GARD Center had a ‘rest and recreation’ day at Pigeon Point beach, on Tuesday, 5 May 2015.
The Center’s staff outing was sponsored by the Executive Director, who treated the employees to a day out after they worked tirelessly to prepare for the recently held Farm-to-Table event.
Category Archives: Agriculture
Farm-to-Table Luncheon
The GARD Center held its inaugural Farm-to-Table Luncheon at the Gilbert Agro-Heritage Center, Mercers Creek, on Saturday, 18 April 2015. This exquisite, unique, outdoor dining experience was enjoyed by over 140 visitors.
This fundraiser planned as part of the Center’s 25th Anniversary celebrations, was aimed at raising money for the continuation of the Center’s operation and to implement subsidized training courses for vulnerable youth.
Delicious local meals were prepared by our local volunteer chefs, Caleb; Jarvis; Simon; Simpson; with local produce grown and supplied by our farmers. Even the centerpieces on the tables were ‘tastefully’ done, and created with locally grown vegetables.
Excellent music was provided by the Cool and Smooth Ebonites Steel Orchestra and DJ Riddim Master.
The Fisheries Division provided tastings of Squid chowder and Conch chowder; Squid patties and Smoked Doctor Fish, much to the delight of everyone who was curious enough to try the various delicacies.
The GARD Center looks forward to hosting its second Farm-to-Table Luncheon, early in 2016, and we look forward to having you join us.
Many thanks to all of our volunteers, advisors, farmers and chefs, who gave so generously of their produce, time and talent. The Center also wishes to thank Corporate Antigua and Barbuda, the Friends of GARD Center, and those who sold and/or purchased tickets, or contributed to this fundraiser in any way.
GARD Center – Japanese Human Security Project
The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center celebrates the Japanese Government Funds Project for Extension of a Skill Training Center in Antigua and Barbuda. This is the second project awarded by the People of Japan to the GARD Center.
The signing ceremony for the Grant Assistance for the Grass-roots Human Security Project (GGP) entitled “The Project for Extension of a Skill Training Center for Gilbert Agricultural & Rural Development Center” took place at 10:00 a.m. on March 6, 2015, at Gilbert Agricultural & Rural Development Center (GARD Center), Nature Park, Mercers Creek, Antigua and Barbuda.
Ms. Jacqueline Yearwood, a GARD Center Board Member, was the Master of Ceremonies and extended a warm welcome to those present. The Ceremony was opened with a word of prayer by Rev. Patmore Henry, Secretary, to the Methodist Church. Mrs. Roberta Williams, Executive Director of the Center, spoke about the Background of the Project and remarks were offered by, Rev. Otto Wade, President, Methodist Conference; His Excellency, Anthony Liverpool, Non-Resident Ambassador of Antigua & Barbuda to Japan and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Hon. Melford Nicholas, and the Minister of Information, Telecommunications, Science and Technology; along with Mr. Takafumi Ura, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan.
After these speeches, there was a Ground Breaking Ceremony, during which Mr. Ura, Rev. Wade and Mr. Nicholas turned the sod where the new building would be erected.
The Gilbert Agricultural & Rural Development Center received a grant of up to US$100,525 from the Government of Japan for the extension of their Skills Development Center which seeks to enhance the existing training and development activities offered, while also providing increased opportunities for vulnerable youth in Antigua and Barbuda.
In his speech, Mr. Ura highlighted that “through the compliance and execution of the project initiatives, the programme will have a wider effect through the community and by extension the society. This expansion will allow for overall improvement of the current facilities which can yield better output services provided to these vulnerable students.”
Mr. Ura also stated that the Government of Japan welcomes further opportunities to work with the Government and the people of Antigua and Barbuda, all with a view to strengthening the bonds of friendship and mutual understanding which exist between the two countries.
A Healthy and Prosperous 2015
The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) sincerely wishes to thank all of those who have supported our organisation, and assisted our Center in any way over our first twenty five years of existence and we wish to encourage you to continue this journey with us.
The Center started its year long celebrations with a church service on Monday, 8 December 2014, at Ebenezer Methodist Church, St. Mary’s Street, St. John’s. This was followed by a Graduation Ceremony held on 16 December 2014, which was held at the same venue.
