The Hummingbird - February 2024 [vol.11, n.2]

Artificial intelligence can create

PUBLIC VALUE FOR THE CARIBBEAN

Tourists spend US $94M AT T&T CARNIVAL

ECLAC convenes workshop ON CENSUS AND SURVEY DATA DISSEMINATION

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Artificial intelligence can create public value for the Caribbean

A HUMMING BIRD FEATURE: Tourists spend US $94M at T&T Carnival, Visitors and Attendance Up in the Air

Sids4

States ECLAC

About us

Issued on a monthly basis, The Hummingbird offers insights into the latest projects, publications, technical assistance missions and research carried out by ECLAC Caribbean. In addition to these, sneak previews are provided of the most salient upcoming events, alongside enriching followups to previously covered issues. With a view to featuring a variety of facets of Caribbean life and lifestyle, The Hummingbird also zooms in on cultural activities and landmark occurrences through an eye-opening regional round-up.

EDITORIAL TEAM

Editor: Jabari Fraser

Writer: Denise Balgobin

Proof Reader: Veera Deokiesingh-Fraser

Design and Layout: Liseanne Martin-Subero

Please see our contact details on the back cover of this magazine.

International Days

3 March

World Wildlife Day

8 March

International Women's Day

25 March

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Upcoming Meetings

12 MARCH 2024

Preparatory Meeting for the Ninth Ministerial Conference on the Information Society

19 MARCH 2024

Interregional seminar The future of social protection facing a cascade of crises: moving towards universality with solidarity and sustainability

26 MARCH 2024

Caribbean Youth Dialogues 2024 In preparation of the ECOSOC Youth Forum

Artificial intelligence can create

PUBLIC VALUE FOR THE CARIBBEAN

Caribbean governments need to proactively harness and adopt artificial intelligence (AI) technology in public sector organizations to create public value. This is the advice coming out of a recently released policy brief from ECLAC Caribbean, entitled “Harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence to create public value in the Caribbean”.

Despite AI’s numerous benefits, public sector organizations in the Caribbean are lagging in adapting and adopting AI. Artificial intelligence technologies have surged in popularity and

use in recent years. Extremely transformative, they have advanced rapidly, and affect virtually every aspect of our existence, including the way we interact within society. AI has provided many benefits, which were previously unimaginable, and has had a significant impact across diverse contexts, including education, healthcare, financial services, the delivery of justice, and the defence sector, to name a few.

The policy brief recommends that governments in the Caribbean should: develop national AI

strategies that articulate the vision and policy framework towards the adoption of AI, particularly within the public sector; assess the current and potential effectiveness of AI adoption in the public sector on public value creation; embrace the public value management paradigm within the context of public sector reform; develop national AI capability to ensure requisite human resources to drive all aspects of AI adoption within the public sector; and integrate AI systems in the public sector in a structured manner with an approach to changing public administration.

ECLAC’s brief outlines how unlocking the potential value of AI in the public sector can have a positive impact. With the expansion of digital government, AI and the collection and analysis of big data are set to make public sector organizations leaner.

Adopting AI can also increase efficiency and responsiveness to citizens’ needs, all the while improving bureaucracy’s core purpose.

With the introduction of AItechnologies in government public-sector ecosystems, traditional approaches to service

provision, policymaking and enforcement have been rapidly changing. Globally, AI has been used to improve the quality of services, foster the trust of citizens, as well as increase service delivery efficiency and effectiveness.

Altogether, proactive governments have achieved greater levels of accurate forecasting and enhanced levels of policymaking, as value has been created in various functional areas, including “decision support, transportation, public health and law enforcement”. The Policy Brief notes that artificial intelligence

has the potential to transform the public sector by increasing institutional productivity and providing higher quality of services to citizens. In this regard, it is important to assess the level of AI readiness of the country to operate and implement AI-based solutions.

Tourists spend US $94M at T&T Carnival

VISITORS AND ATTENDANCE UP IN THE AIR

Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Culture and the Arts has reported that tourists visiting for the country’s carnival in 2024 spent some US $94.2 million (TT $640M). The Ministry has also reported increases in the number of visitors to the country, ticket sales to several state-sponsored events, such as the steelband competition Panorama, and street theatre re-enactment of the Canboulay Riots (marking the beginning of Carnival).

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TOURISTS SPEND US $94M AT T&T CARNIVAL, VISITORS AND ATTENDANCE UP IN THE AIR

The Ministry defines the Carnival season as taking place between January 26 and February 13, but notes that masquerade bands were launched from as early as mid2023, and Carnival fetes began as early as December 2023. In a media release, the Ministry noted that the figures did not include the revenue generated from the many private events put on during the season.

