Hon. Olivia "Babsy" Grange

On Friday June 19, I met with Her Excellency Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, in the margins of NEXT STEPS, the High Level Consultative Conference on the next steps to the landmark UN Resolution on tbe trafficking of enslaved Africans.

I was accompanied by His Excellency Lincoln Downer, Jamaica’s non-resident High Commissioner to Ghana, Ms. JoAnne Archibald, Principal Director of Culture and the Creative Industries, and Mr Lenford Salmon, Executive Director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission.

Both Ministers used the opportunity to strengthen the partnership between Jamaica and Ghana in cultural heritage and the entertainment, culture and creative industries.

Building on the progress made through our recent Joint Commission engagements, we reaffirmed our commitment to deepen the historic ties between our nations, particularly through the vast opportunities which are available in the cultural and creative industries.

Our discussions focused on expanding collaboration in film, fashion, textiles, theatre, gastronomy and other creative sectors as we work together to drive shared development, preserve our rich cultural heritage, and create new opportunities for our people.

Today in Accra, Ghana, I had the profound honour of representing Prime Minister Andrew Holness at a most historic gathering on reparatory justice.

I proudly stood on the shoulders of the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, in the presence of his son Dr Julius Garvey, as I boldly reaffirmed Jamaica’s unwavering commitment to and solidarity with Africa and her Diaspora as we continue the global pursuit of justice for the gravest crime against humanity, the transatlantic trafficking and chattel enslavement of African peoples.

We will be unrelenting in our pursuit of truth, equity, reconciliation and repair, while paying tribute to our ancestors whose resistance, resilience and triumph made our presence possible today.

This landmark three day conference, dubbed Next Steps, has brought together Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Government, civil society representatives, historians, researchers and legal experts from more than 80 countries. It is the first major global gathering on reparatory justice since the adoption of the historic UN resolution.

From Kingston to Accra, we stand united in advancing reparatory justice, reclaiming our shared memory, identity and destiny.

As Marcus Garvey declared: Up Ye Mighty Race!
One Love. One Heart. One Aim. One Destiny.

Minister Grange Attending Ghana Conference on Reparations

Kingston, June 17 - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, representing the Prime Minister, Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, is leading Jamaica’s delegation to a conference in Ghana to advance Africa’s push for reparatory justice after the adoption of the landmark United Nations (UN) resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.

Heads of states and governments, ministers, civil society representatives, historians, researchers and legal experts representing more than 80 countries are in the Ghanian, capital, Accra, for the three-day event, billed Next Steps, which started today, June 17 on Wednesday. It is the first major gathering on the issue since the resolution was adopted.
Minister Grange is accompanied by Jamaica’s Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Lincoln Downer, the Principal Director for Culture in the Ministry, Ms Jo-anne Archibald, the Co-Chair of the National Reparations Committee, Mrs Laleta Davis Mattis, and the Executive Director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission JCDC), Mr Lenford Salmon.
The Conference will offer a platform to translate international intention into actionable commitments through a broad stakeholder dialogue to advance historical justice and reparations for Africans and people of African descent.

It will further inaugurate dedicated expert panels on reparatory justice, the return of cultural artefacts, and legal pathways, mandated to provide sustained technical guidance in support of implementation.

On June 19 the Conference will feature an event at Osu Castle - a 17th-century fortress in the Accra - built by the Danish that served as a hub for the transatlantic slave trade. The event is to honour Juneteenth, (June 19) which marked the end of slavery in the United States. It specifically commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were finally free - more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Conference comes nearly three months after the UN General Assembly voted to adopt a proposal by Ghana on behalf of African Union member states to recognise the trafficking of enslaved Africans and the racialised chattel enslavement of people from the continent as the gravest crime against humanity.

A total of 123 states voted in favour of the proposal while three – the US, Israel and Argentina – voted against it and 52, including the United Kingdom and all European Union member states, abstained.

The transatlantic slave trade lasted about 400 years – from the early 16th century to the late 19th century.

An exciting series win for the West Indies as international cricket returns to Sabina Park.

Met with the President of Cricket West Indies, Dr Kishore Shallow on Friday, June 12, to discuss Jamaica’s cricket, particularly the upcoming opportunities for Jamaica to host iconic cricket series and general agreements between CWI, the Government of Jamaica and the Jamaica Cricket Association.

I expressed the view to Dr Shallow that everyone has a role to play in re-building West Indies cricket; governments, the associations and the CWI. I also spoke of the importance of going to the grassroots to unearth talent and have our youngsters playing cricket at a very early age.

Positive start by the West Indies winning the opening match in the T-20 series. Unfortunately two of the matches were rained out in the ODI series. Let us hope that the weather will hold and all games will be played in this series.

Getting in a little dominoes too completed a wonderful night at Sabina Park.

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of an icon of Jamaican music Wilburn Theodore “Stranger” Cole.

For more than six decades Stranger helped shape the sound and evolution of Jamaican music from Ska through Rocksteady to Reggae. His timeless hits include Bangarang, Rough and Tough, When You Call My Name, Just Like a River and Run Joe. Bangarang is, in fact, widely regarded as one of the earliest recordings of the Reggae genre.

I wish to extend my sincere condolences to his family and friends and the entire music fraternity as well as his fans in Jamaica ad throughout the world.

Walk Good Stranger. Jah Love.

On June 10, we paid tribute to the late Hon. Hugh Hart, OJ, an outstanding lawyer, visionary businessman, dedicated public servant, and true nation builder.

He made an indelible impact across law, politics, tourism, energy, and national development. Despite his many accomplishments, he remained humble, approachable, and deeply committed to the people of Jamaica.

His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the institutions he strengthened, and the example of service, integrity, and excellence he leaves behind.

Rest well, good and faithful servant. Jamaica is better because of you.

Pleased to join the launch of the Jamaica Football Federation’s Women’s Football Strategy under the theme, “Shaping the Future: Accelerating the Growth of Women’s Football in Jamaica.”

This strategy is a commitment to creating greater opportunities for women and girls through football, strengthening development pathways, and building a sustainable future for the game.

Congratulations to the JFF and all stakeholders on this important milestone. Together, let us continue to invest in our girls, support our Reggae Girlz, and accelerate the growth of women’s football in Jamaica.