With the entertainment sector just reviving after being plunged into a stagnant mode due to the pandemic, Entertainment Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange said the sector has faced another battering from Hurricane Beryl. Though assessments are still being carried out, Grange confirmed to THE STAR that entertainment spaces in Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth were "severely impacted by Beryl". "These parishes were closest to the eye of the storm which skirted our south coast.
Therefore, spaces on the south coast, like Jakes, which traditionally hosts the Calabash Literary Festival and the Little Ochie Seafood Festival are damaged and in need of rehabilitation. We are also looking into the impact of the hurricane on the smaller entertainment and creative enterprises such as dances, round-robins, bars, and sound system operators, so that we get a holistic view of the impact of the hurricane on the entire ECCI [entertainment, culture and creative industries'] ecosystem," she said. She also noted that the sector was just getting in "high gear" for major events across Jamaica such as Dream Weekend in Ocho Rios, Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay and the annual Jamaica Cultural Development Commission events, which included the JCDC Festival Song Contest.
"Originally, we had planned road shows across Jamaica to take the songs to the people, but out of respect to the many Jamaicans who are still picking up the pieces, we decided to cancel the roadshow and instead focus our energies on pro.