Ministry figures indicate that the carnival period brought 41,444 visitors by air to T&T, 29,651 were non-nationals, and 11,793 T&T nationals resident abroad. In 2023, the Central Statistical Office (CSO), using exit surveys, estimated that visitors stayed on average 13 days, spending US $2,251 (TT $15,313) on food, entertainment, accommodation and transport. The Ministry used the 2023 figures as the basis for its estimate of 93.3 million (TT $634 million) spent only by tourists who arrived by plane., as opposed to the total estimate of $ 94.2 million.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell said, “These figures though preliminary, point to the significant economic boost the festival gives the country, and do not include the internally generated economic activity caused by the increased multiplier effect. The Trinidad and Tobago government provided approximately TT $8,395,000 in supplemental financial assistance to more than 8,100 individuals and organisations in the Calypso, Chutney and Steelpan organising bodies.

Chair of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) Winston Peters said the TT $147 million allocated to the Commission for Carnival was insufficient. He estimates that Carnival brings “$1.4 to 5 billion”. He said “If we were to take the money that Carnival brought into this country and invest it back into Carnival, we will be able to have our Carnival museums and we would be able to have all the things we dream about having in our Carnival…”

CARNIVAL 2024 IN NUMBERS

26 - FEB 13

29,651 non nationals

41,444 Visitors by air

11,793 nationals resident abroad

INCREASE IN VISITOR ARRIVALS DURING CARNIVAL PERIOD

2023 vs 2024

non-nationals 27,375 nationals abroad: not available

2023

2024

non-nationals 29,651 nationals abroad: 11,793

41,444

TOURISTS VISITING FOR T&T CARNIVAL SPENT

US $94.2 mil

(TT $640 MILLION)

visiting tourists spent on average 13 days and spent US $2,251 (TT$15,313) on food | entertainment | accomodation | transport

FLIGHT MOVEMENT FOR JAN1 - FEB 13

2023 vs 2024

T&T CARNIVAL WINNERS

Despite the rise and fall of several staple competitions in T&T Carnival, the act of competing and earning a title remains a mainstay in the festival of festivals that is the world-famous Trinidad Carnival. Here is a snapshot of some of the winners of a few of the major competitions in the pre-Lenten celebration of emancipation, ingenuity, and creativity.

ROAD MARCH

DNA: Mical Teja

Soca artist Mical Teja won the 2024 Road March with his hit and patriotic ode to bacchanal and Carnival entitled DNA. The song, which celebrates the freedom of the season and the “mashin’ up and winin’ up in we DNA” was played 341 times on Carnival Monday and Tuesday at the seven judging points across the country. Bunji Garlin’s Carnival Contract, an expression of his obligation to the season, was second with 225 plays. Patrice Roberts was third, her song Anxiety was played 48 times. Teja also won the Young King crown with DNA and placed fourth in the Calypso Monarch competition. The Road March is the oldest song competition in T&T, with the most popular songs and chants dating back to Emancipation year, 1834, and official, modern-day competition starting in 1906.

BAND OF THE YEAR

The Lost Tribe

The Lost Tribe won the overall Band of the Year Title with the presentation Fly. The large band, which has now captured the title of Band of the Year X times, sought to “shake off the heaviness of the last few years, unfurl our wings and take to the heavens”. To do this, their portrayal included costumes of birds that are part of the T&T skyscape: Ibis, Wild Parrot, King Corbeau, Hummingbird, among others. Ronnie and Caro’s presentation Bushfire was second with 848 points and Paparazzi’s Ihoka was third with 811 points. Bandleader Valmiki Maharaj, now a X time winner said, “I wanted our 2024 offering to serve as a reminder to our masqueraders and the wider public that despite all the things that seem to restrain and hold us back that ultimately we are free and we still have wings to fly.”

CALYPSO MONARCH

Machel Montano: Soul of Calypso

“Calypso is Soca, and Soca is Calypso!” Machel Montano’s simple, yet profound refrain in the song Soul of Calypso, earned him the Calypso Monarch crown in 2024. His first time in the Calypso competition since 1991*. Was welcomed and seen as breathing new life into the competition, which is not as popular as it once was. The song, a school project, turned hit record was presented at “The Big Yard” (Queen’s Park Savannah) at Dimanche Gras, along with dancers, student performers, a multimedia video presentation on the history of Soca, a skit, excerpts of popular Soca songs and guest appearances from Soca Legend Superblue, his calypsonian daughter Terri Lyons and pan-playing grandson _.

