Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sports, Olivia “Babsy”, has officially received heritage site certification for Port Royal, signifying the global recognition of the iconic Jamaican town as a World Heritage Site.

Hon. Minister Grange shared the news via statement on Monday. “The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, today received the Certificate of Inscription classifying Port Royal as a World Heritage Site.”

The Certificate of Inscription was presented to Minister Grange by the Regional Director and Representative of the UNESCO Cluster Office of the Caribbean, Eric Falt.

“This is a big deal,” Minister Grange toasted, commenting on the honour. “We are proud as the Ministry to have completed almost 40 years of our country’s dream to have Port Royal inscribed. We have delivered.

The presentation comes a month after the legendary coastal town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 12, 2025.

“This Inscription to the World Heritage List confirms Port Royal’s outstanding universal value,” the statement said, adding.. “which requires protection for the benefit of all humanity.”

Minister Grange continued, “We are committed to preserving the heritage of Port Royal for the people of Port Royal, the wider Jamaica and the world.

Mr Falt also expressed his delight in Port Royal’s official recognition, “It is a tremendous pleasure to celebrate this very important development. The Port Royal story is one of wealth and disaster, mirroring the weight of the human experience.”
He also shared the collective sentiment that Port Royal was a place of global significance, noting UNESCO’s intention to partner with the Government to safeguard its legacy.