of our special guests will be Micheal Ward, who is quite a personality on Netflix through his show Top Boy.” The 24-year-old British-Jamaican actor, who was born in Spanish Town and lived in Job Lane, is visiting Jamaica for the first time in 20 years. Ward’s stated mission is to reignite family bonds and celebrate the country of his birth in its 60th year of Independence. His other film credits include The Old Guard, The A-List and Blue Story, for which he was awarded the 2020 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award as Best Rising Star. Grange and her team’s plan to make this the mother of all Grand Galas comes with some amount of poignancy. It happens in a year when Jamaica was robbed of one of its most brilliant sons, renowned artistic director Trevor Nairne, who passed away in May. His genius at bringing to life the ‘grand’ in Grand Gala has been lauded, and Grange has described Nairne as “one of the most influential theatre directors in Jamaica’s history” as well as a “creative whose genius was on resplendent display at the country’s annual Independence Grand Gala”. Also on this year’s Independence calendar of events was theWestern Mini Gala on August 7. The Western Gala featured performances from Jermaine Edwards, Govana, Tessanne Chin, Teejay, and Laa Lee, among others. THE MONTHLY GLEANER | AUGUST 8 - SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 4 Paratroopers fromGuyana make their landing for the Grand Gala at the National Stadium PHOTOS BY RICARDO MAKYN/CHIEF PHOTO EDITOR Prime Minister Andrew Holness makes a presentation to veteran reggae singer Derrick Morgan during the Grand Gala to mark Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of Independence at the National Stadium on Saturday, August 6. Looking on is Minister of Culture Olivia Grange. Prime Minister Andrew Holness makes a presentation to Sanchez during the Grand Gala to celebrate Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of Independence at the National Stadium on Saturday, August 6. Looking on Culture and Entertainment Minister Olivia Grange. GALA CONTINUED FROM 3 A group of dancers performduring the Grand Gala to mark Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of Independence at the National Stadium on Saturday, August 6.
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