PANORAMA Massy Trinidad All Stars

AND

PANORAMA BP Renegades

The competition for the 2024 Panorama title was as close as it has ever been, ending in a tie (285 points each) between the big bands BP Renegades and Massy Trinidad All Stars. It was the second tie in the history of the annual music festival, the most prestigious competition in the steelband genre. Renegades played one of the season’s most popular songs, ‘DNA’ by Mical Teja, while All Stars played Olatunji’s tribute to Trinidad’s collective Carnival genius, entitled Inventor. This was Renegades’ 13th Panorama title, and the 11th for Trinidad All Stars. Both bands played energetic, theatrical arrangements of the runaway hits. All Stars’ performance, arranged by Leon “Smooth” Edwards, featured a skit of the birth of the steelpan, an energetic arrangement, with clear interpretations of the song’s melody, break dancing theatrics and pyrotechnics. Renegades opened their performance with an audio recording of T&T’s first prime minister Eric Williams, delivering Independence Day discourse in 1962. The opening notes of the melody of T&T’s national anthem “…Here every creed and race finds an equal place…”, blended right into the notes of Teja’s “tell dem freedom in we DNA”, as arranged by Duvone Stewart. Exodus was third, with 283, playing the 1984 hit, Long Time, by the late Montserratian Soca Star Arrow.

Road March winning songs

2000 TO 2024

There are more than 80 songs that have won the official Road March title at Trinidad Carnival. While many are not well-remembered, some have become “back-in-times” favourites, and a few are considered landmarks — whether for their musical qualities or for trends they ushered in. Here is a short trip down memory lane, as the Hummingbird shares the winners from the past 24 years.

year song title artiste

Mical Teja

Bunji Garlin

None: Pandemic Restricted Carnival activities

Farmer Nappy

Neil “Iwer” George & Kes Dieffenthaller

Skinny Fabulous, Machel Montano & Bunji Garlin

Machel Montano feat Super Blue

Ultimate Rejects featuring MX Prime

Machel Montano

Machel Montano

Machel Montano

Superblue

Machel Montano

Machel Montano

JW & Blaze

Fay-Ann Lyons

Fay-Ann Lyons

Machel Montano

Machel Montano and Patrice Roberts

Shurwayne Winchester

Shurwayne Winchester

Fay-Ann Lyons

Naya George

“DNA”

“Hard Fete"

“Backyard Jam" (Online Road March)

“Stage Gone Bad"

"Famalay"

“Soca Kingdom”

“Full Extreme”

“Waiting on the Stage”

“Like Ah Boss”

“Ministry of Road (MOR)”

“Fantastic Friday”

“Pump Yuh Flag”

“Advantage”

“Palance”

“Meet Super Blue”

“Get On”

“Jumbie”

“Band of De Year”

“Dead or Alive”

“Look De Band Comin'”

“Display”

“Trinidad”

Machel Montano Stays Away from Fetes

OPTS OUT OF MAJOR PARTICIPATION IN CARNIVAL

2024

In the lead-up to Carnival 2024, while receiving the keys to his home city of San Fernando, Soca star Machel Montano announced that he was not going to play an active role in the festivities. He called on his fans to honour and respect his decision because he was back in school and focusing on his studies. To everyone’s surprise, though, he entered the Calypso Monarch competition, for the first time since 1991, and won.

Montano won the Calypso crown, a major Carnival competition since 1939; the same competition in which greats like Mighty Spoiler, Mighty Sparrow, Black Stalin, Mighty Duke, Calypso Rose and Denyse Plummer made their names. In December 2023, Montano posted a video, playing the ukelele and singing “Soul of Calypso”, his mother one of the backup singers. It was part of his final assessment for a class on Calypso composition and performance, part of the Master of Arts in Carnival Studies at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. At the time, it was not evident that he would turn his class project into Calypso 2024’s biggest hit. When

Montano released the song on January 24, it was game on. “Soul of Calypso” is a memorable metaphor, roughly lining up Montano’s birth in 1974, to the infancy of the genre of Soca. It is his take on the birth of Calypso and Soca, their similarities and differences, and finding their routes in Kalinda and Kariso to their “grandchildren” Trinibad and Zess.

