2016 - Newsletter

2016
SPECIAL
EDITION
50 th
ANNIVERSARY

Golden milestone for P-a-P Wildfowl
Trust
The Pointe-a-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust celebrated its 50 th anniversary
on December 8 th at Petrea Place, the Trust’s Nature Guest House.
Long standing supporters, well-wishers, Government Ministers,
Heads of Missions and International Agencies, Trust Directors and
Staff joined the celebration. At this event, the 50 th Anniversary book,
A Picture Book of Life at the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust, was
launched by Mr. Tomas Bermudez, Inter-American Bank Country
Representative for Trinidad and Tobago.
The Rt. Hon. Baroness
Scotland of Asthal P.C. Q.C.
Commonwealth Secretary-
General Designate. Feature
speaker at the celebration.
L-R: Karilyn Shephard, VP Wildfowl
Trust, Lady Patricia Scotland and Molly
R. Gaskin , President P-a-P Wildfowl
Trust.
Head Table L-R: Mr. Fitzroy Harewood,
Petrotrin President, Trust Patron, H.E. Anthony
Thomas Aquinas Carmona, S.C. ORTT, Hon.
Trust Patron, Her Excellency, Baroness Scotland
and Ms. Maria Rivera, Senior Advisor for the
Americas RAMSAR Secretariat.
Ms. Maria Rivera, Senior
Advisor for the Americas
RAMSAR Secretariat
IDB Country Rep. Mr. Tomas Bermudez
delivers remarks and launches the Trust’s
50 th Anniversary Book.
Molly R. Gaskin and H.E.
President Carmona unveil
First Day Covers sponsored
by TTPOST.

Among the many VIPs present were members of the
diplomatic corps., members of Government and
representatives of the energy sector. Also present were Trust
Directors. In Photo; Jeremy Matouk and wife Michelle, Mr.
and Mrs. Glen Cheeseman, Thalia Martin- Diptee DVM
and Richard Blewitt, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP
Resident Representative Trinidad and Tobago.
Mr. Gordon Deane, Chairman Atlantic and
his team. Seated behind: Mrs. Dorri
Agostini, IDB.
IDB Country Rep. Mr. Tomas Bermudez
presents 50 th anniversary book to the Hon
Minister of Energy Nicole Olivierre.
Above: Trust Director Rory O’Connor, His
Worship the Mayor of San Fernando Haji Kazim
Hosein and Major General (ret’d) Edmund
Dillon, Hon. Minister of National Security
enjoying “Black Sage” extempo.
Trust Director Bunty
O’Connor presents a bouquet
of flowers to Hon. Minister of
Energy Mrs. Nicole Olivierre
Phillip Murray aka Black Sage delights
everyone with his extempo and pecong.
Trust Director Thalia
Martin DVM presents a
bouquet of flowers to
Mrs. Clarise Jupiter.

Lady Patricia welcomes Mrs. Jeanista Agard
and Mrs. Katherine Agard- Farrell
Greetings and welcome to invited guests, Mr. Peter
Daniel and his wife by Trust President Molly R. Gaskin.
Smiles and laughter as Trust President Molly R.
Gaskin greets long time friend and supporters Mr.
Leo Lendore and Mrs. Monica John.
Coast Guard Commander Don Polo and Mrs. Polo
being greeted by Molly R. Gaskin Trust President.
Greetings to Mr. and Mrs. Fitzroy
Harewood by Baroness Scotland and
Trust President Molly R Gaskin.
His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Jiles Gerrit
Bijl, Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands
being greeted by Baroness Scotland of
Asthal PC QC.
Proud Aviculture Staff
and Environmental
Education Officers of
the Pointe-a-Pierre
Wildfowl Trust display
the 50 th anniversary
book and First day
covers.

L-R: H.E. Ambassador Lutz Goergens, Hon Minister Nicole
Olivierre, British High Commissioner Tim Stew, , H. E.
Ambassador Mr. Jiles Gerrit Bijl Royal Kingdom of the
Netherlands Petrotrin Chairman Prof. Andrew Jupiter, His wife
Mrs. Clarise Jupiter and Mrs. Sherry-Ann Harewood.
Trust Director Glen Cheeseman and his
wife looking on at the evening’s
proceedings.
H.E. President of Trinidad and Tobago chats with
British High Commissioner Tim Stew after the
50 th anniversary program.
Laughter all around as Mr. Malcolm Jones, Mrs.
Brenda Jones and Trust Vice President Karilyn
Shephard chat after the function.
Siparia Deltones, Akinola Sennon, Captain
La Divina Pastora
Pan and Parang, some of the entertainment for the evening of the 50 th Anniversary Function.

