Preparations are in full swing for the I Love Jamaica Telethon and Virtual Concert, organized by the Ministry of Entertainment and Culture, set to take place this Sunday, November 23. Local and international Jamaican entertainers will unite to raise urgently needed funds for national hurricane-relief efforts.
The six-hour, online-only event will stream live from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on major broadcasters and Facebook. It forms part of the government’s wider post-Melissa recovery strategy. The initiative was announced by Minister of Entertainment, Culture, Gender and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange, who emphasized the scale of need following the storm’s devastating impact, particularly across the western parishes.
Speaking at the official launch at the ministry’s head office on November 6, Minister Grange underscored the role of creative talent in national rebuilding.
“The need is great, and we must answer the call to show care, compassion, and love by using our gifts and talents to make a difference in the lives of those Jamaicans who have been worst affected by hurricane Melissa,” she said. “We intend to leverage the power of the creative and sports sectors to source the necessary resources to assist our brothers and sisters.”
A star-studded lineup
The telethon will feature a powerhouse roster of Jamaican entertainers, including Tarrus Riley, D’Angel, Ding Dong, Alaine, Tanya Stephens, Tommy Lee, and many more. Headliners Tessanne Chin, Christopher Martin, and Kevin Downswell will anchor the musical programme, with artists at home and across the diaspora ramping up promotion ahead of Sunday’s broadcast.
In addition to musical performances, sports legends Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Asafa Powell are expected to make special appearances, with some even manning the phone lines as donations and pledges roll in.
This weekend’s local staging is presented by Red Stripe and powered by Digicel, both long-standing supporters of cultural and philanthropic initiatives across the island.
Sunday’s telethon marks the first major instalment of the broader Jamaica Strong Benefit Concert series, which will extend across key diaspora hubs in the coming weeks.
Upcoming concerts in the diaspora
Miami/Miramar will host its concert on December 7, led by Shaggy and Roger Lewis of Inner Circle, alongside an impressive lineup of supporting acts. New York is set to follow on December 12 at the UBS Arena, in a production spearheaded by Bob Clarke. Additional stops, including Toronto, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, are currently being explored to further bolster fundraising efforts.
As Jamaica continues its path to recovery, Sunday’s I Love Jamaica Telethon aims to channel the strength, pride, and creativity of the nation and its diaspora into real, tangible support for those hit hardest.
