Jamaica Festival Song back on - Grange

Culture and Entertainment Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange has announced that there will be a festival song this year.

“What we have done is we have created a narrow window and will come up with 10 songs. I have been networking with producers and writers and we will come up with 10 quality songs,” Grange said.

There was much public outcry when she told parliament last week that there would not be a festival song this year because of the poor quality of the entries.

READ: 'Too many songs about ackee and salt fish and beach'

She said that some 123 songs were received but they were not up to the required standard.

Grange was speaking today at the opening of the 9th biennial Diaspora conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in downtown Kingston.

The Diaspora conference runs from today until Thursday and is being held under the theme “Reigniting A Nation For Greatness.”

Grange took the opportunity to outline a series of activities to mark celebrations for Jamaica 60.

- Lester Hinds

Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.