Inaugural conservation nominees revealed

(CNS): The list of people and companies that have been nominated to receive the first ever Governor’s Conservation Awards has been unveiled. The shortlisted finalists in the Conservationist of the Year category are Arie Barendrecht, Bonnie Scott Edwards and Mike Vallee. Finalists in the Corporate Conservation category are Cayman Islands Brewery, Montessori-by-the-Sea, and Yellow Pages. And Peter Hillebrand, Neil van Niekerk and Sea Elements are in the running for the Tourism Conservation award. In the Heritage category the finalists are the Cayman Islands Catboat Club, Deborah Truchan, and Roy Bodden.

The panel of judges convened by Cayman Islands Governor Duncan Taylor released the shortlist of the finalists this week ahead of the awards gala celebrating the National Trust’s 25th Anniversary at Grand Old House on Friday, when the winners will be announced.

National Trust General Manager Christina McTaggart said the Trust, which launched the awards in liaison with the Governor’s office, was delighted by the response.

“We were very impressed with not only the number but also the calibre of the nominations,” she said as she thanked everyone who took the time to nominate.

Nominees in each category had to meet a comprehensive set of criteria in order to be considered as a finalist. The winner in each category will be announced the evening of the Trust Gala, which is an important fundraiser for the organization which is in critical need of financing to help it conserve Cayman’s dwindling natural resources and heritage.

Tickets to the Gala and Awards are still available. To book a table or purchase tickets please contact Basia McGuire at 749-1129 or bmcguire@nationaltrust.org.ky.