Our next activity is a Farm-to-Table event which is planned for April 2015, at the GARD Center Nature Center. This fund raiser showcases our local producers, their products and the chefs who will be on hand to prepare the delicious meals. We cordially invite you to join us at this event.
As our 25th anniversary celebrations continue, we will keep you updated with our events and look forward to having you join us.
UMC Mission Team visits GARD Center
Part of the United Methodist Church (UMC) Mission Team who visited the GARD Center on 25 March 2014, is seen in the picture to the right. President of the Methodist Conference, Rev. Otto Wade and Mrs. Roberta Williams, Executive Director, GARD Center (standing), address the group.
GARD Center – EU Graduation
The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) and the European Union, under the project, Empowerment of Young Women of Antigua in their income generation (YWEP), held its first graduation ceremony on Thursday, 13 February, 2014, at the Ebenezer Methodist Church, St. Mary’s Street, St. John’s.
One hundred and three (103) graduates who successfully completed their course of study were celebrated during this ceremony. These young ladies between the ages of 16 – 35 years, graduated from Agriculture; Business Enterprise (day and evening) courses; Information Communication Technology (ICT), – day and evening classes; Basic Cookery; Food & Beverage Service and Office Administration.
The Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, Her Excellency, Dame Louise Lake-Tack, attended and assisted with the presentation of certificates to the Top Students. (R: Ms. Nazeer Colbourne, Overall Top Student)
Mrs. Judith Chastanet, Manager, Customer Relations Department of the Antigua and Barbuda Social Security Board and Mr. Ashton Fearon, Technical Research Officer & Project Administrator, GATE, also distributed certificates to the students. (Pictured Left: Jermyra Williams receiving certificate from Mrs. Chastanet)
Special Recognition was given by the GARD Center to CIBC/First Caribbean International Bank and Townhouse Mega Store for their continued support towards the Center’s Entrepreneurship programme.
The Ceremony was ably guided by the Master of Ceremonies, Ms. Lenora Murphy, and the Invocation given by Rev. Otto Wade, President of the Methodist Conference.
The Welcome was delivered by two of the Agriculture graduates, Ms. Princess Waszutu Mack and Ms. Waszara Mack.
Congratulatory Remarks were given to the graduates by Mrs. Karen Massiah, Customer Services Coordinator/Executive Assistant, Antigua Computer Technology Co. Ltd. and Mr. Jedidiah Maxime, Director of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture. The Hon. Harold Lovell, Minister of Finance also offered congratulatory remarks and words of encouragement to the graduates.
The Feature Address was delivered by youthful, Ms. Damara Phillips, Entrepreneur, (Graphic Artist and Disc-Jockey), who shared her passion, experiences, hard work and commitment, ups and downs with the graduates and others in the packed sanctuary. This young lady spoke of her successful infiltration into traditionally male-dominated fields and how she continues to strive for excellence. (L-R: Her Excellency, Governor General, Dame Louise Lake-Tack, Ms. Damara Phillips, Entrepreneur and Hon. Harold Lovell).
Ms. Kareem Francis, Project Manager of the Young Women Empowerment Programme gave a full, passionate, and emotional project review. The majority of the young ladies / now graduates whom she always referred to as her children/girls had done exceptionally well, which made her tremendously proud. Her ‘girls’ responded to her presentation in the most fitting of ways, with spontaneous applause.
There was also a segment for entertainment, and Business Enterprise graduate, Mrs. Tovia Carey-Dowe and guest artiste, Ms. Lauralie Nathan, each performed breath-taking solos. Remarks were also delivered on behalf of the graduating classes by two of the ICT graduates, Ms. Germaine Dublin and Ms. Patricia Francis.
Portion of the Audience in Attendance at the Graduation Ceremony
Mrs. Roberta Williams delivered the Vote of Thanks. She acknowledged those who assisted with all aspects of the project, and highlighted those business places which offered GARD Center’s students’ internships and employment.
The evening ceremony was closed in prayer by Rev. Janetta James, of the Antigua Methodist Circuit, and light refreshment was shared.
Photos courtesy New Media One.
Mill Reef Fund Members Visit the GARD Center
The GARD Center recently gave a tour of the ‘soon to be open’ Nature Center to friends and members of the Mill Reef Fund. Some of the young people of Mill Reef have shown an interest in the programmes offered by the GARD Center. In picture below, Executive Director, center, surrounded by Mill Reef Fund guests.
