Dear Editor,

I am a person who supports good things, and I am a patriotic Jamaican, so I want to take the chance to comment on the criticisms made of the recently held ‘Rio Salute’.

This is not about taking sides of political parties, but about supporting the people who give us glory and that is really what everyone should be focusing on, rather than finding things to criticise. It is a pity that the effort the Government made to be all-inclusive in our national honour of the Rio Olympians has been made into the tool of political criticism.

I am happy to have been a member of the team of people who were invited to undertake various aspects of the salute, so I am qualified to clarify some issues relating to the entire programme to honour the great achievements of our national team. The budget of $82 million was not spent on the Rio Salute at the National Indoor Sports Centre. The figure includes cash awards of $42 million to athletes, coaches and officials of the Rio delegation, airfares to Jamaica for athletes living abroad, transportation, and hospitality for five days in Kingston and western Jamaica, as well as the cost of hiring the National Indoor Sports Centre for rehearsal, the cost of staging the actual event, paying the choreographer, dancers, lights and sound technicians, as well as the artistes.

The production of the entertainment in the Rio Salute programme included several aspects of national culture. There was gospel music, reggae music and dancehall music. Some athletes were asked while plans were being made which artistes they wanted to see perform. Just as Kevin Downswell was named by members of the team who like gospel music, and Chronixx was chosen by the reggae fans, Spice was one of several named to represent those for whom dancehall is their choice of Jamaican music. I have heard criticisms for including gospel music, and I have been told that some people left the event because they were disappointed with the Chronixx set. These criticisms were not as vicious as those who objected to Spice’s inclusion in the show, yet I have heard much praise from those who thoroughly enjoyed her performance as much as I enjoyed Chronixx.

I am glad to have been there because I represent a certain demographic, and I was very proud that Chronixx enlivened the show with his song Smile Jamaica and gave us a blazing finale, which was a fitting end to a great evening of entertainment enjoyed by everyone in the centre.

It is not possible to please everyone at national events. I know Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange will continue to try to do her best as minister of gender, culture, entertainment and sports. She knows that criticism is par for the course, and will surely respond in another space, while I take the opportunity to respond in mine.

Barbara Makeda Blake Hannah

jamediapro@hotmail.com