After his victory, the 10-time Road March Champ said, “Ah think this is the greatest one because it was not one that was designed by me. This is a moment I could never have dreamt. I was trying to win ah next Road March so I could be up there with Kitchener, but ah didn’t know going back to school would bring me here. And that is the greatness of God, you can’t dream up what the creator could dream for you if you just follow what you need to do.”

He told reporters that he will be back to defend his title in 2024. “If you win a title, then you must defend it,” Montano said after receiving his prize of $500,000 and a car valued at $350,000.

The Fourth International Conference on small island developing states (SIDS4), is set to take place in Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda from 27-30 May 2024. This event will bring island nations together with the wider international community to discuss their survival, development, and future under the theme “Charting the course toward resilient prosperity.”

The Conference will aim to assess the ability of SIDS to achieve sustainable development, including the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is hoped that an action-oriented document with political consensus will emerge from SIDS4. The members of the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee are: Barbados, Cabo Verde, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Italy, Latvia (Rapporteur), Maldives (Co-Chair), New Zealand (Co-Chair), Romania and Seychelles. Antigua and Barbuda (as host of the Conference) and Samoa (as Chair of AOSIS) serve as ex officio members.

To set the pace for the Conference, SIDS from each of the three regions

MEETING ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES

gathered for preparatory meetings. In 2023, SIDS also convened for an interregional preparatory meeting. SIDS account for 37 UN member nations and 20 associate members of regional commissions, uniquely and unfortunately positioned at the forefront of multiple global crises, notably climate change.

SIDS, which have remote economies and are prone to natural disasters, were formally recognized as a special case both for their environment and development at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Occupying less than 0.5 per cent of the world's land surface, these nations are spread across three key regions: the Caribbean, the Pacific and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea (AIS).

In the face of escalating global crises, including climate change and COVID-19, SIDS find themselves on the frontline, constantly navigating through a cycle of environmental disasters and recovery efforts, which tests their resilience and ability to sustain their communities and economies.

SIDS grapple with high import and export costs, heavy reliance on external markets and limited natural resources. Tourism, a vital sector constituting about 30

per cent of SIDS’ GDP, was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contributing less than one per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, SIDS disproportionately suffer from the impacts of climate change. Around 75 per cent of their coral reefs are threatened by climate change. The cost for environmental adaptation is estimated between US $22 billion and US $26 billion yearly, underscoring the need for urgent global cooperation and support.

SIDS4 in Antigua and Barbuda is set to be a landmark event. The conference is held once every ten years and provides a platform from which island nations will intensify collective action in meeting the barrage of challenges that threaten the existence of SIDS and impede sustainable development.

Thirteen participants including statisticians and information technology (IT) Officers from the Bahamas National Statistical Institute and the Central Statistical Office of Saint Lucia, along with ECLAC staff, recently participated in a training workshop on census and survey data dissemination.

Since the 2000 round of population and housing censuses, ECLAC has sought to make Caribbean census data more widely available to policy analysts, researchers and the public by promoting and supporting the use of the REDATAM (Retrieval of Data for Small Areas by Microcomputer) software for online dissemination of census data.

ECLAC convenes workshop

ON CENSUS AND SURVEY DATA DISSEMINATION

ECLAC carried out 13 REDATAM workshops in the Caribbean between 2008 and 2022. These were a mixture of regional and national workshops and included two online workshops in 2020 and 2021 when face-to-face workshops were not possible.

As of December 2023, 10 member States have made their data from the 2010 round of censuses available online through REDATAM. This represents an improvement over the 2000 round when four countries implemented REDATAM.

The 10 Caribbean countries that have made data from one or more censuses available online through REDATAM are: Antigua and

Barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

The 2020 round of population and housing censuses was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most countries would have originally planned to carry out their census during 2020 and 2021, but due to the pandemic, the majority have been undertaken in 2022 and 2023.

This recent training workshop for staff of the Central Statistical Office (CSO) of Saint Lucia and the Bahamas National Statistical Institute, is the first of a series

of similar trainings, which will support processing, analysis and dissemination of newly collected 2020 round data.

REDATAM software was developed and is supported by ECLAC. The software is used in many Latin American countries and increasingly in the Caribbean. It is also being used by a number of national Statistical offices carrying out censuses in 2022. These included Anguilla, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia, while Montserrat, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos Islands carried out censuses in 2023.

REDATAM has been used primarily to provide access to census data sets, although it can also be used for survey data sets such as living conditions surveys. Improved online access to these data sets can only encourage their use in research, development planning and evidence-based policymaking.

