DURING singer Frankie Paul’s funeral service in 2017, Minister of Entertainment and Culture Olivia “Babsy” Grange appealed to the entertainment fraternity to put things in place for their “departure”.

“Let us get our act together! I don’t want to come to another funeral and hear stories that the individual has nothing in place for their death. Death is inevitable. Plan for it! It is unfair to your family and me. Organise yourselves and don’t leave the pressure on us when you go… You have to have a plan when you’re earning. The entertainment business is seasonal, but try getting into an insurance scheme. What if I’m not here?” she said.

Grange appears to be playing her part as members of the entertainment and cultural community will soon be beneficiaries of a Government health insurance scheme.

The announcement was made by Grange at Rebel Salute’s media launch at ROK Hotel, downtown Kingston, on December 21. The two-day festival is slated for January 20 and 21 at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St Ann.

Actuarial consulting firm, Eckler Limited, has been engaged to assist in the tender process.

According to Grange, the scheme will provide critical assistance to persons who have made significant contributions to the development of Brand Jamaica.

“Wherever you go in the world they speak about our music, and I felt it was important that as part of our Jamaica 60 legacy… we ensure that we introduce insurance coverage for our artistes, our writers, our cultural practitioners, to ensure that they benefit from what they have provided to this country,” she said.

Grange noted that some veterans of the cultural and entertainment fraternities, who have reached an advanced age, need this kind of assistance.

“Every day, we lose one of our veterans. If they are very ill or they pass, there is always an issue about dealing with the funeral; there is always an issue about dealing with the health insurance or health coverage, and I thought it was about time,” she said, adding that the scheme is a way of giving back to a community whose talents in promoting Jamaican culture internationally is inestimable.

Promoted by Organic Heart Productions, Rebel Salute was first held in 1994 by deejay Tony Rebel. This year’s line-up of performers includes Big Mountain, Ghanaian artiste Stonebwoy, Third World, Kabaka Pyramid, Capleton, TOK, and I-Wayne.

— BB