Bulletin

It was a great honour to serve as president this year during the 50th anniversary celebrations. The BNT is a unique organization and is tremendously important nationally as the manager of the country’s national park system. Our national parks not only serve as a source of tremendous value, pride and enjoyment of the Bahamian people, but also make an invaluable contribution to the world’s biodiversity.

Our retrospective photo exhibition which covered 50 years of BNT history took many of us on a walk down memory lane and was a poignant reminder of the many dedicated individuals who have given time and expertise to the organization.

It was an uplifting experience to look into the past and see our first wardens in Inagua, Samuel and James Nixon, travel with the original expedition to Exuma and see Oris Russell, Herbert McKinney and Carleton Ray in the field, to remember the contributions of Operation Raleigh in Grand Bahama with Sir Jack Hayward and Basil Kelly working alongside the volunteers and of course our great restoration effort at Adelaide Creek led by Past President Pericles Maillis.

It was a time to honour and thank our living past presidents, John F. Bethell , Sandra Buckner, Lynn Holowesko, Michael Lightbourn, Colin Lightbourn, Pericles Maillis, J.A. McKinney and Macgregor Robertson. We were also pleased to recognize employees past and present who have given over 10 years of service to the BNT: Susan Larson, Gary Larson, Henry Nixon, Lynn Gape, Kaderin Mills and Randolph Burrows .

Truly a high point in our 50th anniversary celebrations was our Gala Ball chaired by Robin Symonette along with her highly motivated committee: Beth Bethell, Carleton Robertson, and Amanda Lindroth. That evening we were given even greater reason to celebrate as Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham announced the further expansion of our national park system which included the marine environs of Conception island National Park, the expansion of the Andros West Side National Park and a new park in Abaco – the Fowl Cays National Park. This is a further indication of the confidence that the government has in the BNT.

I want to thank the Council, Executive Committee, staff and volunteers for their hard work and dedication to the vision of our founders.

It is indeed an honour to have served as president of the BNT for the past five years.

Glenn V. Bannister
President, Bahamas National Trust

Click here to Read / Download this Annual Report in PDF Format