The principal objectives of this workshop were to provide a comprehensive training in the use of the REDATAM software for creation, processing and dissemination of census and survey data, with a particular focus on facilitating dissemination of the recently collected 2020 round census data.

Following the workshop, ECLAC proposes to continue its work with the statistical offices of Saint Lucia and The Bahamas to support their use of the REDATAM software.

Grenada is hosting a major

CARIBBEAN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM EVENT

Grenada will play host this year to one of the most impactful conferences on the Caribbean calendar: the region’s top conference on sustainable tourism.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC) will be held this year from April 22 to April 24. This year’s theme will focus on 5 “Ps” that are at the heart of sustainable development strategy; these being People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose and Partnership.

The Sustainable Tourism Conference will bring together Ministers of Tourism, tourism directors, business executives and other stakeholders for presentations, panels and master classes.

“We are quite pleased with the experiences we’re curating in Grenada – from insightful sessions and study tours to immersive, authentic adventures across our triisland nation,” said Petra Roach, Chief Executive Officer of the Grenada Tourism Authority.

“We eagerly look forward to showcasing the transformative impact of sustainable tourism and underscoring the importance of protecting and preserving our natural and cultural heritage for the tourism sector and future generations of Grenadians.”

This year will be the first time the STC has been held in more than four years, since before the onset of the pandemic.

“Grenada’s focus on socially and environmentally responsible development makes it an ideal destination for the Sustainable Tourism Conference,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, CTO’s Secretary-General and CEO.

“We believe that Grenada’s commitment to sustainable tourism and its beautiful, unspoilt landscapes will provide an inspiring backdrop for meaningful discussions and provide a compelling showcase of the destination’s sustainability initiatives. Join us in Grenada this April to be a part of this transformative conversation that will chart the course for the sustainability and growth of Caribbean tourism.”

Downtown Nassau is getting

FREE HIGH-SPEED WI-FI

The next time you’re strolling the streets of downtown Nassau in The Bahamas, you may be getting free highspeed Internet service.

The Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism has signed a deal with telecom firm Aliv for a program called “Smart City Pilot,” which will give tourists and locals free unlimited internet access in the heart of the capital.

Installation began in mid-February, with completion slated for the second quarter of this year.

The idea is to turn both the Nassau Cruise Port and the broader downtown area into a “smart zone,” officials said, another boost for a city that has been undergoing a true renaissance in recent years.

“This timely, futuristic project aims to harness the capital city where our cruise port welcomes on average 12,000 cruise visitors on a daily basis. There are plans to create similar “smart zones” on other islands in The Bahamas.” said Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister, Chester Cooper.

Advancing digital inclusion

IN THE CARIBBEAN

ECLAC Caribbean recently convened a virtual expert group meeting (EGM) to discuss findings of a draft study on “Measuring the digital society to advance digital inclusion in the Caribbean”.

The virtual EGM was held in collaboration with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), and attended by representatives from five member States: Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago and one associate member: Turks and Caicos Islands.

Also in attendance were representatives from the Public Utilities Commission of Anguilla (PUC-Anguilla), Telecommunications Authority of Suriname (TAS), Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) and the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of the British Virgin Islands.

Given that the overall objective of the EGM was to review the findings of the above-mentioned draft study, an overview of said study and its methodology was

presented. A senior ECLAC Caribbean representative (former Deputy Director Dillon Alleyne), noted that the study was motivated by previous work conducted on digital inclusion, which highlighted the importance of identifying digital inclusion metrics suitable to the Caribbean. He noted that the aim of the study was to provide further insight and information to advance the discussion on measurement of the digital society and digital inclusion.

ECLAC’s Senior Programme Management Assistant of the Caribbean Knowledge Management Centre (CKMC) then invited feedback from experts, including the Deputy Secretary-General and Head of Regional Policy Development of CTU. He revealed that CTU has been working on the harmonization of its information and communications technology (ICT) policy among its membership and has recognized a data deficit.

In referring to the vision and roadmap for CARICOM Single ICT Space, he recalled that initial assessments to enable implementation were only undertaken in 2023, due to resource constraints, and that the results are now expected in 2024.

In this regard, he highlighted the importance of identifying priority areas and suitable metrics. Further, he stated that CTU had received calls at the ministerial level for an ICT indicator dashboard to monitor developments in the

region. He affirmed that this context provided the occasion for partnership with ECLAC, since they were also conducting research on ICT indicators.

