GOVERNMENT funds were not used in the controversial nearly $8-million delegation led by sports and Culture Minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange to Singapore in December 2009, according to stakeholders.

“The assertion in the media that the mission was funded by JARIA is incorrect,” stated Minister Grange in written release. She said that the money came from the

Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP) funded by the European Union, Singapore private sector and Organising Committee for the Youth Olympic Games.

Minister Grange added that Jamaica got value for money in the trip which occurred between December 5 and 12. According to Grange it resulted in “finalising funding arrangements” for the repair of tracks at the National Stadium in Kingston; it advanced bilateral relations to promote the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, and it promoted Jamaican music and culture.

And, former vice-chairman of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JARIA) Howard McIntosh, also told the Observer that the trip was not funded out of the government purse.

“There were no public funds spent. They were European Union funds spent, used for market penetration overseas, and it was utilised for the intended purpose,” said McIntosh, who offered his resignation from the board following the incident but remains a JARIA member.

The former vice-chairman is accused of planning the trip without the approval of the board. He, however, told the Observer that it was not his decision to choose stakeholders but that of  the Ministry.

McIntosh, who was on the trip, stated that other music and sports stakeholders included Asafa Powell, Veronica Campbell, Abijah, Michael Rose, Dexter Lee, along with Grange and her delegation.

According to the minister’s letter, Jamaica can be pleased with the pioneering success of this culture and music penetration exercise, as some of the notable achievements included:

* Jamaican music and culture will take a centre stage at the Youth Olympic Games in the summer as the athletes undoubtedly will;

* Talks with the organisers of the Games and the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports in Singapore Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, regarding Jamaican participation in the entertainment aspects of the Games went extremely well, “and I expect that very soon we will be in a position to sign off on the proposed Jamaica Night to further promote Brand Jamaica during the Games”.

Regarding claims of internal approval breakdowns in JARIA’s protocol structures with respect to the mission, and which played a role in McIntosh’s resignation, the minister said, “I believe the leadership of this important cultural entity has accepted the spirit of my intent to get the best for Jamaica and for the industry. I urge the cluster to focus its energies around ensuring that we move beyond this controversy and build purposefully for the institutionalisation and growth of JARIA, and to seize the opportunities gained from this, and other market penetration activities.”

The letter also said that JARIA chairman, Freddy McGregor has since “applaud(ed) the efforts on the part of (the) Ministry to foster linkages between the sectors”.