From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
Bahamas National Trust Honours Shelby White at AGM
By Bahamas National Trust (BNT)
Apr 21, 2016 - 3:05:46 PM
Governor’s Harbour resident Shelby White is pictured receiving a framed copy of the resolution passed by the BNT Council recognising her "visionary commitment and generous support.” The resolution was presented by BNT President Lawrence Glinton. The presentation took place during the BNT’s Annual General Meeting held at Government House on April 14.
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Nassau, Bahamas - At the Bahamas National Trust’s recent Annual General Meeting, Prime
Minister Perry Christie praised longtime Eleuthera homeowner and
frequent visitor, Shelby White for her role in creating a world-class
native plant conservation and education centre at Governor’s Harbour.
The
prime minister also acknowledged the“extraordinary importance”of the
BNT's work to the preservation of the country and he suggested that the
great work the BNT is doing might persuade him to consider a further
increase in the annual government subvention in the upcoming budget.
Mr
Christie also commended BNT leaders for publicly recognizing Shelby
Whiteat the Government House event for her "visionary commitment and
generous support."
A well-known philanthropist, White first came
to Eleuthera in the early 1970s. Using her own resources, she was the
leading figure behind the creation of Eleuthera's first national park in
2011.
Named after her late husband, the 25-acre Leon Levy Native
Plant Preserve features over 171 species of Bahamian trees, shrubs and
herbs, including special displays of medicinal and economic
plants.Proudly managed by the BNT, it has become one of Eleuthera's
major attractions for visitors and residents.
At the meeting,
White was awarded an honourary life membership in the BNT for
her contribution to conservation and her service to the Eleuthera
community.
Pictured from left at the Bahamas National Trust’s Annual General Meeting held at Government House: Eric Carey, BNT executive director; Janet Johnson, BNT deputy president; Larry Glinton, BNT president; Shelby White, founder of the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve; Prime Minister Perry Christie; and Minister of the Environment and Housing Kenred Dorsett.
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Minister of the Environment and Housing, Kenred Dorsett, also reinforced the
government’s support for the BNT.
Pointing
out that the 18 new protected areas announced last year were aimed
at ensuring the sustainability of Bahamian marine resources,
he acknowledged the work of the BNT, in partnership with others, to
identify further areas for protection.
Experts consider the
establishment of a wide network of marine protected areas as critical to
the survival of many commercial fishery species.
In his annual
report to the members, President Glinton pointed out that 2015 would
be remembered for the expansion of the Bahamian protected area system,
outstanding corporate support for the BNT, and the 20thanniversary of
the the Discovery Club whichhas grown from a single club to 60 since
1996.
Officers re-elected at the Bahamas National Trust’s Annual General Meeting on April 14. From left: Allistair Chisnall, honorary secretary; Janet Johnson, deputy president; Lawrence Glinton, president; and Simon Townend, honorary treasurer. Chisnall is a partner at the law firm Graham Thompson & Co; Townend is a parter at the international accounting firm KPMG. Johnson is a senior director at the Ministry of Tourism, and Glinton is a senior executive at Pictet Bank & Trust Bahamas Ltd.
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“The new parks and protected areas declared last August
achieved the protection of over10 per cent of our near shore and marine
environment,”Glinton said, "which moves us closer to our national goal
of protecting 20 per cent of these areas by the year 2020.”
At the BNT Council meetings held on the
Friday and
Saturday
following the AGM, Lawrence H.Glinton and Janet Johnson were
re-elected as president and deputy president respectively. Glinton is a
senior executive at Pictet Bank and Trust Limited and Johnsonis a
senior director at the Ministry of Tourism. Alistair Chisnall, partner
at Graham Thompson & Co, and Simon Townend, partner at KPMG were
also returned as Honourary Secretary and Honourary Treasurer
respectively.
The entire BNT Council consists of 29 members (15
elected and 14 appointed)who represent various government and
scientific organizations both locally and in the United States.
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