In addition, the Center received a special gift from a newlywed couple, who married in the USA in 2013. They asked their guests who would have been interested, to make donations to the the Mill Reef Fund to be designated to the GARD Center instead of buying gifts for their wedding.
The GARD Center sincerely wishes to thank this couple for their generous donation and wish them many years of happiness as they share their lives together.
GARD Center recognised by the Chefs of Antigua
For the past three months Chefs of Antigua has been broadcast on Antigua Broadcasting Services (ABS) the local TV station, every Thursday at 6:30 pm. Chefs from all over the island have been showing the general public how to prepare great healthy food. For the final episode of the first season, there was a 60 minute Christmas Special titled “Christmas at Curtain Bluff with Chefs of Antigua.”
During this special, two community leaders were honoured for their outstanding leadership and service in specific fields. Chefs of Antigua wanted to acknowledge the work done at the GARD Center and invited the Executive Director to be a recipient of the Chefs of Antigua Community Service Award.
The presentation was held at Curtain Bluff. Bernadette David of Hutchinsons (sponsors) presented the Chefs of Antigua community award plaque.
In the featured picture, Mrs. Roberta Williams (R) receives Chefs of Antigua Award from Representative of Sponsor, (L).
Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods
6th ANNUAL CARIBBEAN CONFERENCE
Two young entrepreneurs were selected to represent the GARD Center at this important regional conference which was held in Jamaica, from 9 – 11 December 2013. The Antiguan Delegation of Mr. Winston Laville and Ms. Waszara Mack were part of a four (4) member panel who represented our country in the panel discussion, Youth Entrepreneurs: Young Agripreneurs – Lessons Learnt: Challenges, Successes and the way Forward.
Issues discussed included the challenges faced by youth in setting up businesses; successes gained through steadfastness and diligence, and the accomplishment of goals. Also discussed was the ‘way forward’ stepping stones for the future, and the importance of the Caribbean people networking with each other to assure produce circulates among the region for the betterment of trade.
Mrs. Melida Harris – Barrow, President of the NIC-ETH Productions and AfroLatinoMagazine, offered free advertisement to the entrepreneurs who were present, giving them an opportunity to advertise themselves and their respective businesses worldwide.
Other panel discussions covered interesting topics, such as, advancing food security, women entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial education to name a few. After each session, there was a Questions and Answers section.
The Field Dialogue Research was set up so that three groups: one group to the market place in Linstead, the other in Bog Walk and the third group visited a farm. Each group conducted a survey of the entrepreneurs they met to better understand more about them. Why they chose that type of business and how they started their business were some of the questions asked during the research. After such, each group had to analyse the information, discuss among themselves and make a group presentation of their findings.
After that event there was a field trip at a broiler farm which was a huge and fully mechanised facility which houses thousands upon thousands of birds. The facility didn’t have any birds, for they were cleaning up for the next batch of birds to come in. On investigation of the farm, it was found that the bird’s faeces are collected and sold to farmers as manure. This inspired the livestock farmers who were present on the trip.
Also there were goat and pig pens, which housed the biggest pigs ever in those pens on the farm. They also had a crop section where they planted corn, pigeon peas, sorrel and pineapple.
On the final day of the conference, those present were exposed to a competition going on offering grant funding for proposals that demonstrate exceptional potential impact on the environment. Concepts of the fund include, sustainable agribusiness, water management, (including waste water), energy efficiency solar energy and resource use. The day’s proceedings ended with the sale of exhibition items and the taking of pictures, while the night ended with a highly anticipated dinner and award ceremony.
Gilbert Agro-heritage Nature Center – RELAUNCHING 2014!!
Early in the New Year the GARD Center plans to have its Nature Center fully operational.
Various tours of the Nature Center can be organized to take you on a trip through beautiful gardens of flowers, flowering shrubs, trees and traditional herbs. Exhibits will be found in the discovery room to provide interesting information in a fun way.
There will be an historic walk through time on our heritage trail for those trail enthusiasts. The hike is one to three miles through the Gilbert dry limestone woodlands, highlighting the characteristic woodland ecology, plants and wildlife. Other attractions will be a children’s garden and play area, local handicraft, soaps, condiments and other products for sale produced by the graduates of the GARD Center programmes.
