$50m to boost Independence celebrations, says Grange

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Olivia Grange, said yesterday that the stage is set for a rich 50th anniversary national celebrations with a $50-million injection from the national budget.

Jamaica won its Independence from Britain on August 6, 1962.

The stated aim of the Independence celebrations are, among other things, to strengthen and enhance the cultural identity of the Jamaican people, and provide spaces for reflection and meditation on the achievements, struggles, challenges and aspiration of Jamaicans.

special secretariat

The ministry is also seeking to create opportunities for economic advancement through the planning and implementation of trade fairs, market penetration activities, expositions and festivals.

"You will notice that we have an allocation and that is to get us started, we are setting up a secretariat within the ministry," Grange said in reference to the $50 million.

She said a core staff will be employed, but the plan is to rely heavily on volunteers from the culture movement across the island.

"We haven't officially launched the committee as yet, but that it is broken up into sector groups dealing with special through to legacy projects," said Grange.

Grange said all members of parliament will be encouraged to set aside funds from their allocations from Constituency Development Fund for the celebrations.

The anniversary celebrations coincide with that of the general election year, due in 2012.