Entertainment sector looks to rebound after hurricane Beryl

With the entertainment sector just reviving after being plunged into a stagnant mode due to the pandemic, Entertainment Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange said the sector has faced another battering from Hurricane Beryl.

Though assessments are still being carried out, Grange confirmed to THE STAR that entertainment spaces in Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth were "severely impacted by Beryl".

"These parishes were closest to the eye of the storm which skirted our south coast. Therefore, spaces on the south coast, like Jakes, which traditionally hosts the Calabash Literary Festival and the Little Ochie Seafood Festival are damaged and in need of rehabilitation. We are also looking into the impact of the hurricane on the smaller entertainment and creative enterprises such as dances, round-robins, bars, and sound system operators, so that we get a holistic view of the impact of the hurricane on the entire ECCI [entertainment, culture and creative industries'] ecosystem," she said.

She also noted that the sector was just getting in "high gear" for major events across Jamaica such as Dream Weekend in Ocho Rios, Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay and the annual Jamaica Cultural Development Commission events, which included the JCDC Festival Song Contest.

"Originally, we had planned road shows across Jamaica to take the songs to the people, but out of respect to the many Jamaicans who are still picking up the pieces, we decided to cancel the roadshow and instead focus our energies on producing the Results Show, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 13. Originally scheduled for the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, the show has now been shifted to the Jamaica College Auditorium for enhanced public convenience, given the forecast for more rain," Grange stated.

Grange said her ministry has reached out to, and are still in dialogue with, other governmental agencies and ECCI practitioners in order to put systems in place to assist with rebuilding those affected.

"Just a day after the hurricane, on July 4, I communicated in a letter to entertainment and creative practitioners, to inquire about its impact on their planned events and businesses. We reached out to our stakeholders through the E-Registry and the responses are coming in and are being collated so that a proper analysis can be done. Once this process is complete, we will be better equipped to address the damage to the sector," she stated. In the letter, the minister also highlighted that in her June 25 sectoral presentation, she indicated that her ministry has instituted the Jamaica Entertainment and Creative Industries Practitioners Insurance Plan, which will provide group health, life and personal accident coverage for entertainers and creatives. She further outlined that the ministry was in talks with the education ministry in making accessible spaces for creatives to operate in if they were left without electricity.

As the industry grapples again to 'pick up the pieces', Grange promised that the ministry "will ensure that the ECCI sector and its practitioners get the support and operate in an enabling environment to propel its growth and prosperity". She said that Jamaica's entertainment sector plays a crucial role in keeping the country on its continued path of economic growth, while remaining "one of the largest contributors to GDP [which] estimated to contribute 5.2 per cent [while] generating revenues of J$2.2 billion annually, and accounting for three per cent of total employment".

"Our data indicates that events such as Jamaica Carnival brought in $5 billion to the economy during the first quarter of the 2024-2025 financial year," she said.