Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, and Group Head of Life, Health and Pensions at Guardian Life Insurance, Eric Hosin, display the signed contract for the Jamaica Entertainers and Creatives Insurance Plan (JECIP). They are surrounded by stakeholders, including entertainers and creatives. The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday (November 12) at the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in Kingston. (Mark Bell/JIS)
Registered Entertainers and Creatives of all stripes are set to benefit from insurance in case the worst happens.
Minister of Culture Olivia Grange, launched the Jamaica Entertainers and Creatives Insurance Plan, JECIP, on Tuesday.
Minister Grange first announced the life and health insurance plan in June.
At present, the scheme will cover those on the National Registry of Entertainment and Creative Industries practitioners or E-Registry. That's approximately 4,400 individuals and 400 companies.
Regarding age distribution on the Registry, the largest proportion of applicants, 35 per cent, fall within the 30 to 39 age range, indicating a primary demographic of middle-aged individuals. The next largest groups are the 40 to 49 band, at 19 per cent, and the 50 to 59 range, at 15 per cent.
The government will spend $55 million from the Consolidated Fund to cover the JECIP policies for these practitioners.
Minister Grange says phase one of the scheme will have comprehensive coverage with a range of benefits.
Olivia "Babsy" Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.
Meanwhile, opposition spokesperson on culture and the creative industries, Dr. Deborah Hickling Gordon, has welcomed the launch of the Jamaica Entertainers and Creatives Insurance Plan, JECIP.
While welcoming the scheme, Dr. Hickling Gordon is questioning the lack of clarity in defining the Entertainment, Culture and Creative Industries, ECCI.
She says existing policy gaps for the growing, changing, and increasingly complex creative ecosystem could hinder the insurance plan's effectiveness and sustainability.
Dr. Deborah Hickling Gordon, People's National Party spokesperson on culture and creative industries.