$55m life and health insurance for entertainment sector a reality

If you had difficulties getting through to practitioners in the entertainment and creative sector on Tuesday evening, chances are that they were at the offices of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport on Trafalgar Road, to witness the historic signing of a group life and health insurance plan worth some $55 million between the ministry and Guardian Life Insurance Company.

It was the largest gathering of entertainment persons in the same space, with even Vybz Kartel present.

In June, during her contribution to the 2024/25 Sectoral Debate, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, announced that Guardian Life had been chosen to provide life and health insurance to the entertainment and creative sector, similar to what has been in effect for athletes for the last five years.

At the function on Tuesday, a triumphant Grange announced, to much applause, that the life and health insurance plans are free of cost to all eligible members of the creative industries who are between the ages of six and 75, with the option to extend up to 99 years old. Currently, 4,425 individuals and almost 400 small and medium creative companies are registered on the National Registry of Entertainment and Creative Practitioners, referred to as the E-Registry. All individuals on the E-Registry are automatically registered on the insurance plans, and it is open to those who signed up on Tuesday night, or have plans to do so in the future.

Grange, who commended organisations such as the JAVAA and JAMMS for already having insurance plans in place for their members, gave an overview of what has been named the Jamaica Entertainers and Creatives Insurance Plan.

“During the COVID period we were able to increase the numbers on the E-Registry by giving out COVID grants. Anyone who received a grant had to be on the registry and had to be a member of one of the creative sector organisations. It also created a database of the industry because one of the things we always have a problem with is that when I go out and fight for something for the industry, I am told that it is informal… there is no data on the industry,” Grange explained.

Giving the results of a survey which showed the age range of the persons in the sector, Grange noted that 85.1 per cent are over the age of 29 “…and this highlights the need for health insurance and life insurance”.

She added, “And if we were to compare it to the athletes insurance plans, most of those athletes are young as well. But there are those in the entertainment sector, particularly the pioneers, those who have paved the way for many… for people [like] a Vybz Kartel, they need all the support that they can get and this insurance will benefit them in a tremendous way.”

INSURANCE PLAN

Phase One of the insurance plan provides up to $500,000 in death benefits for both group life insurance and personal accident insurance. Phase Two, starting in January, will introduce group health insurance. This will cover hospitalisation, surgery, maternity care, major medical treatments, and overseas emergency and non-emergency medical care.

“Between 2020 and 2024, 96 practitioners have passed away … and I don’t like to see us having to pass the hat around to bury anybody, so it is important that you take this very, very seriously,” Grange urged those present.

To emphasise her point, Grange shared a poignant story of when she was managing the late Dirtsman, who was among the dozen or so artistes on her Specs/Shang roster.

“We had a roster of about 12 artistes who we managed directly … Shabba, Dirtsman, Junior Gong, Bounty Killer and Ruff Kut … and we signed up everybody for insurance. One person came and said he would come back and sign the document. He left me, went to Spanish Town and was shot and killed. His family could not benefit because he did not sign the document. I will never forget that day with Dirtsman,” Grange shared.

Many persons spoke publicly of their joy at the insurance plan.

“This is an amazing movement by the ministry and by Guardian Life. We just want to big up the ministry and Guardian Life,” Tommy Cowan stated.

In response to a question from singer, Nadine Sutherland, it was explained that those practitioners over 75 years old would not be able to benefit from the plan. Bongo Herman was one such. He informed the gathering that he was 81, but noted that he was still happy that other persons would benefit.

Quizzed by Opposition Spokesperson on Culture, Dr Deborah Hickling, on the total investment and the source of funding, Grange explained that “similar to the athlete’s insurance plan the funds ($55 million) come from the consolidated fund”, directly through the Ministry of Finance

Musician, Dwight Richards, had a burning issue: “How can you put this in stone just in case storm come and wash out the green and put in orange?”

“It is firm. I don’t think any administration will dare touch this. And I don’t contemplate any change any time soon,” Minister Grange said to applause from the practitioners.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com