KINGSTON, Jamaica –Minister of Youth and Culture, Lisa Hanna, has announced major changes to the annual Jamaica Festival programme which celebrates Emancipation and Independence.

Addressing the launch of Jamaica Festival Wednesday, June 4 at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre in Kingston, Hanna said that among the main changes is an adjustment to the Jamaica Festival celebration period.

Usually, Jamaica Festival refers to the week of celebration from July 31 to Independence Day, but Hanna said that her Ministry has decided to brand Jamaica Festival as a season of activities beginning in June and culminating on Independence Day in August.

According to the Ministry the redesigned Jamaica Festival includes an expansion of activities to incorporate most areas of the Cultural and Creative Industries including literature, film, television, culinary arts and fashion.

The programme also increases focus on parish and community activities in order to widen the identification, development and showcasing of talent island wide.  “In this regard, the Ministry is introducing the Big Stage — a talent search competition at the community and parish levels which will provide unprecedented exposure for creative talent and present an opportunity for development through the Jamaica Cultural Development Corporation’s new artiste management programme.”

The Ministry says is also introducing the “Aunty Roachie Festival” (named for the character created by Louise Bennett) “to showcase the storytelling talent of Jamaica Literary, Film and Television communities”.

Aunty Roach Festival will feature a short film competition, trailers from new television programmes, a book fair, poetry reading and storytelling, the Ministry said in a release Thursday.