Andrew Clunis, Freelance Writer
KEY PLAYERS in the entertainment industry say the appointment of a Minister of Entertainment is a joke.
In fact, many say Minister Portia Simpson Miller has been given a "basket to carry water."
In a Cabinet reshuffle earlier this year, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson added the responsibilities for Tourism and Entertainment to the portfolio of Sport, held by Minister Simpson Miller.
Six months later, there has not been a policy statement or plan of action from the Minister regarding entertainment and attempts by Showbiz to discuss the matter with her have been disregarded. There was no response to several requests made by Showbiz for interview appointments with Minister Simpson Miller and a list of questions faxed to her public relations representatives went unanswered.
Jamaica's music industry has been estimated to have a potential value of US$2.2 billion, according to a United Nations survey done a few years ago.
The Minister's silence is deafening and industry players are in a quandary.
"I am very concerned. I think that all that has happened is that an announcement has been made, and it appears that nothing has been done to make that announcement bear fruit," said entertainment attorney, Lloyd Stanbury.
Opposition spokesperson on Information and Culture, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, said she believes the Minister has been given a "basket to carry water."
"The fact that it is not in her title, underscores the feeling that it is not being treated as a serious portfolio. Certainly, the entertainment component has no clear definition, as aspects of the entertainment industry are all scattered in different ministries," said Miss Grange.
Mr. Stanbury labelled the inactivity since the announcement "an insult."
He continued: "It would appear that only entertainers are taking this business seriously. The Government is joking with us. That announcement should only have been made after facilitatory measures were put in place. A number of people have had meetings with her and the general consensus is that she has no wherewithal, no person in the ministry, not even a piece of paper to say Entertainment Division of the Ministry. I know the Minister is excited about it and is raring to go. She has a lot of great ideas and she's passionate and committed to making it work."
Miss Grange said the Minister's first objective should be to bring together the areas of the various Ministries which deal with entertainment. This was suggested by Mr. Stanbury as well.
As it stands, areas related to entertainment fall under the Ministries of Industry, Commerce and Technology; Local Government, Youth and Community Development, Education and Culture and Finance.
"The first step must be to bring them together. Maybe there won't be need for new staff and no additional budgetary allocation. It would be just to streamline things and have them coming from one person who is in charge. The next thing would be to arrive at a policy position, which can be taken to the Cabinet, and set up a development plan," said Mr. Stanbury.
Music entrepreneur Gussie Clarke said he's not aware of any intiatives by Government since the development of the portfolio. He feels the Minister's first step should be a qualitative one, where standards within the industry are addressed.
"The Minister will have to play a vital role in changing the standards. We can't build on what we hear these days as music. We have to get back to a level where people will invest. Anti-piracy must be on top of her list. That kind of criminal activity must be addressed.
"You go into record stores and see two CD burners under their counters, cassette vendors on every street corner. She will have to cut out the poison and see how the tree can bear fruit again," Mr. Clarke told Showbiz.
Patrick Roberts of Shocking Vibes Records said: "I have the utmost respect for her and her credibility is never in doubt. But I think she needs to appoint a director of entertainment to advise her on the ins and outs of the industry. It needs to be dealt with urgently, otherwise I would suggest that the Government drops that portfolio."
Kingsley Cooper, chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Council, established through JAMPRO, said: "Many members of the entertainment industry are disappointed that few tangible results have been forthcoming in entertainment development since the new Minister has been appointed. However, I have met with the Minister and her Minister of State, Wykeham McNeill, and I am aware that efforts are under way behind the scenes to effect development in certain areas."
Mr. Cooper said both Ministers have been looking at entertainment projects as well as infrastructure, such as the appointment of an entertainment consultant, an entertainment board and a director of entertainment. He said the Ministry of Foreign Trade has been working to collate a body of information to substantiate multi-lateral funding for entertainment development.
"As an industry in need of development, it is also incumbent on us, its members, to press for tangible action, capable of creating the enabling environment the industry needs," he continued.
Miss Grange said that during the JLP reign, the JCDC was used to develop and steer entertainment initiatives.
"We had clearly defined programmes and activities for the promotion and development of the gospel industry and the entertainment industry. As Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, we established an Entertainment/Arts Division. The concern I have is that there is no clear entertainment/arts policy, no physical structure that accommodates facilities that serve the industry as a co-ordinating unit. There is no staff in place, specifically responsible to administer at a Government level the affairs of the entertainment arm of the Ministry.
"I won't blame the Minister as an individual, but I am holding the Government responsible for making an announcement that is only a face card to create the perception that it considers the industry so important as to appoint a Minister," she said.
