Bijoux
30/09/2022

Bijoux
30/09/2022

The drama unfolds: Wallings Nature Reserve defies Gov’t request to hand over signage

The government will surely have to find another way to retrieve the signage from the management of the Wallings Nature Reserve (WNR) because its Executive Director Refica Attwood says she’s holding onto the property of the organization.

Attwood said earlier this week that the WNR was officially pulling its services from the National Parks site including all signage.

But Information Minister Melford Nicholas said the signs that were contributed by corporate sponsors were taken and ought to be returned.  He said the site was never leased, nor was ownership passed to anyone; it was a voluntary arrangement that has now come to an end.

But Attwood said there will be no voluntary return of any signage, saying that none of the signs were donated by corporate Antigua.

“Wallings Nature Reserve Inc bought and paid for the signs. The 32-foot sign is the company’s sign we just did not put it on the usual board as was the norm. That was one of the first things we had to do to ensure people knew where to find us. Ironically the capital letters were hand painted at a value of 10,000 USD per letter so the painting cost 30,000 USD. The artist loving the fact that we followed a popular sign from the U.S donated her work to the company for free,” she said on Thursday night.

Attwood said the green signs bearing our logo, tagline, email address, website, and the designer and support were also not donated.

“The trail map and directional signs were also bought and paid for safety reasons for hikers using the space as an easier way for us to stay at base and assist hikers with getting on and off the trail. I walked the trails and mapped them with a GPS. The trail map is my idea! You should see the rough sketch with me making lots of X’s because I joked to the designer that I can’t even draw a proper stick man,” she said.

Additionally, Attwood said that had the signs been donated as the article claims it would have been clear as day as a part of the design.

“The colored trail flags were paid for in installments getting a company here to understand our financial struggles and building a tangible relationship with them to be constantly replacing the signs. We purchased cloth ropes to protect the trees and stand up to the weather. That idea came from coloring in a book and having to follow numbers and I figured it would be an ideal way to distinguish the various trails. They were printed back and front for safety reasons,” she added.

The flags were designed for people that can tell color but cannot read, for people that can count but cannot read, and for people that can read, identify the color and count with the company’s logo so you know who to call if you need help. The purple trail was supported by a hiking group and the flags had their logo, according to Atwood

“I’m not surprised by the actions of clowns at this point. So for clarity, the signs belong to the company and we have no reason to put them back as we have moved peacefully from the space. Additionally, our partner’s page on the website clearly states who our partners are. It is a requirement that we must honor,” she said.

The WNR had a temporary arrangement with the Agriculture Ministry but something permanent was in the works, and late last month the ministry said a legal officer was working to settle an agreement with the company.

However, Attwood posted photos and videos to social media on Monday showing the removal of signs and other WNR property from the area.

She remained adamant that the organization does not want to enter into a public-private partnership with the government, and stated that the “exceptional” program should continue without the involvement of the government.

4 Comments

  1. Lionel Hurst

    Atwood is cantankerous and has alienated her community. Her action speaks to her willingness to spread misery. Why discard signage that cannot be used elsewhere? The parting is acrimonious when it need not have been. I pray for her conversion. Lionel Hurst

    Reply
    • Sana

      Did I just read that it cost $30,000 USD for a sign? Like seriously? WAW!!! what witchcraft is this?

      Reply
    • WestBouy

      Lol pray for her conversion…that is funny…I don’t know why everything in antigua has to be about drama. No wonder they call the place little Tokio!

      Reply
  2. Anonymous

    It is sad that things had to come to this point.
    I hope there will be more transparency and that things will change in the future.

    Reply

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