Ian Boyne

Few people could have predicted the euphoria, sense of pride and nationalism and sheer excitement which swept across this country on Wednesday as the Golding administration re-introduced what was truly a grand and sensational gala.

Under political pressure from rising global prices, dashed hopes for the prospects of jobs, jobs, jobs, growing disillusionment due to spiralling crime and bleak economic fortunes overall, the Golding administration got a well-needed shot-in-the-arm from what was a superbly executed and thrilling float parade and grand gala. Muckraking-newsman Cliff Hughes, always hungry for some sensational scoop, had to settle for a discussion on the impact of the grand gala for his main segment on Thursday.

showered with accolades

"Minister, the crime even went down for the 24-hour period leading to Independence," he was forced to say to a delighted Minister of Culture Babsy Grange, who deservedly has been showered with accolades. Finally, the country had got something outside of sports to unite around as, indeed, "one family in one love", as the theme of festival highlighted.

You could feel the nationalism and hype all around. Even die-hard Comrades were saying to me, "Bwoy, this is the best me ever see." A congenitally partisan acquaintance of mine, who never has anything good to say about Golding or the Jamaica Labour Party was glued to his television on Wednesday night. "Man this a the greatest." I was shocked.

Seaga must have been even more delighted than Golding or anyone in the present administration, for he more than anyone else knows the tremendous value and potency of culture. He knows what its magic in pulling the Jamaican people together really is.

spine-tingling creativity

Fireworks light up the sky during the Independence Day Grand Gala at the National Stadium on Wednesday night.- Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

The JLP brought back from retirement 'Mr Festival' Hugh Nash who demonstrated that he still had that flair for festival.

The spine-tingling creativity and artistry which we all saw on Wednesday proved a most-moving reminder of the fact that we are a great and resourceful people, a people with the capacity for excellence and First-World performance, a people who are pacesetters. What we showed on Independence Day was world-class. It was a fitting prelude to the Olympics, which should provide further periods of glory and nationalistic pride. August will be our month.

There are some important lessons we must draw from the spectacular successes of festival this year. First is that with a vision, commitment, optimism and resilience we can do great things, even with limited financial resources.

resourceful woman

To her enormous credit, the minister of information, culture, youth and sports did not flinch in her determination to pull off a memorable festival despite lack of adequate support from the private sector. Anyone who knows Babsy knows that she is one tough, courageous, determined and resourceful woman, from the bowels of the working class.

Babsy is a relentless fighter. If you want a study in determination and fixity of purpose, get to know Babsy Grange. Remember who is her mentor - Edward Phillip George Seaga, 'Mr Perseverance' himself. Seaga has a deep admiration and love for Babsy for he has always seen in her that same fire and can-do spirit which he has exemplified. Babsy was determined that the emancipation and independence celebrations would come off despite not having adequate resources. She pulled together the right team, and she possesses the combination of charm and chagrin to ensure that things get done!

So we learn that we don't have to have all the money in the world. What we need is a vision, determination, an optimistic spirit and resilience. Another thing is the success of this year's festival has shown is the importance of media.

money spent on advertising

If media did not create the hype, particularly television, we would not be able to fill the stadium. Money was spent on advertising. And the Jamaica Information Service, under the capable leadership of experienced communications man Huntley Medley did a masterly job of coordinating some key matters, including printing and distributing tens of thousands of flyers and having massive town-crier promotions. (I was not involved in any aspect of the JIS festival arrangements, so there is no self-interest here).

Medley and his excellent team demonstrated the kind of quality human resources the public sector of this country still has.

marvellous job

Jambiz Production, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, and Innovative Ideas did a marvellous job, as did PBC Jamaica and the Creative Production and Training Company.

Television Jamaica is also to be strongly commended for its vision in being on-board at the planning stage. Regrettably, CVM did not take much interest and only TVJ carried the float parade on Independence Day. CVM, like many of us, never knew what was going to hit the country that day. This came like a welcome bolt from nowhere. It was a masterstroke and everyone associated with the events on August 6 are permitted to indulge in pride. That it was Bruce Golding who was prime minister when the festival came back to life must be particularly delightful to him.

power of culture

The cynics might say we are overplaying all this festivity stuff while big issues still go unsolved. But no one should ever underestimate the power of culture to ignite positive action and to create a wave of excellence and social harmony. We just have to ensure that we harness the goodwill from this monumentally successful event.

The only point of the gala was the Government's bowing to cheap popularity at the expense of important values by bringing on-stage one of the main artistes promoting violent lyrics and anti-social behaviour, Mavado. The Government has to be careful about not sending mixed signals. The people did not have to have to have the 'Gully God' to have a good time. We have to take a strong and uncompromising stand against all those who promote violence and anti-social behaviour and to have paraded this symbol of that before us was distasteful and lamentable.

As I saw our culture being displayed in such glory and splendour, as I basked in the richness and texture of this amazingly enchanting cultural heritage, I thought if we could just "get it together". If we could just use this cultural tapestry to fashion a society characterised by the ideals of egalitarianism, justice, compassion, moral excellence and economic prosperity. To do so, we have to have media on our side. Brilliant organisational work was done by a number of agencies and institutions, but without media to create the hype for people to fill the stadium and media to capture the excitement for the many thousands who could not hold there, the pulsating event would have been lost to multiple thousands of us. We can't fix the society without fixing media.

We now have a new president of the Press Association of Jamaica. After he has finished celebrating his victory, he needs to settle down to not only see how he can advance the welfare of journalists, but chart a path as to how journalists can advance the welfare of this society.

promoting negative values

All the training and the benefits which he was elected to deliver must have the overarching objective of helping members of the Fourth Estate to make this country a better place. We in the media have helped to create the rot which exists in this society and we reinforce it by the negative things we continue to promote, from front page and centre-stage.

We claim this neutrality, but the truth is that because of money we pander to the lowest common denominator and sell-out uplifting values for the expedient. The media have failed Jamaica, just like the political class, in our 46 years of independence.

This is why I am so happy to have PBC Jamaica and Bess FM. These two media entities don't wait for festival to show us and highlight the best in us.

PBC Jamaica, I predict, will have a major impact on the Jamaican media landscape and will shock the commercial media. I have the sense that PBC Jamaica is already shaking up the local cable market, which was drunk on entertainment and catering to the mediocre. PBC Jamaica is showing that a station need not be dull because it has quality offerings.

our carnival

Our culture can compete with American culture which has swept the youths. If it is creatively packaged and presented the way the Government presented the grand gala and the float, it will have appeal.

I heard the prime minister saying that the festival is our carnival and should have the hype and anticipation associated carnival and Sumfest. Bess Fm, which plays only conscious, culturally uplifting music, is one of the best things which have happened to Jamaican radio.

I can get an alternative to then inanity, violence, misogyny, bling promotion and the nihilism, which dominate the other stations. When I want some inspiration from indigenous rhythms, using the dancehall idiom which is powerful, I can turn to Bess FM.

There are some positive things taking place in Jamaica and today I take time out to acknowledge and to celebrate.

Ian Boyne is a veteran journalist who may be reached at ianboyne1@yahoo.com. Feedback may also be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.