After losing an estimated $423 million per month during the COVID-19 lockdowns, there is evidence of a revival of Jamaica’s entertainment, culture, and creative industries.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange informed Tuesday’s meeting of the House of Representatives that she was happy to see the recovery, which also included the ministry’s involvement in sport, aided by a support package which her ministry was able to provide.

Grange noted that, in 2022, the number of event permits issued by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) increased by 93.8 per cent over the permits issued in 2021 at the height of the pandemic.

“But, compared to the 2019 event permit numbers — when 20,762 permits were issued — the 2022 number is considered low. We anticipate further growth and development,” she assured the House during her presentation in the annual sectoral debate.

Grange said: “In the last financial year we provided grants totalling $490.5 million to support culture, gender, entertainment, and sport. This includes subventions to sports federations; grants to cultural communities, including the maroons; subventions to gender organisations; and scholarships.

“Additionally, we collaborated in the staging of sponsored mega events across the island, including Reggae Month, Jamaica Festival, Carnival in Jamaica, Reggae Sumfest, Rebel Salute, as well as the first ever, Island Music Conference — designed to stimulate activity in the entertainment industry and several sectors that rely on entertainment,” she said.

The minister also recalled that the ministry hosted the Jamaica Creative Career Expo for students at secondary and tertiary institutions to give them opportunities to engage with successful local and international creative entrepreneurs and professionals.

More than 700 students attended the Expo at the Jamaica Conference Centre, focusing on fashion, film, entertainment production, and the performing arts.

Turning to 2023 Jamaica Festival Song Competition, Grange said she welcomed the strong response in terms of the number and quality of entries in this year’s entries.

She added that the 10 finalists for the Gospel Star competition, which will return as a television series spanning four weeks on CVM-TV, include a mix of “seasoned practitioners” and others “trying to buss”.