July 8, 2022

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Contact: Carla Edwards | E: carla.edwards@uwimona.edu.jm | T: 876-417-4800

 

UWI MONA – WESTERN CAMPUS LAUNCHES 2nd SUSTAINABLE CITIES CONFERENCE

 

WHO: The University of the West Indies, Mona – Western Jamaica Campus

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WHAT: Virtual Media Launch of The UWI Mona – Western Jamaica Campus’ second biennial Caribbean Sustainable Cities Conference scheduled for November 16 – 18, 2022 in the city of Montego Bay.

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This biennial affair retains its Go Green. Go Safe. Go Smart (GS2) mantra and will bring together a global panel of urban and regional planners and professionals, university academics and researchers, as well as policy makers to critically reflect on the Caribbean’s attainment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities. 

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The three broad thematic areas captured in the GS2 sub-title are Environmental Sustainability, Safety and Security, and Technological Transformation. Coming out of the recent Covid-19 global pandemic the specific theme for GS2.2022 is Adaptability and resilience – Technological transformation driving change and sustainability in communities and cities

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This theme highlights both the centrality of digital technology to the navigation of our educational, health, social, and economic realities, as well as, the innovative ways in which all sectors of our cities and communities have adapted to the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The three-day event will include major speakers addressing plenaries as well as presentations of academic and technical papers in concurrent panel discussions, and two specially designed workshops for students focusing on marine life and digital technology. The conference is opened to all parties interested in realizing peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable cities and communities.

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Attendees of the virtual media launch will be addressed by main speaker, Mr Omar Sweeney, Managing Director of Jamaica Social Investment Fund as well as Mr Richard Vernon, Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, and Mr. Martin Miller, Managing Director, National Housing Trust.

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WHEN: Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

 

WHERE: The UWI, Mona – Western Jamaica Campus, 10 Queens Drive, Montego Bay, St James and via Zoom. 

 

Your special Meeting ID: 997 1937 1361 and Passcode: 554590

 

WHY: Cities are our future and the future of our cities must be constantly shaped and reimagined to meet both social, economic, environmental and governance needs as well as the standards for resilience and adaptability.

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The global impact of Covid-19 has expanded our understanding of the inequalities and inequities in the social structures of our cities; but it has also underscored the critical need for significant investment in developing the human and technological capacity to respond to a wide range of shocks. Resilience cannot be measured in the aftermath but must be placed at the heart of the future of cities. An optimistic future of cities requires consistently sharper focus on issues of sustainability.

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Questions to do with the relationship between ensuring good health and well-being (SDG 3), climate action (SDG 13), and realizing peaceful and inclusive societies (SDG16) are always high on the urban development agenda. So too must be the opportunities for building inclusive cities and communities (SDG 11) as responsive, adaptable and resilient technological and communicative spaces.

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What then are the new enabling policies, programmes, and projects on digital transformation that are emerging to ensure the sustainability of health and education systems across our communities and cities or to support the promotion of safe, secure and inclusive communities and cities? What are the sustainable development imperatives for the Caribbean in the promotion of ICTs, the expansion of ICT infrastructure, increased access to information and knowledge, and meeting the fundamentals of an Information Society?

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A critical reflection on any gains from the COVID 19 pandemic to our environmental sustainability, safety and security, and readiness for digital transformation and what strategies are emerging for health emergency preparedness and investments in promoting well-being at all ages can only be of benefit to leaders and managers of city development across the Caribbean. 

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERVIEWS:

 

Dr. Patrick Prendergast, Campus Director, UWI Mona-WJC and Conference Chairperson

Mr Omar Sweeney, Managing Director, Jamaica Social Investment Fund

Mr Richard Vernon, Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay

Mr Martin Miller, Managing Director, National Housing Trust

 

 

GS2.2022 Media Liaison Officer:     Miss Onome Sido | E: onome.sido@gmail.com

 

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