Energy Minister Nicole Olivierre and her family were greeted by Molly R. Gaskin,
President PaP Wildfowl Trust during a visit. The minister was also presented with copies of
the Trust’s 40 th and 50 th anniversary books by Tamara Goberdhan, education officer.
US Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago John Estrada visited the Trust with his family,
twin daughters Eva and Marie and wife Dr. Elizabeth Cote Estrada. Ambassador Estrada
was presented with some Trust paraphernalia by Molly R Gaskin, Trust President.
Trust Educators Silene Noel and Tamara Goberdhan on trail with Japanese Ambassador, His
Excellency Mitsuhiko Okada and his wife along with US Ambassador H.E. John L. Estrada
and his family at the PaP Wildfowl Trust.

New Zealand High Commissioner H.E.
Jan Hernandez and her assistant on a
visit to the Trust.
We are deeply appreciative of the New Zealand
High Commission for their support of our
volunteer work and for sponsoring the
publication of this book through project funds
for “The Importance of Conserving Wetlands”.
Above: The PaP Wildfowl Trust produced a new book for its 50th Anniversary, This book provides details about
our beautiful wetlands and coastal areas and seeks to make us all more aware of the value of our Natural
Resources. Wetlands feature significantly in our history and culture, as large numbers of people gained their
livelihoods and survived from the use of our wetlands and coastal resources. They provide hundreds of people
both local and visitors, with enjoyment as well as being of great benefit to our economy. Cover and three sample
pages from the new book “Wetlands and Sea Coasts of Trinidad and Tobago “ book now available at the Trust for
purchase.

British High
Commissioner Tim
Stew and family at the
PaP Wildfowl Trust
Below: Ship Crew from the HMS Mersey spend an afternoon at the Trust volunteering their
time in repairing one of the breeding pens and giving the Learning Centre a “Touch-up”.
Giving the Learning Centre a
little sprucing up
All Hands on Deck; team members work vigorously at
binding wire mesh for repairs to one of the Trust’s
breeding pens.
.Sewing together the wire mesh used
to line the roof of one of the Trust
breeding pens.
After a hard day’s work relaxing at
the Learning Centre with Trust
Education Officer Tamara
Goberdhan and Marilyn Hinkson.

His Excellency Australian High Commissioner John Philbeam enjoys a Nature Walk with
Trust Director Educator Tamara Goberdhan.
CELEBRATING THE 50 TH ANNIVERSARY WITH
MOTHERS
The Trust hosted a Mothers’ Day Luncheon in
commemoration of its 50 th Anniversary and as a
fund raiser for signage and repairs to the Ajoupa on
Forest Walk. Among the many guests were Malcolm
and Brenda Jones and their family and Trust
Directors Thalia Martin- Diptee DVM and Micheal
Diptee DVM and their family and friends. Many
thanks to Sally Callender, Jenny Lessy-Jordan and
their team for all their help.

WILDFOWL TRUST CELEBRATES ITS 50 TH
WITH TEA AND FASHION SHOW
The Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust celebrated its
50 th Anniversary with a tea and fashion show at
the Trust’s Nature Guest House, Petrea Place.
The event to raise funds to complete the signage
and Ajoupa on the Forest Walk Interpretative
Trail,. Guests were entertained by a fashion show
“Sophisticated Styles” , fashions by Esther
Charles while enjoying tea, delicacies,
commentary, ambience, door and special prizes
together with the entertainment. The ladies were
serenaded by Mr. Hezekiah Joseph. Our warmest
thanks to Sally Callender, her family, Mrs. Jenny
Lessy- Jordan and the team.
Even the Models enjoyed themselves and had fun

The Trust in the 1980s…
1981: The Trust’s first incubator donated by the
New York Zoological Society. Breeding program of
locally endangered waterfowl.
Above 1983: Crates containing birds donated
by Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust, U.K. being loaded
into a station wagon at Piarco Airport, for the last
leg of their ‘flight’ to the Trust.
Left: Molly R. Gaskin, Karilyn Shephard and
Wardens from Wildlife, Forestry trapping wetland
birds to re-stock lakes at Pointe-a-Pierre.
Above 1983: Our ‘Sole’ helper, Bacoo
1984: The Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust initiated outof-classroom
Environmental Education at the Trust for
school children, scouts and guides. These sessions
included field work, audio-visuals and interactive
programmes.
Trust Learning Centre donated by the Canadian
Government through the Canadian High Commission in
Trinidad. Assembled and erected in 10 days with the
assistance of the manufacturer’s representative from
Canada and Texaco craftsmen.

