HE the Governor of the Cayman Islands visits DoE

His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Martyn
Roper, accompanied by the Minister of Environment, the Hon. Dwayne
Seymour, the Deputy Governor, the Hon. Franz Manderson and West Bay
MLA and Ministerial Councilor Capt. Eugene Ebanks toured the Cayman
Islands Government’s Department of Environment (DoE) headquarters
on the morning of Friday, 22nd March, spending nearly two
hours learning about the agency and meeting dozens of staff members.
  

The tour was Governor Roper’s first
visit to the DoE since arriving in Cayman. Mr. Roper was also
accompanied during the tour by Ministry Chief Officer Jennifer
Ahearn.

“It’s hugely impressive, the range
of things the DoE is doing with a relatively small team,” His
Excellency, Mr. Roper said during a meeting with DoE senior staff.
“It’s great to know that all of this work is ongoing to protect
Cayman’s natural environment.”

Following a tour of the facility on
North Sound Road, senior staff members, led by DoE Director Gina
Ebanks-Petrie, each got an opportunity to discuss the duties of their
respective units within the department. Everything from marine and
terrestrial conservation, to indigenous species protection, to
environmental management and enforcement under the National
Conservation Law was discussed.

“We were glad to have this
opportunity to let Mr. Roper know a bit more about the work we do
every day and very pleased at his supportive response,” Ms.
Ebanks-Petrie said.

Minister Seymour also expressed a keen
interest in a number of projects under way at the DoE, including
efforts to implement turtle-friendly property and street lighting and
ongoing enforcement of marine and terrestrial conservation rules.

“In everything from marine parks
protection, to establishing protected land areas, to the Green Iguana
Cull Project, this department punches well above its weight when it
comes to results,” Mr. Seymour said. “I’m happy His Excellency
got a chance to see that first-hand.”

IMAGES:

Captions:

Photo 1 – His Excellency the Governor
Martyn Roper and DoE Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie talk with DoE marine
resources unit staff.

Photo 2 – His Excellency the Governor
Martyn Roper speaks with DoE Research Office Paul Chin while Research
Officer Claire Fletcher and turtle programme volunteer Dr. Jane
Hardwick look on.

Photo3 – His Excellency the Governor
Martyn Roper takes the helm of DoE vessel D-33.

Photo 4 – From left, front row: DoE
Deputy Director Tim Austin, Ministry of Environment Chief Officer
Jennifer Ahearn, Environment Minister the Hon. Dwayne Seymour, His
Excellency the Governor Martyn Roper, Deputy Governor the Hon. Franz
Manderson, DoE Director Gina Ebanks Petrie. From left, back row: DoE
Deputy Director Scott Slaybaugh, West Bay MLA Capt. Eugene Ebanks.

Photo 5 – From left: Deputy Governor
the Hon. Franz Manderson, DoE Sustainable Development Officer Nathan
Dack, DoE Environmental Management Unit Manager Wendy Williams, DoE
Senior Environmental Assessment Officer Lauren Dombowsky, DoE
Sustainable Development Officer Leah Grant, His Excellency the
Governor Martyn Roper and Environment Minister the Hon. Dwayne
Seymour.

Photo 6 – Environment Minister the
Hon. Dwayne Seymour greets DoE Chief Conservation Officer Mark Orr.

Photo 7 – On board DoE vessel D-33
are (from left) Environment Minister the Hon. Dwayne Seymour, West
Bay MLA Capt. Eugene Ebanks, His Excellency the Governor Martyn
Roper, Deputy Governor the Hon. Franz Manderson, DoE Director Gina
Ebanks-Petrie and DoE Deputy Director Tim Austin.