From: LOOP NEWS—
Rita Marley and Sizzla Kalonji are to be honored by the Government at this year’s staging of the Grand Gala on Independence Day, August 6, at the National Stadium.
Minister of Culture, Entertainment, Gender Affairs and Sport, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, made the announcement during a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House last week.
Grange said both are deserving of the honors.
“Rita Marley and Sizzla will be both honoured this year,” she said.
Sizzla Kalonji
Past honourees include Jimmy Cliff, Freddy McGregor, Marcia Griffiths and Damion ‘Junior Gong’ Marley.
Booked to appear at the Grand Gala are artistes Marion Hall, Cocoa Tea and Sister Pat.
Grange also announced that the budget allocated for this year’s Grand Gala is $85 million, up from $79 million which was expended for last year’s event.
The Grand Gala will be the final event of a week-long roster of activities staged by the Government during Independence Week, which runs from August 1-6.
Included in the activities are Mello Go Round and the Pop and Variety contest.
This year’s Independence celebrations will be held under the theme: ‘One Nation, One People’.
Jamaica gained independence from Britain 57 years ago, on August 6, 1962.
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