SDG Gallery: Antigua & Barbuda

SDG GALLERY: ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

LOCATIONS: PLAY IT OUT CONCERT THE NATIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARY JUNE 2019

Primary School Students during their visit to the gallery at the public library

Prime Minister Antigua and Barbuda The Hon. Gaston Browne, President of UN General Assembly, Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, Norway's Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, Mona Juul, PR for Palestine & President of the G77 Ambassador Riyad Mansour making pledge to #BeatPlasticPollution at concert

PLAY IT OUT TO

PHASE IT OUT! The Office of the President of the United Nations General Assembly’s Global Campaign against Plastic Pollution

The “Play it Out Music” Festival took place in Antigua & Barbuda on 1 June 2019 as part of a global initiative led by the President of the UN General Assembly to #BeatPlasticPollution.

The festival which was hailed a ‘major success’ captivated thousands of viewers all over the world, who watched the event live on various social media platforms. As the night progressed, the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds became filled with supporters & persons eager to watch as renowned international, regional and local artistes as well as high ranking government & United Nations (UN) officials, along with major advocates from around the world stood in solidarity to support ending plastic pollution.

Among the performers were actress and singer, Ashanti; soca legend Machel Montano; Grammy nominated German DJ/producer, Robin Schulz; Norwegian R&B duo, Nico and Vinz; reggae artist Rocky Dawuni from Ghana; the Colombian band,

Bomba Estéreo; and Australian singer & UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador, Cody Simpson.

The concert was organized by the President of the General Assembly along with the Governments of Antigua & Barbuda, & Norway, as well as UN Environment, UNOPS, the Krimm Group (TKG) & Lonely Whale's Adrian Grenier.

In his address, Antigua & Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne called on other Caribbean leaders to follow Antigua’s lead in banning single-use plastics from the region.

He said,

“Antigua & Barbuda will continue to lead by example in our responsibility to protect the environment, therefore I am urgently calling on all Caribbean leaders to join me in declaring an end to plastic litter & micro-plastic pollution in the Caribbean Sea.” The festival is part of a broader campaign led by the President of General Assembly, who earlier this year launched a global call to action on plastic pollution, as well as an initiative to ban single use plastics at UNHQ. The campaign focuses on phasing out the use of single-use plastics & aims to raise awareness of the impact of plastics on the environment & human health.

President of UN General Assembly, María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés during her tour of the SDG Gallery

TRANSFORMING ANTIGUA & BARBUDA THROUGH

MISSION 2030 SDG Gallery launch at the Play it Out Concert

The global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) clearly underpinned the concert and its appeal to #BeatPlasticPollution. Thus, the concert provided a golden opportunity to launch the UN Barbados & OECS’ SDG Gallery in Antigua & Barbuda. Under the theme Mission 2030, the gallery brought to the life the message of the SDGs within the Caribbean context & provided an interactive space to create awareness on Agenda 2030. The SDG Gallery was set in the lobby of the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, engaging over 200 highprofile visitors including the President of the UN General Assembly, Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda The Hon. Gaston Browne, Ministers and Government Officials, Ambassadors, Heads of Corporation, celebrities & UN staff.

Visitors were invited to interact with the pieces and make pledges which were captured on our social media pages throughout the night.

Antigua has been the third stop for the Gallery, having successfully launched last year in Barbados & then moving to St. Lucia for the People’s Knowledge Fair. The pop-up type gallery at the concert, featured pieces related to the Planet Goals & the themes of the concert including sharing the UN’s role in Climate Action in the region subsequent to hurricanes Irma & Maria.

Prime Minister The Hon. Gaston Browne during his visit to the SDG Gallery with Resident Coordinator Didier Trebucq.

SNAPSHOT

Minister of Social Transformation, Human Resource Development, Youth & Gender Affairs The Hon. Samantha Marshall shares her thoughts on the biggest problemsÂ

Deputy Governor General Sir Clare Roberts, KCN, QC and Lady Roberts read public responses on Climate Impact board

Minister of the Blue Economy and Martime Affairs in Barbados The Hon. Kirk Humphrey engages with UNICEF volunteer during tour of SDG Gallery

TRANSFORMING ANTIGUA & BARBUDA THROUGH

MISSION 2030

SDG Gallery at The National Public Library of Antigua & Barbuda After its successful launch at the Play it Out Concert, the UN Office for Barbados and the OECS in partnership with the Government of Antigua & Barbuda moved the SDG Gallery to The National Public Library, where it was opened to the public. The library situated in the heart of the capital St. John’s, is a hub of activity for students who come in their droves after school and during the holidays to study, use the internet and participate in various activities. At the opening of the Gallery, Director of the Museum, Ryllis Mannick was thrilled at hosting the gallery stating

“We have a summer reading programme coming up and already we are so excited to have the children come here and see all this information, ask questions and add to their experience so that they can tell a universal story which is our theme for 2019, so thank you United Nations!”

Director of The National Public Library, Ryllis Mannick helps students read SDG Caribbean Fact Cubes

Similarly, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Anthony Liverpool at the opening shared: “The Sustainable Development Goals are designed to improve the living conditions of people from around the world (…) The SDGs cover all ministries, from education, health, the environment and it is extremely important that we work together to achieve these goals (…) In everything we do creating public awareness and public engagement is an important part of helping citizens to participate in such national activities.”

The gallery will remain at the library until 5 July 2019.

"Thank you to the United Nations for the SDG Display, I learnt a lot of new information and I know the parents and students will come to learn more about the SDGs!" Sachin Thomas, Student of the Clare Hall Secondary School and Volunteer at the National Public Library, Antigua & Barbuda

SNAPSHOT

Visitor writes on response board Student views map of countries covered by the UN Sub-Regional Team

Student Sachin Thomas, sorting cubes in preparation for student tour Young children enjoy using props in the social media corner

MEDIA SNAPSHOT

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