The Community Development and Citizens Engagement Division (CDCED) held its first of its 2025 Community Gardens and Homes Festival workshop on Tuesday 13th at the Multipurpose Centre.

This session was the first of a series of four and trainings are offered in Pest Management, Horticulture, Backyard Gardening and Hydroponics.

This year, the CDCED is offering two classroom type trainings which will be on Pest Control and Backyard gardening both to be held at the Multipurpose Centre and two practical, one at the Department of the Environment and the other at Indies Green.

Dr. Janil Gore-Francis/Chief Plant Protection Officer was the facilitator for the Pest Control Workshop and her presentation was mainly addressing the regulations that govern the importation and exportation processes.

She expounded on the obligations that Antigua and Barbuda has being members and signatory to several international agreements and what the expectations were.

Additionally, Dr. Gore-Francis explained the importance of International Plant Health Day (IPHD) and the concept of the 2025 theme in regard to “The Importance of Plant Health in ONE Health”.

She further reiterated the necessity to cooperate and follow the regulations put in place by the government pertaining to the mitigation and control of pests on the twin island nation.

Some other information disseminated at this forum included the methodologies used in pest prevention and eradication, introduction of some pest into the region due to several causes and other pertinent information of the sector.

Those in attendance were enlightened by the information shared.

Miss Dale O’Brien/CDCED Director and staff members present were pleased with the interactions of the attendees but hope that the remaining training with will be better attended.

The next workshop is scheduled for Thursday 15th May and will be held at the Department of Environment’s nursery commencing from 5:00p.m