Grange elected as Vice Chair of the Inter-American Committee on Culture

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Wednesday, December 07, 2016 – Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Honourable Olivia Grange has been elected as Vice Chair of the Inter-American Committee on Culture at the recently concluded VII Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Culture and Highest Appropriate Authorities in Paraguay.

The Inter-American Committee on Culture is the technical-political body of discussion in the area of culture, and is composed of representatives of the Ministries of Culture and highest appropriate authorities of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Minister Grange said the Committee’s main function is to see to the implementation of the mandates of the Declarations and Plans of Action of the Ministerial Meetings on Culture, as well as of those that emanate from the Summits of the Americas.

The Committee on Culture, which was established in 2008 has over the years focussed on a diverse range of areas including:

The role of culture in social development and economic integration and growth
Preservation of Cultural Heritage
Challenges of Cultural Industries
Culture and Indigenous Peoples
Drafting of Culture Policies and impact on Caribbean citizens
Culture and Equality
Cultural Diversity and Public Policies

Minister Grange will serve alongside: Minister-Secretary of Culture of Paraguay, Fernando Griffith (Chair); Minister of Culture of Guatemala, José Luis Chea Urruela (Vice Chair); Beatriz Vivas, Director, Directorate International Cooperation, Ministry of Culture of Argentina (Vice Chair), Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth of Barbados, Stephen Lashley (Vice Chair).

Minister Grange said she is grateful for the opportunity to play such an integral role in the development of culture in Latin America and the Caribbean. She also pledged to ensure that Jamaica follows in the footsteps of the Latin American Countries in the OAS, which have already reaped significant economic benefits from their initiatives in the Cultural and Creative Industries, when compared to their Caribbean counterparts.

Commentary

We congratulate Culture Minister on being elected to be Vice Chair of the Inter-American Committee on Culture.

To serve at an higher level can only enhance our cultural product. Minister Grange is well known for her strong advocacy for Culture and music. Grange has expertise in music promotion, have managed many successful artistes.

Minister Grange is assured of our support at vision newspaper. We wish you all the success in this your new appointment.

We wonder what Lisa “Jezebel” Hanna had been doing while she was Minister of Culture et al for four years. She certainly has questions to answer.

Commentary by Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.