The representative of the Ministry of Science, Energy, Technology and Transportation of Jamaica recommended that ECLAC and CTU collaborate to establish multilayered capacity-building frameworks for data collection in the Caribbean subregion.

The biggest Saint Patrick’s Day

FESTIVAL IN THE CARIBBEAN

A country outside of Ireland that celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day is the Caribbean island of Montserrat, which has a deep Irish heritage thanks to a wave of immigration from the Emerald Isle beginning in the 17th century.

Today, the island still celebrates its Irish heritage, culminating in what is the largest Saint Patrick’s festival in the region. The festival also commemorates the failed slave revolt that was planned for 17 March in 1768, celebrating the “bravery of those who fought for their freedom.”

That tradition will continue this year for the 42nd annual Saint Patrick’s Day Festival in Montserrat, running from 08 to 18 March.

This year’s event will include a full agenda of celebrations, including an all-white party, a boat cruise, an adventure hike and an “Emerald City Reggae Fest,” among others.

The festival usually draws thousands of visitors each year, including returning Montserratians and visitors like . Many accommodations are already booked up for the festival, tourism officials said.

“We are looking forward to welcoming both returning as well as first time visitors to Montserrat for the biggest Saint Patrick’s Festival in the Caribbean,” said Montserrat’s director of tourism, Rosetta West Gerald.

“The island has been eagerly preparing for this momentous occasion, and we are hopeful that this 42nd festival will surpass all expectations.”

JAMAICA IS HOSTING ANOTHER

TOURISM “RESILIENCE” CONFERENCE

Jamaica has been working to position itself as a global centre for the study and practice of tourism “resilience.” That included the creation of the first global tourism resilience centre and, last year in Kingston, the first-ever Global Tourism Resilience Conference in Montego Bay.

Now, Jamaica is holding that forum again, looking to forward the study of the way countries and tourism economies can bounce back — and become stronger — in the face of global challenges and risks.

“Global tourism resilience will once again take centre stage with key experts speaking about building resilience in the industry.

As tourism destinations continue to recover, it is critical that resilience be a focus of planning and development to futureproof the industry from any potential shock,” said Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, who founded the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre.

This year’s summit will focus on topics like building “digital” resilience, “infrastructure” resilience and a look at the role and impact of women in tourism resilience.

“I am truly pleased that tourism resilience will be top of mind over the twoday period where we will get more insights into how destinations can better equip

themselves in the face of disruptions. COVID-19 proved that tourism resilience is even more urgent, and we must act on this,” said Professor Lloyd Waller, Executive Director of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre.

Jamaica says more than 200 delegates from around the world are expected to attend. “We are preparing to give attendees a warm Jamaican welcome which will leave a lasting positive impression, said Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board. “There is truly no better backdrop than Jamaica to host this mega conference.”

THE KITCHEN

FRIED CHICKEN Jamaican

Seasoning Rub:

• 1 tsp ground Paprika

• 1 tsp Onion Powder

• 1 tsp Garlic Powder

• 1 tsp ground Ginger

• 1 tsp Allspice

• 2 1/2 tsp Salt

• 1/2 tsp Black Pepper

• 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper

How to Make it:

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 2 hrs 15 mins

Total: 2 hrs 35 mins

Serves: 4 servings

What you will need:

• 4lbs Chicken, cut in pieces

• 1 cup Milk

• 2 cups Flour

• 1/2 tsp Dried Thyme

• 1/2 tsp Paprika

• 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper

• 1/2 tsp Black Pepper

• 1 tsp Salt

• 2 to 3 cups Vegetable Oil

Step 1: In a large bowl mix together paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and ground ginger, allspice, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper.

Step 2: Place chicken in the bowl with seasoning mix and rub the seasoning into chicken until it is coated; place in fridge overnight, or for at least two hours.

Step 3: Remove bowl from fridge and set aside.

Step 4: Pour milk into shallow bowl; set aside. In a large baking pan mix together flour, thyme, paprika, cayenne, black pepper and salt.

Step 5: Piece by piece dip the chicken in the milk then place in baking pan to coat with flour; shake off excess flour.

Step 6: Place chicken on a rack and let sit until the flour is no longer dry, about 20 minutes. This time will also bring it closer to room temperature which will make it cook quicker.

Step 7: While chicken is on the rack, heat oil on High in a large Dutch pot or deep skillet.

Step 8: Fry chicken in batches until golden brown, about 10 minutes each side, depending on how big the pieces are.

Step 9: Let chicken rest in a 250-degree F oven for about 20 minutes, which will allow it to finish cooking and stay crispy.