Government expands Grand Gala viewing beyond Independence Park stadium

Culture and Gender Minister Olivia Grange says more Jamaicans will be able to take in Grand Gala this year, as the government widens the viewing arrangements for people who arrive at Independence Park.

With the country set to mark its 64th Independence anniversary in about two weeks, Grange said organisers are preparing for stronger demand for tickets to the signature Independence Day show.

Because the stadium cannot hold everyone who wants to attend, she said overflow options are being set up at the National Arena and the indoor centre. Fans who cannot secure a stadium place will instead receive tickets for those venues, where they can follow the programme on large screens and take part in Independence Village.

Grand Gala will sit alongside other Independence-season attractions, including the Festival Queen competition and Mello Go Round. Separately, people celebrating during the Emancipation period from August 1 to 6 will have more time to socialise in designated areas.

Grange said Olympic Gardens' hip strip is soon to be named an entertainment zone, and that similar zones are being considered across Kingston and St. Andrew and elsewhere in Jamaica so revelers can stay out overnight without being shut down.

She delivered the update on Thursday evening at a Jamaica Labour Party One Area meeting in St. Andrew. During the same appearance she also spoke about domestic violence, noting that some assaults on women have proved fatal.

"We are about to open our third shelter to keep women in a safe space when they want to get out of an abusive situation," she said. She urged men to protect their partners, not to beat them during disputes, and to care for them, describing women as the backbone of Jamaica.