From left: Farah Mukhida/Executive Director and Avon Carty/President delivering the end of year report at The Anguilla National Trust General Meeting 2020.
ANGUILLA--President of the Anguilla National Trust (ANT) Avon Carty welcomed a large group of ANT members and guests to the annual general meeting and holiday festival gathering on Tuesday evening, December 7. It was held on the decorated grounds of the temporarily shuttered grounds of the no longer used Governor’s Residence.
Carty provided a comprehensive overview of the ANT’s 2020 activities with accompanying photos projected onto a wide screen. She began the 2020 President’s report with a recap of the ANT’s mission which is: “To be a leader in promoting, supporting and enabling sustainable development and heritage conservation in Anguilla”. She covered activities undertaken within the five programme areas of the ANT: wetlands conservation, coastal and marine conservation, protected areas management, culture and heritage and public awareness and stewardship.
Bird monitoring on both Anguilla and the cays continues to be the longest-running programme within the wetlands conservation area. Rat eradication on the cays has been a success as has the continued effort to preserve the endangered lesser Antillean iguana on the Prickly Pear Cay. Work continues on a conservation action plan for endangered reptile species unique to Anguilla.
Outreach to and partnership with the schools and young students continues. Students actively monitor bird life as well as assisting with the maintenance and protection of wetlands through planting of seedlings and seeds. Over 100 plants have been distributed to assist with coastal and wetlands conservation. Monitoring of sea turtle nesting activity and enforcing protective laws for the turtles are ongoing. Underwater diving and snorkel trails have been created and maintained in two areas. The restoration of ponds and beaches is also being addressed.
Following the President’s report, the 2020 financial report through October 31, 2020, was presented along with a short presentation by Louise Soanes on “Nature-based Solutions to Climate Change”.
Elections of officers to fill three ANT council positions vacated due to the two-year term limit resulted in three newly elected council members: Frank Cannon, Elliot Gumbs and Trevor Queeley Javois. Non-member guests were invited to take advantage of the “Black Friday member sale” where they could purchase membership at a reduced price. Approximately a dozen guests took advantage of the sale.
Farah Mukhida, the Executive Director closed the meeting by thanking her staff for all that they do to ensure that the ANT’s mission is successfully executed every day.
