Jamaicans are being encouraged to make the trek to Kitson Town in St. Catherine for the Emancipendence period. The site of the second free village after Sligoville, following Emancipation, Kitson Town is home to several historical sites. These include places of worship, cemeteries, plantations, and the caves and a trail used by the legendary Captain Cudjoe and the maroons during...

The Montego Bay Cultural Centre which is located at Sam Sharpe Square in downtown Montego Bay, St. James, stands as a timeless symbol of the rich history of the parish and the resilience of the Nation’s ancestors. The historic structure, which was built in 1803, was first used as a courthouse. It was at this court house that the trial...

Visually impaired visitors to the National Museum Jamaica can now appreciate the various artwork and artefacts through the touch of their hands. The museum is making this possible through a ‘Guided Touch Tour’ Educational Programme that allows patrons to learn and explore artefacts through touching. Located on East Street in downtown Kingston, the National Museum Jamaica, a division of the...

A nomination document has been submitted to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the inscription of Port Royal on the World Heritage List. Port Royal, a town located at the end of the Palisadoes strip in Kingston and former home to pirates during the 17th Century, has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List since February...

The Government is making every effort to reduce the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) in Jamaica, especially among women and girls. A 10-year National Strategic Action Plan to Eliminate GBV in Jamaica (2017-2027) was launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport to prevent violence, protect and deliver adequate services to victims and deal appropriately with...

The celebration of our 54th anniversary of Independence is being led by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport under the primary theme ‘Let’s Get Together and Feel Alright’, a line from Hon. Robert Nesta Marley’s ‘One Love’ song. Independence will also be celebrated through fashion with the theme ‘Wear It Gold and Strike It Bold’. Throughout the season,...

In 1989 the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recommended that July 11 be observed globally as World Population Day to draw attention to population issues.In observance of World Population Day this year, the UNDP is focusing on teenage girls and the enormous challenges many face, such as the burden of being forced into early marriage and...

Often when Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage comes up for discussion the topics range from iconic music artistes to our collage of culinary treats. But Jamaica’s natural gifts, its indigenous flora and fauna and sprawling mountain ranges, are also considered as part of our cultural legacy. This year, with the UNESCO designating the Blue and John Crow Mountains a World Heritage...

On January 9th 2008 the Government of Jamaica announced that the month of February was to be officially declared as Reggae Month. This was done to highlight and celebrate the impact of the musical genre on the country’s social, cultural and economic development. Additionally, the birthdays of two of Jamaica’s and Reggae Music’s late icons are commemorated during the month...