Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, has appealed to collectors of vintage Jamaican recordings to contribute original or copies on vinyl, CD, audio tape or any other format in support of replenishing the lost archives of the defunct Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC).

Last week, the ministry reported that thousands of materials - nearly 80 per cent of its music library - had been stolen from the JBC facility near the new Half-Way Tree Transportation Centre.

Committee established

Minister Grange has also established a special committee to take on the task of examining the current arrangements for the safekeeping of the JBC archives.

The committee, chaired by journalist Owen James and including former police commissioner Trevor MacMillan, will also make recommendations to ensure the future protection of Jamaica's audio legacy.

A release from the ministry said the committee was expected to make a preliminary report in four weeks and a final report in a subsequent four weeks.

The ministry said Ms. Grange further condemned the actions of those who had stolen the materials and was assuring the Jamaican public that the matter was receiving priority treatment from the police. She said the perpetrators would be found and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

The Criminal Investigation Branch of the Half-Way Tree Police is leading the investigation.