HANOVER, Jamaica — Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange says her ministry will fund the commemorative event in honour of national hero, the Right Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante, at Blenheim in Hanover on February 24.

The event, marking the national hero’s birthday, is normally funded by the Hanover Municipal Corporation. However, this year, the corporation was unable to fund the event.

Following discussions involving Member of Parliament for Hanover Western, Tamika Davis and the leadership of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Grange announced that the ministry will fund the event through the JCDC.

Grange said the commemorative event at Bustamante’s birthplace will include “performances by students, the laying of floral tributes and reflections on the life of the great leader”.

The guest speaker will be the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Alando Terrelonge.

The culture minister said JCDC, “must now play a leading role in organising commemorative events linked to national heroes, working closely with local authorities”.

Bustamante, who was Jamaica’s first prime minister, was born on February 24, 1884.