The Trust in 2016
The Trust has been very active in the breeding and releasing of
Wild Muscovy Ducks, 8710 released.
Bred at the Trust and Released
in the wild…. 36 Released
Scarlet Ibis 114 bred White-cheeked Pintail 142
released
White- Faced Whistling Duck 62
released
Fulvous Whistling Duck
695 released
Left: The Trust Learning Centre today. Inset: Petrea Place the Trust’s Nature
Guest House and Restaurant.
Today Trust’s Staff Aviculture four and Environmental
Education Officer four.

Atlantic embarks on a program to
bring about awareness on Climate
Change and how it affects Trinidad
and Tobago .Susan Benasrie- Kerue
introducing PAP Wildfowl Trust Staff.
Atlantic Staff of Point Fortin listening to a
lecture on the natural environment and its
linkages and importance..
President of PaP WFT Molly R. Gaskin, Najila
Elias- Samlalsingh, Karilyn Shephard, Vice
President , Tamara Goberdhan Trust Educator,
Susan Benasrie- Kerue and Jaleen West Trust
Educator.
Pictures Above and Left: Atlantic Port-of-
Spain HSE Staff listening to presentations
done by PaP Wildfowl Trust Education
Officers Tamara Goberdhan and Silene
Noel.
The Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust was invited to Atlantic to share with the HSE Staff the
50 years of firsts accomplishments of the Trust.

Lady Hochoy Training Centre Gasparillo visits the PaP
Wildfowl Trust
Education Officer Jaleen West
shows students of the Lady
Hochoy school a Calabash and
discuss its medicinal value..
Sitting by the Lake; students enjoy a walk on one of the
Trust’s hiking Trails and enjoy the view of the second
lake.
Education Officer, Jaleen West allows a student to
smell the Lotus flower as part of their ‘See, Smell,
Taste’ experience at the Trust.
Education Officer Silene Noel shows a
non- poisonous boa constrictor to
students at the Trust’s Learning Centre
and discuss the value of snakes in our
biodiversity.
Senior Trust Educator Tamara Goberdhan presents to the Lady Hochoy Training Centre a gift of
food items for the students of the school. The Trust believes that it is important to give back to our
communities in any way possible.

A project funded by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of
Germany. COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
How it Affects You and What You Can Do!

The Trust took this Education Program to Twenty
Schools, Ten Primary and Ten Secondary

TRUST VISITS TOBAGO
Education Officer Tamara Goberdhan talk
with students of Black Rock Government
about life style changes to combat
Climate Change.
The Trust also paid a visit to Bon
Accord Government Primary
School as a part of the Outreach
programme based on Combating
Climate Change.
Below: Some of the many artwork produced by the children of Tobago.

Arthur Ashe Institute and NGOs partner for
climate change internship programme
The internship programme, which focuses on climate change and public health. Students
were assigned to The PaP Wildfowl Trust to conduct their research projects, ‘Climate Change
and Vector Diseases’.
Trust Environment Education Officer Tamara Goberdhan discusses the Linkages fro
forests, top wetlands, sea coasts and coral reefs.

FOREST WALK
INTERPRETATIVE TRAIL
FORESTS – Source of Life
Forests have sustained life on earth from time
immemorial. They supply food, medicine,
energy, shelter, wood and non- wood products.
All species of plant life are used in some way by
wildlife and by humans.
Home to many forms of life, they play an
essential role environmentally, in particular to
maintain biodiversity, conserve soil and water
and stabilize our Climate.
Forest Walk Ajoupa restored and rebuilt by
Mr. G. DelPino and family; with funds
raised at the Mothers’ Day Luncheon and
Tea and Fashion Show. Our Appreciation
for the Carat and Timber provided by the
Forestry Division.
A working knowledge of some of our important
and beautiful forest trees can be both useful and
fascinating.
Structure of Our Rainforest

Birds at the P-a-P Wildfowl Trust
The Rufous Breasted Hermit Hummingbird (Glaucis hirsutus) inhabits forest undergrowth, often near
running water as can be seen at the PaP Wildfowl Trust. The rufous-breasted hermit's food is nectar
The Black-throated Mango Hummingbird (Anthracothorax nigricollis) found at the PaP Wildfowl
Trust, inhabits open country, gardens and cultivation. The food of this species is nectar and is also
notably insectivorous, often hovering in open areas to catch flying insects
The American pygmy
kingfisher (Chloroceryle
aenea) an uncommon
resident of Trinidad, found
mainly in Mangrove
Swamps.
At the P-a-P Wildfowl Trust
they can be seen feeding on
small fish or aquatic insects.
The Limpkin has been a
proud addition to the bird
residents at the Trust for
the past 2 years.

