SUMMER CAMP OPENS IN ANGUILLA

A two-week Joint Summer Day Camp, organised by the Anguilla Youth Centres, the Department of Youth and Culture and the Anguilla National Trust, opened at the Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium on Monday, August 15.

Mr. Baird with other head table personnel

The camp, which has as its theme “Anguilla’s Natural Resources: Cherish, Protect, Promote”, was declared open by Minister responsible for Youth Affairs, Edison Baird.

“I am especially pleased that so many youth centres are collaborating in this initiative,” he stated. “It reiterates the fact that we need to tear down the barriers we have placed around ourselves in our various communities and that Anguilla is just one long village.”

Attendees at the workshop

He noted that the theme of the camp focused on the environment. He therefore thought that the programme was an excellent way of highlighting to young people that everybody had an obligation to take care of the island. “I trust that by the end of this summer programme that you will have a better appreciation of Anguilla’s natural environment and the role that each of you can play in preserving it,” the Minister stated. “I take this opportunity to applaud the management of all the centres represented here, the Department of Youth and Culture, and all those persons who have been working so hard to make a difference in their community.”

The programme, outlined by Farah Mukhida, of the Anguilla National Trust, includes a hike to Katouche Valley, a trip to the Department of Agriculture, backyard gardening, a wetland tour to the East End Pond conservation area, beach tours; waste management and composting; and visits to the hydroponic farm at Green Cuisine and the Anguilla Garden Centre. The climaxing event is a fun day on Friday, August 26.

Other speakers at the opening ceremony included the Director of the Department of Youth and Culture, Dwayne Adams, and Jemina Romney, Manager of the Blowing Point Youth Development Centre.

The facilitators are Kenroy Rawlins, the Anguilla National Trust, Department of Agriculture, Leroy Richardson and Oliver Hodge of the Environment Health Department, Leroy Browne of Desert Farm and Andre Samuel, Caricom Youth Ambassador.

The sponsors include various business places in Anguilla.