KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has launched the Vision 2030 Jamaica ‘Love Jamaica’ National Essay Competition, under the theme ‘Building a Shockproof Jamaica: My Role in a Resilient Future’.

Localisation and Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator at the Vision 2030 Jamaica Secretariat, PIOJ, Samantha Wilmot‑Whilby, advised that the competition is open to Jamaicans aged 15 and older.

The competition features three categories: Youth (15–29 years), Adults (30–59 years), and Senior Citizens (60 years and over).

“By engaging these groups, we are intentionally capturing intergenerational perspectives,” Wilmot‑Whilby said in her address during the Vision 2030 Jamaica Love Jamaica Fest, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Friday, February 13.

She noted that, in recent times, Jamaica, like many small island developing states, has faced significant shocks.

“[These include] global financial uncertainty, the COVID-19 pandemic, other health challenges and the growing realities of climate change and environmental vulnerabilities as well. More recently, we experienced Hurricane Melissa… and that hurricane reminded us, again, of both our exposure to risk and our remarkable capacity to endure,” Wilmot‑Whilby said.

She reasoned that the Love Jamaica National Essay Competition is not merely a writing exercise but a national conversation.

“One that invites Jamaicans across generations to pause, reflect and share their perspectives on who we are, what we have endured, what gives us hope and how we can build a stronger, more resilient Jamaica for generations to come,” Wilmot-Whilby said.

She added that the topic was carefully chosen to encourage each group to share their unique ideas, perspectives and solutions, while inspiring hope and aligning their contributions with the Vision 2030 Jamaica National Development Plan.

Wilmot‑Whilby is encouraging interested citizens to follow Vision 2030 Jamaica on social media for updates on the competition’s opening date.

“Following submission, we’ll go through a judging period and then we will have an awards ceremony,” she indicated.

— JIS