Category Archives: Agriculture

The GARD Center wishes to thank the many persons – Board members, family members, volunteers, tutors, graduates, Friends of GARD Center, who have rallied around our staff member, Mr. Jay Peters, our Operational Foreman. Thank you for your prayers and overwhelming support, during this difficult time.

We know that we have an awesome and powerful God, who will ensure that justice prevails.

The GARD Center continues its important work with providing vulnerable youth with a second chance and stands by its staff, who continue to show passion, commitment and love for this important work.

Farm-to-Table 2016

March 16, 2016

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The GARD Center presents its 2nd annual Farm-to-Table Luncheon, under the patronage of His Excellency, Governor General Sir Rodney Williams and Lady Williams.
This year the Center wishes to announce our Official Sponsor, the James & Maginley Charity and Care Foundation
This fundraiser event will be held on Saturday, 16 April 2016. It will be held at the Gilbert Agro Heritage Center, Mercers Creek.
Luncheon will be served from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. It is a sit-down affair.
Antigua’s most exquisite and unique outdoor dining experience!
Come and Enjoy a delicious meal!!! Only FRESH produce used – from Farm to Table
Live entertainment, complimentary food samples, Chinese auction and more.
Adult tickets cost EC$100.00, and children under 12 years pay EC$40.00.
SEE YOU THERE!!!
The GARD Center can be contacted at 463-4121 / 562-0084 for more details. Watch the video below.
https://youtu.be/vBgHH35JUFg

Sponsorship for Farm-to-Table Fundraiser

March 7, 2016

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Agriculture Entrepreneurship Nature Center Youth No Comments

The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD Center) has been blessed with sponsorship from the James and Maginley Charity and Care Foundation, for its 2nd Annual, and major fundraiser event.
This year’s event will be held under the patronage of His Excellency, Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams and Lady Williams.
The Handover Ceremony was held in the recently constructed training facility which was donated by the People of Japan, at the GARD Center, Agro-heritage Center, on Thursday, 3 March 2016, 3:30pm.
The brief Ceremony was opened in Prayer by Rev. Patmore Henry, Secretary to the Methodist Conference. The Master of Ceremonies was Mr. Colin C. James CEO, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.
Remarks were offered by Mrs. Roberta Williams, Executive Director, GARD Center, as well as by Ambassador Casroy James and Mr. Kirthley Maginley, Directors of the James and Maginley Charity and Care Foundation.
Remarks were also offered by Ms. Shirlene Nibbs, Consultant to the Ministry of Tourism, in the absence of Hon. Asot Michael, Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy.
Unveiling of the Poster, which signaled the launch of the 2nd Annual Farm-to-Table Event was Mrs. Ann Jonas, Private Secretary to His Excellency, Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams.
The James and Maginley Charity and Care Foundation is a non-profit charity, established in January, 2016. Its founders are Ambassador Casroy James and Mr. Kirthley Maginley, co-principals of James and Maginley Ltd.
The primary mission of the James and Maginley Charity and Care Foundation is to improve the lives and well-being of the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, particularly, those most vulnerable.

Japanese Completion Ceremony

February 22, 2016

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Agriculture Entrepreneurship Youth No Comments

On the afternoon of Wednesday, 17 February 2016, it was official. The Embassy of Japan handed over the Skills Training facility to the GARD Center. This project was graciously funded through the Grass-roots Human Security Project (GGP), entitled “The Project for Extension of a Skill Training Center for Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center”
The Completion Ceremony was held on site at the Gilbert Agricultural & Rural Development Center (GARD Center), Nature Park, Mercers Creek, Antigua and Barbuda.
The grant 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. The amount donated was US$100,525.00.
The ceremony was attended by Mr. Takafumi Ura, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, Mrs. Roberta Williams, Executive Director, Gilbert Agricultural & Rural Development Center, and His Excellency Anthony Liverpool, Director General of Foreign Affairs who offered remarks. Ambassador to the UAE, Mr. Casroy James, also attended the ceremony along with other invited guests and media representatives.

In his speech, Mr. Ura highlighted that as “the Government of Japan continues to assist small island states in overcoming vulnerabilities, I believe the Gilbert Agricultural & Rural Development Center’s contribution to youth and female empowerment, along with their support for improved food security in rural communities, can boost the entrepreneurial capabilities throughout the twin island, therefore impacting on the reduction rate of unemployment and producing more self-reliant and productive individuals.”

He continued, the “Government of Japan is very pleased that we can assist the Gilbert Agricultural & Rural Development Center in this endeavour.”

Parks and Recreation Ground Maintenance Technician Training Course

November 6, 2015

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Agriculture Entrepreneurship Youth No Comments

ABSTEP2-Participants using machinery-Nov2015

Fifteen (15) young unemployed men and women are undergoing training to become Parks and Recreation Ground Maintenance Technicians at the GARD Center. This is a new course designed by the Center to create a pool of qualified technicians who understand and have the technical know how and practical experience in the management and care of plants; trail blazing techniques; pruning and grafting; minor carpentry skills; composting; pest control; lawn care and operation of landscape equipment.

The GARD Center was contracted by the Labour Department to execute this small works project under their Temporary Employment Program. The trainees are at the Gilbert Agro-heritage Center which will be opening to the general public over the next 5-6 months. The Mill Reef Fund has also contributed monies for this agricultural training course which is greatly appreciated. The Mill Reef Fund has been over the past years a gold sponsor for Camp GROW which is a collaborative effort between the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) and the Center. This camp exposes and provides young people between the ages of 8-11 years with an appreciation for the environment and the importance of agriculture

These future Parks and Recreation Ground Maintenance Technicians will be a great asset to hotel ground maintenance programs, home owners, businesses and other facilities. The GARD Center is very pleased to partner with the Labour Department and the Mill Reef Fund in this effort to offer the unemployed better opportunities through skills training.

ABSTEP2-Students with lawn mower-Nov2015

The Lighter Side of GARD Center

May 14, 2015

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News No Comments

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.

Farm-to-Table Luncheon

April 24, 2015

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Agriculture Nature Center Youth No Comments

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

March 13, 2015

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Nature Center News Youth No Comments

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

January 5, 2015

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Agriculture Entrepreneurship Job Placement Nature Center Youth No Comments

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

March 31, 2014

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News No Comments

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.