Government said it would not cancel national celebrations due to begin this month, despite the slashing of the budget to nil from $100 million over two years.

Culture minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange and her ministry aides told the Sunday Observer that private sector interests along with the reallocation of resources from discontinued events allowed the celebrations to proceed.

“There will be national celebrations (such as) Grand Gala in the National Stadium. The national celebrations will begin the end of July,” stated Oliver Watt director of communications in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

Specifically, the budget for the ‘celebrations of national events’ and ‘prime minister’s Independence Gala’ conducted via the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) — which falls under the ministry — has been slashed to nil for 2010/11, from $20 million in 2009/10 and $100 million in 2008/9 budget as stated in the Estimates of Expenditure for years ending March 2011 and also March 2009.

“The JCDC is pleased to say that through the continued support of corporate Jamaica with which it has partnered, the Commission will be staging a number of events to mark our Independence and Emancipation celebrations,” added Watt.

The JCDC will launch Jamaica Festival activities on June 17th where Grange will be unveil all the events.

Minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange told the Sunday Observer that the previous administration staged the Street Gala on Knutsford Blvd in addition to the Prime Minister’s Gala at Jamaica House. “Both these events were discontinued and the resources put towards the re-introduction of the Grand Gala at the National Stadium,” she said.

“It would mean that sound, lighting and event management companies will continue to benefit from the activities,” she concluded.