Badge of Honour Awardee Says There Should Be a Cultural Centre in Every Parish Capital

There should be a cultural centre in every parish capital where young people can develop their talents in the performing arts, says Marjorie Leyden Kirton.

“A number of young people coming out of high schools don’t matriculate right away to colleges and universities, and this is another option that they can take up and be kept occupied,” she told JIS News during an interview.

Mrs. Leyden Kirton is Director of the Community Cultural Development Services Division of the JCDC, where she has served for more than 28 years.

For her dedication to cultural and national development, she has been awarded the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service.

She is one of 150 Jamaicans who will this year be recognised by the Government with honours and awards for outstanding service in various fields.

These will be bestowed on them at the National Honours and Awards Ceremony at King’s House on National Heroes Day, October 21.

Mrs. Leyden Kirton said that each centre would offer training in the performing arts – music, dance, visual arts and more.

“Young people would have access to training rooms and if dance is what they love, then they could come out in the evenings,” she said.

Further, Mrs. Leyden Kirton said that young people at the centres could be guided towards careers in the performing arts and offered programmes to enhance their talents.

“Look at where a talent in music has taken some of our young men; they become big artistes. Culinary is another big area for Jamaica and if a lot of young men had the opportunity, it could make a difference. While I know they have HEART, there is need for more support, because we are losing our young men,” she added.

Commenting on the award given to her, Mrs. Leyden Kirton said she is “overwhelmingly happy”, noting that her family and friends were also elated when she shared the good news with them.

“They have seen my commitment to the job, the way I speak about it… . Everybody says that I love the JCDC,” she added.

Her journey with the JCDC began in 1996 when she was appointed Parish Manager for Westmoreland where she worked until 1999.

During that period, she played a key role in assisting the JCDC’s Traditional Folk Form Unit, led by Dr. Joyce Campbell, in reviving the Jonkunno Dance in Westmoreland.

This included the formation of the Grange Hill Jonkunno Band and the re-establishment of the ‘Fus A August’ Emancipation Day Celebrations at Independence Park, Hendon Square, Savanna-la-Mar. This event has since become a highlight of the Independence celebrations in Westmoreland.

“I totally found my joy working with the community, working with young people and being able to offer all the competitions that we did and to watch them grow in it, and to see them moving on to the national level and to the Edna Manley College,” she recalled.

Over the years, she has held various significant posts, including Regional Manager, Western Region and Marketing and Public Relations Director at the JCDC’s Corporate Office.

However, she said her biggest role was serving as Acting Executive Director from December 2020 to December 2021 and again from May 2022 to April 2023.

During this time, she provided leadership and direction to the operations of the Commission, particularly during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“It was an amazing experience for me. I was able to work with the team to establish an online system to be able to continue the performing arts competitions,” she said, adding that face-to-face meetings were not possible due to the pandemic.

Mrs. Leyden Kirton said the online platform was established for the entry in-take and adjudication processing of the National Performing Arts Competition, with support from the CHASE (Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education) Fund.

Another of her big successes at the JCDC was implementation of the culture clubs programme across parishes and the bringing together of the clubs at national culture clubs conferences and regional consultations.

She said that the concept of establishing culture clubs was another way of preserving Jamaica’s culture and heritage.

Mrs. Leyden Kirton said that the JCDC is now in the process of planning the Culture Club’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

“So that’s the big thing that I am working on for next year,” she added.

Beyond her professional life, Mrs. Leyden Kirton is a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Westmoreland Lay Magistrates Association.