BEEKEEPING & DEVELOPMENT 49
FIRST CARIBBEAN BEEKEEPING
CONGRESS
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Dr Nicola Bradbear enlightened her audience with instances of her world-wide experience to impart powerful philosophical principles concerning developmental initiatives. @
Tobago, 17-20 November 1998
by Jorge Murillo-Yepes,
B&D’s
Dr Theodore Cherbuliez, President of the Apimondia Standing Commission for Apitherapy, delivered a magisterial presentation on the topic of honeybee products as healing agents.
Correspondent in Grenada
Mr Mohammed Hallim from the Apiaries Unit, Ministry of Food Production, Trinidad, provided a comprehensive and authoritative view of “Beekeeping legislation in the
Caribbean”. The tempo of this highly successful beekeeping get-together was set from its very beginning by the remarks from prominent political and technical officers of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and the President of the Apimondia Standing Commission for Beekeeping for Rural Development, Dr Nicola Bradbear. The inauguration culminated with a note of high emotion in the form of a public recognition ceremony honouring the apicultural pioneers of Tobago.
Lively discussion Tobago, one of the most beautiful West Indian islands, was the venue for the First Caribbean Beekeeping Congress, held under the auspices of the Apimondia Standing Commission for Beekeeping for Rural Development. Participants, speakers and scientists from 24 countries were gallantly co-hosted by the Tobago Apicultural Society and the Tobago House of Assembly at the splendid Mount Irvine Bay Hotel.
Tobago: a Caribbean paradise for bees
Current beekeeping status reports were presented by representatives of all participating Caribbean territories and lively discussions on technical, commercial, sanitary and socio-economic issues followed. The general consensus was that there are many more apicultural factors in common, than those which might tend to divide regional
beekeepers.
Dedicated @
reporting
Research papers were presented by Dr Christopher Starr “Basic biology and taxonomy of the genus Apis”, Dr Alfred Dietz “New honeybee pest confronting beekeepers in the Americas”, Ms Laura Robinson “Studies on the prevalence of Varroa jacobsoni in Grenada and the use of nutmeg Myristica fragrans as an acaricide”, and Mr Mischa Dijkstra “Bee research on Tobago: reproduction of stingless bees; and nectar food plants of honeybees in Tobago”.
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Field trips On the third day participants were provided with a first-hand experience among Tobagonian apiculturists, some of whom have attained top awards at the National Honey Show in London. A taste of the natural beauty of magnificent Tobago and its people’s warmth was highly appreciated by the happy touring beekeepers.
Final day A special treat when Dr William Ramirez shared his profound apicultural knowledge, with emphasis on the “Management of Africanized bees”, and Dr Malcolm Tom Sanford, in his
highly motivational style, presented views on practical issues about “Managing beekeeping profitability in the new Millennium.”
Top officials of local, regional and international organisations provided comprehensive outlines concerning the nature, principles, goals and services of each institution. e@
Ms Denise Dickson of the Agricultural Development Bank described the financial avenues available to local beekeepers. Ms Pathleen Titus of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute described their rural outreach efforts and capabilities.
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Mr Kamau Akili, General Manager of Environment Tobago, and Mr William Benjamin of the Policy, Research and Development Institute, Tobago House of Assembly, explained the rationale and initiatives of their respective institutions in terms of environmental protection.
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Ms Shamina Maccum-Barrow from the Agricultural Development of the Caribbean Community Secretariat, reported on the policies and developmental tools encompassed by this regional body.
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FOUR
The author explored topics "Beyond beekeeping: addition of value to hive products”.
Rural development undertaken on a continental level was the topic of Mr Willard Phillips’ presentation in his capacity of Policy Analyst of the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture.
A Bees for Development publication