Volunteers 2016 July- August Programme
Every year the Trust is able to have assistance from young people volunteering during their July /
August school break. In 2016, we continued this program having the young people help out in the
daily duties and work at the Trust while they learned about the importance of preserving our
Natural Environment. At the end of the program this year, our 50 th , volunteers were given tokens of
appreciation from the Trust and good wishes on their future endeavours.

Cosmos or Common Daisy. Cosmos sulphareus at the
Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust. Herbaceous perennial
plants. There are 20 – 26 species in the family. A very
important food shrub for butterflies which should be included
in most gardens.
Our Very Special Thanks!
Our very special thanks and acknowledgement to those who have helped us with our 50 th Anniversary celebrations.
The Office of the President, the Rt. Hon. The Baroness Scotland of Asthal PC QC. Atlantic, Caribbean Airlines,
Shell Trinidad Ltd., the Inter-American Development Bank, The Massy Foundation, Trinidad and Tobago Postal
Corporation, the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd, Mr. Philip Marshal, Mr. Jeremy Matouk, Mr.
Christian Moutett, Mr. Joseph Fernandes, Mr. Thomas J. Williams and Pac Disposals Ltd.
Many, many people are important to the Trust, to our Patron Mr. Fitzroy Harewood, your support means a lot to us
thank you. A special thanks to many Petrotrin employees for their support; Suzanne Dean, Clyne La Borde, and his
team, Rawle Samlal; Mr. Dilandro and his team, Pump Department; Mr. Wellington and his team; Superintendent
K. Ramkissoon the ESU Team, Petrotrin Security, Samson Paul and his team; Dion Mclean-Gittens, Ray Mitchell,
Berle Yuille and the ICT team; Cadman Mayers; PF&M team; Gillian Friday and her team.
Many thanks to Nicholas Hassanali, Mark Boosooboy, Rishi Goordial, Anthony Le Gendre, Dr. Annushka
Seemungal, Fayard Mohammed and Jaleen West.
To Mr. Luis Prado country chairman and Mr. Mark Regis Head Government Relations and Corporate
Communications, Shell warmest thanks. To Mr. Gerard Mitchell and Nigel Martin thank you for your long
standing and unstinting support.
Mr. Gordon Dean, Mrs. Toni Sirju- Ramnarine, Mr. Derek Daniel, Mr. Anil Seunath and Susan Benaserie- Kerue.
Mr. Nicky Maharaj, Mr. V Bissessar, Mrs. Sharon Gunness-Balkissoon, Christian Moutett, Gail Sandiford, Alison
Sinanan, George Haloute and family, Ronald Cabral, Peter Daniel, Mr. Eugen Tiah, Mrs. Cheryl Edwards, Mrs.
Yvette Maynard Greenidge, Ann Marie Isaac, Mrs. Pamela Niamath, Mr. Suresh Benny, Mr. Raj Kumarsingh, Mr.
Peter Mc Carthney, Sian Aboud, Luke Sheppard, Mr. Bruce Roberts, Chris Khan, Mr. Stephen Badrie, Mr Larry
Khan, our sincer thanks for your support year after year.
To Rory and Bunty O’Connor and George De Verteuil, for their unwavering help and commitment and for keeping
forest Walk and the Boardwalk Hillside planted with many important and beautiful trees. To Dr. Thalia Martina
and Micheal Diptee DVM, Glen Cheeseman, Jeremy and Michelle Matouk, Mrs. Stacy- Lee Daniel, Mr. Russell
Martineau QC, Prof. Richard Brathwaite our warmest thanks. To Peter and Chauncey Maul, Sandy Gibson, David
Coelho, Sally Callender, Judy Boopsingh, Jenny Lessy- Jordan, Nicole Joseph, Rick Lambkin, Pat Villafana, David
Pampellone, Roy and Rosana Peake and Rhett Gordon, Thank you for your help through out the Years.
To all those who have supported us from the very beginning, Thank You!
DEAR FRIENDS, OUR HEARTFELT THANKS FOR ALL THAT
YOU HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO, GOD BLESS YOU!!

Black Belly Whistling
Tree Duck Dendrocygna
autumnalis bred at the
PaP Wildfowl Trust and
release into the wild.
1597 released
The Pointe-a-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust
C/o #38, La Reine Town House, Flagstaff Hill,
Long Circular Road,
St. James.
Trinidad West Indies
Telephone: 658-4200 ext. 2512#
Website: www.papwildfowltrust.org
Please visit our YouTube Channel for Further Information on the Trust
Email: wildfowl.trust@petrotrin.com
Honorary Patron:
The President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,
H.E. Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, ORTT, SC.
President: Molly R. Gaskin
Vice-President: Karilyn Shephard
Patron: Mr. Fitzroy Harewood
Front Cover Photo: Wild Senna Cassia alata a medicinal plant, anti- bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti- fungal.