In response to COVID-19 a number of events were hosted virtually, which showcased Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage.
Culture
• The Ministry organised the first virtual staging of Jamaica Festival. This included the Jamaica Festival and Gospel Song Competitions, an ‘Independence Spectacular’ virtual edition of the Grand Gala on August 6.
• A made-for-television production of the National Honours and Awards Investiture ceremony was aired on National Heroes Day.
• Work commenced to develop Seville Heritage Park in St Ann, under the Government’s $10.3 million heritage preservation programme.
• The Government contributed $90 million to the trust fund for survivors of the 1963 Coral Gardens incident.
• The top-10 entries in the Jamaica Festival Song competition were packaged as an album, which is now available for download and/or streaming on international music platforms –Spotify, Deezar, Amazon Music, Apple Music and Tidal.
• Reggae artiste – Buju Banton – won the Jamaica Festival Song Competition with his entry, ‘I Am A Jamaican’, following a public vote.