Members Update
Biological diversity or Bio-diversity is the incredible, wonderful and awesome
variety of life on Earth in ALL its forms, together with all the different kinds
of habitats, in which all these plants and animals live. Biodiversity includes
GENETIC diversity, SPECIES diversity and ECOSYSTEM diversity.
The Pointe-a-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust continues to uphold its mandate and to
protect our Country's Bio Diversity, Land and People in every way and with all
the resources which we have.
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A FIRST FOR TRINIDAD & TOBAGO AND THE REGION! THE MILLENIUM PROJECT!
The Boardwalk around the first lake was commissioned by the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Arthur N. R. Robinson on June 12th. The Boardwalk was built to facilitate the Physically Challenged and the Elderly and was funded by SOHOM (The Spouses of Heads of Missions to Trinidad & Tobago) with the assistance of the Forestry Division of the Ministry of the Environment, Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme.
Its length is approximately
300 metres, from all accounts making it the longest boardwalk in
Trinidad & Tobago, and probably in the Caribbean. It required
just under 2,000 mora treaders or planks, joined side by side to
facilitate the smooth passage of wheelchairs. The entire structure
rests on a teak frame and posts.
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For this project, the Trust wishes to thank all the SOHOM members but especially Mrs. Pony Shumaker, wife of the former U.S. Ambassador, Sra. Maritza Fabregat-Miller, Argentine Embassy, Sra. Marcia de Sousa, Brazilian Embassy, Mrs. Geri Horsford-Lloyd, wife of the previous Canadian High Commission and Mrs. Mariev Wade, wife of the present High Commissioner for Canada, Her Excellency Isabel Tellez de Ortega, Mexican Ambassador and her husband Augustin Ortega, Doris Nitzschke of Cermany and Tessa Harborne of the United Kingdom. We are deeply appreciative that they chose the Trust for their premier fundraising effort.
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Mrs. Kathleen Donaldson-Baptiste, Head of DRETCHI and a Director of the Trust, spoke about the importance of the Trust's Special Needs Environmental Therapy Programme, especially given the lack of facilities available for people with particular needs in our society and their fundamental right to interact with our environment in a positive way. She also recalled some of the work that the Trust has done in the past with the "differently abled" - "Persons who have disabilities of any hind, need and want opportunities to learn and grow in the out of doors as they reap the same traditional benefits from being in the Wild Fowl Tust, that other persons do, and often, a few extras.
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| The daughter and granddaughter of the President of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Ann Margaret and Anushka, were enthralled with "Arnold ", the Trust's Macajuel snake, held by Khalid Hassanali, son of the former President o the Republic. "Arnold" is always the little ones (and not so little ones) favourite. |
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BREEDING NEWS
Our breeding programme for the Blue and Gold Macaw, now locally extirpated from its wild habitat, the Nariva Wetlands, continues. This year two more young were born at the Trust and another pair are on eggs. Any members having Blue and Gold Macaws, which they would like to donate to the Trust to expand our programme, their gifts would be most welcome!
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Molly R. Gaskin and Karilyn Shephard were interviewed and the Trust filmed by a German news crew; for distribution on TV, Radio and Newspaper in the Federal Republic of Germany.
WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, CONFERENCES, REPRESENTATION
The Trust continues to be represented at numerous environmental meetings, workshops, seminars, conferences and consultations. Karilyn Shephard covered most of these. After serving eight (8) years as an officer on the Board of the Caribbean Conservation Association, the Trust declined re-election in September 2001.
In March 2001, Trust President, Molly R. Gaskin was elected unanimously as Chair of the Council of Presidents of Environmental NGO's (COPE), with Trust Vice President Karilyn Shephard as Honorary Secretary. COPE offered major inputs to Senators for the Planning and Development of Land (2001) Bill, re-submitted a project proposal resulting in the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with UNDP/Global Environment Facility (GEF)/Small Grants Programme (SGP) for Institutional Strengthening and Community Outreach, in the sum of TT$300,000 for a two year period.
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Trust Vice President, Karilyn Shephard in her capacity as Secretary of COPE, was invited to sit on the Panel and speak on the "The way forward, A vision of sustainable development in Trinidad & Tobago" at the 8'" Annual Research Symposium and Panel Discussion which was held by the Institute of Marine Affairs. The theme of the Symposium this year was "Toward Sustainable Development in the Coastal and Marine Environment".
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In September 2001, the St. Joseph's Convent Past Pupils' Association inducted six women into their newly established Hall of Excellence. Our Trust President, Molly Gaskin was among the inductees, being honoured for her outstanding contribution to the Environment. Other women being honoured were Her Excellency Patricia Robinson and Madame Justice Jean Permanand.
CONGRATULATIONS
The Forestry Division of Trinidad and Tobago, celebrates 100 years of existence. The Trust's relationship with Forestry goes back a long time and has always been a very positive and open one, assisting each other when and where the need arose. Today, one of the most urgent challenges still facing us in Trinidad and Tobago, is how to stop the growing deterioration of the Environment, our ravaged hills, our disappearing wetlands, our polluted rivers and coastline, and, all of this in spite of the hard and dedicated work of our foresters and our game wardens. The Trust wishes to pay tribute to those men and women who try so hard, and at times have even put their very lives on the line.
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