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LOCAL Saturday 24 OctOber 2020

First AQUA Caribbean Conference focuses on water and climate change

to focus exclusively on Blue Attendance is free for 15-
Economy action in the re- 25 year-olds and ‘Britain’s
gion. Got Talent’ finalist, ‘Magi-
cal Bones’ will be providing
Global experts will offer entertainment. The Carib-
strategic, economic and bean based ocean advo-
developmental insights cate is at the forefront of
into emerging sectors of this charge and is recog-
the Blue Economy. They will nized globally for the posi-
also highlight important so- tive influences her NGO
cial considerations that will ‘Fish and Fins’ have had on
MONTSERRAT — Award- ensure the growth of the young people regionally.
winning Caribbean based Blue Economy is sustain- Her programs are focused
conservationist Veta Wade, able, equitable and inclu- on teaching a genera-
says if the ocean were a sive. To encourage this shift tion how to swim and re-
nation, it would rank as the in the Blue Economy, the duce negative impacts on
seventh-largest economy inaugural Aqua Caribbean ocean resources.
in the world, and she wants Conference will focus on:
to help islanders harness Wade says she is working
the full potential of their Access to training and de- towards the Caribbean
most powerful resource. velopment opportunities Blue Economy becoming
Raising the profile of minor- profitable within a collabor-
Caribbean countries are ity conservationists ative framework. “In order
highly vulnerable to the Equitable collaboration to achieve these things, we further develop our sci- er, Imperial Yachts. In line
effects of climate change Ocean-conscious innova- must preserve the magnifi- ence, and build a platform with the UN Sustainable
and are investing in their tive businesses cence and wealth of our that trains and supports Development Goals, Aqua
ocean economies to Ocean-impact innovations oceans by creating home- ocean leaders now and in Caribbean’s Blue Economy
give themselves the best based sustainable solutions the future.” Conference reflects the UN
chance of survival. Wade The AQUA Caribbean Con- that make a measurable Decade of Ocean Science
is hosting the virtual AQUA ference will have 3,000 difference to the lives and Our esteemed conference for Sustainable Develop-
Caribbean Conference on global participants and a livelihoods of Caribbean ambassador is Peter Lurs- ment and the UN Interna-
November 14, 2020. It is the selection of regional and people. I want to expand sen, CEO of the world's tional Decade for People
first conference of its kind global thought leaders. our research capabilities, foremost super yacht build- of African Descent. q