KINGSTON, Jamaica–Re-igniting civic pride and love and appreciation for country as tools for national development, were the focus of a Valentine’s Day ‘Love Jamaica Fest’ organised by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) on Friday.

The inaugural Vision 2030 Jamaica event, under the theme: ‘Jamaica, My Valentine’ was held at the AC Hotel in Kingston and online.

Delivering the welcome, Director General of the PIOJ, Dr Wayne Henry, said ‘Love Jamaica Fest’ seeks to awaken a renewed sense of pride, responsibility and love for country among Jamaicans.

He noted that Friday’s event signalled the kickstart of a series of activities geared towards strengthening the mechanisms for participatory development, where citizens are actively engaged and invested in their country.

“Core and transformational values, such as civic and national pride, are determinants of the strengths of the prerequisites for the sustainable development of a society that is socially and economically stable,” said Henry.

These prerequisites include trust, social contracts, partnerships, capacity for effective social bargaining and negotiation, governance, productivity and competitiveness.

“Let today be the beginning of a movement that advances the vision of making Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families, do business and retire in paradise,” Henry urged.

Keynote speaker and media personality, Dahlia Harris, noted that civic pride extends beyond appreciation for one’s country.

“Civic pride is not just about an appreciation of things Jamaican. Civic pride is also about our responsibility to Jamaica. Civic pride is also about our commitment to Jamaica,” she stated.

Harris said it is easy to love Jamaica as the country deserves to be loved, having accomplished things that countries 20 times larger are still trying to figure out. “Where we live is one of the greatest places to live, work, raise families, and do business. There’s nowhere like it anywhere else in the world,” she said. She charged citizens to rediscover Jamaica and re-ignite their pride in the country.

Harris argued that too many Jamaicans treat the country like an Airbnb instead of their permanent homes.

The media personality said “there’s so much to be proud of in this country but we have to play our part. Jamaica is our real love and when you love something, you pour everything into it, because you want that thing to be the best that it can be”.

Harris urged Jamaicans to engage in their citizens associations and other agencies dedicated to improving the country.

“You don’t have to be Usain Bolt, you don’t have to be Don Quarry, you don’t have to be Bob Marley to make a difference in Jamaica. All you have to do is do your part. It is our responsibility to show Jamaica love because we have been blessed to be a part of the greatest nation in the world and we owe it to our nation to make it even greater,” she said.

-JIS