KINGSTON, Jamaica — Patrons at this Saturday’s Suga Lifestyle Art & Lifestyle Expo will be in for an emancipendence treat when over 60 micro and small businesses transform the AC Hotel’s Rocksteady Ballroom to serve up the ultimate shopping experience.

The event, which connects local artisans with buyers from across the island and the Diaspora, will showcase an expansive range of specially curated Jamaican products including art, craft, apparel and accessories, home decor and accents, literature, personal care and delectables to its savvy shoppers.

The show will also feature entertainment from its resident disc jockey; poets – the renowned Professor Mervyn Morris, OM, and the up-and-coming, Ras JaJa; singer and guitarist, Ken Ellis and drummer, Shaku.

Last year’s launch, which secured the endorsement of Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Senator Aubyn Hill and Mayor Andrew Swaby, garnered overwhelming support from the business community.

Suga Lifestyle Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gabrielle Burgess says it has provided the impetus for this year’s staging.

“We’re pulling out all the stops for our shoppers this year, and they will see it in the high-quality craftsmanship we have selected when they come to make their purchases this weekend,” Burgess, said lauding micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) for their “creativity” and “resilience”.

Burgess, who is the 2023 Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year, added the Emancipendence Art & Lifestyle shopping spree to her Suga Lifestyle calendar last year.

The radiologic technologist-turned artiste and entrepreneur, along with partner and husband, Randolph Burgess, has created unique shopping experiences for patrons and fellow MSMEs, promoting Brand Jamaica through a unique series of expos and pop-ups for the past five years.

MSMEs contribute 40 per cent to Jamaica’s gross domestic product, with earnings of $2.2 billion annually while employing up to 80 per cent of Jamaica’s workforce.

Suga Lifestyle’s Art & Lifestyle Expo will run from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.  The event, which is free of cost to the public, is sponsored by AC Hotel Kingston, JABLUM Coffee, CVM Television, CEN Tv, CVM Sunrise, Barita Investments Limited, Blue Mahoe Holdings, Incorporations, Sleek Jamaica and The Herald Limited (Printers).