St. Kitts and Nevis will celebrate its National Day Ceremony at EXPO 2020 in Dubai, UAE, on November 16, 2021. On this global stage will be displayed the feel of the rich culture and heritage of the island and its luxurious tourism products. According to the organizers, this will be ‘an authentic representation’ of St. Kitts and Nevis and ‘an intentional departure from the expected’, showing the small country in a big way! “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” is the theme of EXPO 2020, which started on October 1 and will last till March 31, 2022.

Dubai

EXPO 2020 Dubai was slated for October 20, 2020 – April 10, 2021, but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the organizers retained the name “EXPO 2020” for branding and marketing purposes. Those that will be in attendance at St. Kitts National Day ceremony will include:

  1. The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Timothy Harris and his delegation.
  2. All staff working at St. Kitts and Nevis Pavilion at EXPO 2020 in Dubai
  3. Mr Troy Mills, Director of Culture

, among others. There will be performances by Soca Artist out of Nevis, Delly Ranks, along with other activities.

The stories displayed at the Pavilion are designed for a life of travel. Each visitor can engage with the Pavilion and exhibits, learn about the country’s uniqueness, reflect upon exciting features and facts and act, ultimately, to spread the word, visit or invest.

The spaces in the Pavilion will also feature videography and iconic photography of St Kitts and Nevis, from the sweeping drone panoramas to the typical landscapes. It will also incorporate audio and tactile features to create an immersive experience. The spaces will also use exciting facts and information in interactive exhibit displays, hoping the St. Kitts and Nevis stories will be accessible to various demographics, including children, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Saint Kitts and Nevis Flag

Subsequently, there will be;

  1. A flag-raising ceremony, accompanied by the playing of national anthems of both St. Kitts and Nevis and the UAE;
  2. Official speech by Prime Minister Harris of St Kitts and Nevis;
  3. Official address by a UAE representative;
  4. A tour of both the UAE pavilions and St. Kitts and Nevis’ Pavilion;
  5. A country briefing and;
  6. a press conference.

Prime Minister Harris will use the visit to Dubai to officially open St. Kitts and Nevis Embassy in Abu Dhabi, where Justin Hawley, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Ambassador to the UAE, is designated.

Expo 2020 Dubai

The experience at EXPO 2020 will be filled with fun, revelry, colour and festivity of the local St. Kitts and Nevis culture. Whilst the central displays will focus on Christmas folklore, the room allows for an abundance of storytelling of various other cultural practices of St. Kitts and Nevis. The immersive introduction to St. Kitts and Nevis natural beauty will lead visitors to a brief, but compelling and interesting  account of the nation’s past. According to the SKN Master story line, the content will give an overview of key phases of the island’s history from the Amerindians to Slavery to Colonialism and finally to Independence. The interactive content will invite engagement with the historical events, people, symbols and stories which have shaped the national identity of Saint Kitts and

Nevis Finally, visitors to the Pavilion culminate their experience in the Tourism Zone, which offers a relaxing, beach-side view of the island paradise. The hope is to share with visitors the successes of the tourism products and a forward-looking outlook of where St. Kitts and Nevis as a nation is heading. Hopefully, these will speak towards the innovation, enterprise and sustainable development efforts of the island.

__M.E.