the 23-year-old young woman from St. Mary, it has been heartbreaking for her to see drains clogged, and rivers, sea and shorelines polluted with plastic and other wastes. In keeping with this, she...

Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks (sixth right, front row), joined the large gathering in song at the Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate Jamaica’s 56th anniversary of Independence, at the Howard University Law School, Dumbarton Chapel in Washington DC on Sunday, August 5.

7 years ago Culture

Jamaicans Celebrate in Washington

It was standing room only as Jamaicans and friends poured into Dumbarton Chapel at Howard University School of Law in Washington DC on Sunday, August 5 for the Service of Thanksgiving for their country’s 56th anniversary of independence. Organised by the Embassy of Jamaica, the annual church service was attended by members of the Jamaican communities in Washington DC, Maryland,...

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Homer Davis (5th left, standing), with Spirit of Independence Special awardees following the Independence Day Civic Ceremony at Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, St. James on Monday (August 6). From left are: Norma Webster - Entrepreneurship; Joseph Smith - Community Development; Frank Sondern - Tourism; Robert Blake - Community Development; Joy Jeannite - Education; Carmen Ellis - education; Carlene Rickets - education; Tannoy Dunkley - Entrepreneurship; Clinton Jackson - Community Development and Veronica Amos-Willians (seated) - Education.

7 years ago CommunityCulture

Ten Citizens of St. James Receive Spirit of Independence Award

Ten citizens of St. James were presented with the Spirit of Independence Award for outstanding contributions to the parish’s development, during Monday’s (August 6) Independence Day Civic Ceremony at Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay. The awardees include Carlene Ricketts, for extraordinary service to education; philanthropist, Robert Blake, who is visually impaired, for outstanding contributions to community development; and General Manager...

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

7 years ago Culture

Jamaicans Encouraged To Engender Greater Love of Family, Community and Country

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, is encouraging Jamaicans to engender greater love of the family and community. She said that it is love of the immediate family that will prompt love of the community and, ultimately, country. Ms. Grange was speaking at Sunday’s (August 5) National Emancipation and Independence Thanksgiving Service at the Constant Spring...

Picture showing a chapel and dwelling house at Sligoville in St. Catherine, where the first free village was established shortly after the abolition of slavery in 1834.

7 years ago Culture

Sligoville – Jamaica’s First Free Village

Located about 10 miles north of Spanish Town, St. Catherine, is Jamaica’s first free village, Sligoville. The property was purchased by Baptist Minister and abolitionist, Rev. James Mursell Phillippo, who arrived in Jamaica in 1823. He campaigned for the abolition of slavery, which came in 1834, and for the establishment of free villages for the emancipated slaves. It was in...