Teino Evans, Staff Reporter

Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, speaks with King Jammys recently, when she met with members of the music industry at the Office of the Prime Minister. - Photo by Teino Evans

Much is expected of the recently appointed Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, as members of the entertainment industry say they hope to benefit from her vast experience in the industry.

"She (Ms. Grange) is coming out of the industry, she used to manage artiste and thing, so she is very much aware and knows what the problems are and I have heard her articulate them too, so I'm very hopeful,"said Clyde McKenzie, general manager of Shocking Vibes Limited. "The issues I know that the last Entertainment Advisory Board was pushing for was greater levels of capitalisation and training for people in the industry and she (Ms. Grange) is very conversant with these issues and very passionate, I know that."

Entertainment attorney, Lloyd Stanbury also added his vote of confidence for the minister and commented: "I am very happy to see that the entertainment industry will have a Minister who does not only understand what our business is about, but is also from our business. We are hopeful that this will finally make the difference we need."

Time for action

Stanbury said it was now time for development action for the music industry in particular, "no more time for talking."

And in the same breath, Stanbury made sure to propose the first issue that he would like her to look into.

"I would like to see the Minster make necessary adjustments in government entities such as Jamaica Promotions Company's (JAMPRO) Cultural Industries Unit, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) and the Entertainment Advisory Board to make them one properly funded and structured agency for entertainment development and promotion in a manner similar to what now maintains for the Jamaica Tourist Board," he said.

President of the Jamaica Federation Of Musicians (JFM), Desi Young, says the minister was always, "the favourite in our expectations and we are very comfortable with her. She has a deep understanding of the industry and an understanding of the needs and so we expect that she will address them in due time."

But one member of the music fraternity, Jerome Hamilton of Headline Entertainment made it clear that he had "no expectations."

"I don't have any expectations, what I have are hopes because I don't know what her (Minister Grange's) mandate is from her Prime Minister. But I hope there are more visible things that will come out of this administration," Hamilton said.

Hamilton also added that he could only assume that Ms. Grange would in fact be responsible for entertainment, "because she invited us (members of the music industry)" to a meeting/social at the Office of the Prime Minister recently, but there was nothing in her portfolio that actually said entertainment.

Feels like home

Clyde McKenzie - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

With these expectations and more, Ms. Grange does not appear deterred, as she too is eager to get the ball rolling. Minister Grange recently met with members of the music industry, at the Office of the Prime Minister and addressed them formerly as Minister for the first time.

"I'm with family," she said. "I represent you and it's a wonderful feeling."

She also implored members of the music industry, to work along with her "as my work is going to succeed only by your involvement ... you are going to work with me to make Jamaica proud."

And while admitting that she had been given other responsibilities, Ms. Grange said, "There is a synergy between all these and we will be pulling together, so that we can plan a holistic programme and move forward so that Jamaica can gain all the benefits out there."

In summing up her address to members of the music industry Ms. Grange stated: "Consider this the first day of a great experience in the entertainment industry in Jamaica. My task as minister is to add value so that we can realise maximum benefit."