The 12-year-old British born Jamaican author Kande S. Summers made waves as the youngest Flag Bearer at the Global Goals Show, opening ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza for the ongoing Sustainable Development Goals Week.
Expo 2020 Dubai is observing a Global Goals Week, running from January 15-22, bringing the world together to drive collective progress towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for a better and more equitable future for all by 2030.
Kande is a British born Jamaican student, now living in the UAE. She released her first novel, ‘Going Home: Diary of a Teenage Alien’ last November which is already making headlines. She was the youngest of all the other flag bearers that included top CEOs etc., at the opening ceremony and was the flag bearer for the 14th Goal: LIFE BELOW WATER. Collective progress towards the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) underpins Expo’s latest Theme Week, held in association with the UN.
The Jamaica Pavilion during SDG Week at Expo 2020 Dubai will mark and celebrate the Global Goals by promoting a unique Jamaican concept of Sustain-a-Livity. Sustain-a-Livity, developed by the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), embraces the United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development principles: Advancing Economic Competitiveness (Economic); Creating Shared Prosperity (Social); Safeguarding the Environment (Environmental); and the JSEZA has added Supporting the Rule of Law, Transparency and Accountability (Governance). “Tourism is one of the main catalysts of the SDGs. Our National Development Plan – Vision 2030 aims to promote sustainable tourism in Jamaica, which is designed not just to benefit the country’s tourism industry, but also preserve its natural and cultural resources and stimulate economic growth for the wider domestic economy”, said Donovan White, Director of Tourism of Jamaica.
Ainsley Brown, Senior Director: Regulations, Policy, Monitoring & Enforcement at JSEZA stated, “The SDGs are official Government of Jamaica Policy and we have taken great care to mark and celebrate them at Expo through the Sustain-a-Livity concept. Sustain-a-Livity is a unique Jamaican concept that is truly reflective of our full embrace of the SDGs. Sustain-a-Livity is more than just a concept; it’s a work-style, life-style, a sustainable way of being that makes, as our National Development Plan – Vision 2030 says: Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.”
Sustain-a-Livity is an exclusive Jamaican concept embraced by the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority that combines two words: Sustainable and Livity.
Sustainable: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Livity: Is the Rastafari concept of righteous living. Its essence is the realization that an energy, or life force, conferred by Jah (God), exists within, and flows through, all peoples and all living things. Livity has a strong focus on living a natural lifestyle.
Colourful projections and a speech by the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General at Al Wasl Plaza, the heart of Expo 2020 Dubai, on Saturday evening marked the start of the World Expo’s Global Goals Week – the annual event’s first time leaving the UN General Assembly in New York City.
About The Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. JTB offices are also located in Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Tokyo and Paris.
In 2021, the JTB was declared ‘World’s Leading Cruise Destination,’ ‘World’s Leading Family Destination’ and ‘World’s Leading Wedding Destination’ for the second consecutive year by the World Travel Awards, which also named it the ‘Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board’ for the 14th consecutive year; and the ‘Caribbean’s Leading Destination’ for the 16th consecutive year; as well as the ‘Caribbean’s Best Nature Destination’ and the ‘Caribbean’s Best Adventure Tourism Destination.’ In addition, Jamaica was awarded four gold 2021 Travvy Awards, including ‘Best Destination, Caribbean/Bahamas,’ ‘Best Culinary Destination –Caribbean,’ Best Travel Agent Academy Program,’; as well as a TravelAge West WAVE award for ‘International Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support’ for a record-setting 10th time. In 2020, the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) named Jamaica the 2020 ‘Destination of the Year for Sustainable Tourism’. In 2019, TripAdvisor® ranked Jamaica as the #1 Caribbean Destination and #14 Best Destination in the World. Jamaica is home to some of the world’s best accommodations, attractions and service providers that continue to receive prominent global recognition.
For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB’s Website at www.visitjamaica.com or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422). Follow the JTB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. View the JTB blog at www.islandbuzzjamaica.com.
