To the Editor,
I am writing to sound the alarm about the rapid deterioration of the Wallings Forest Area, a stark decline made shockingly clear during a recent summer camp visit on July 16. What was once heralded as a model for regional community-led conservation has disintegrated into a state of total neglect.
The site currently lacks basic infrastructure: no restrooms, no informational signage, no formal orientation, and absolutely no logistical order.
Had it not been for the quick thinking, voluntary leadership, and impromptu solutions of the area’s former manager, Ms. Refica Attwood, our contracted guide, our multi-camp visit could have easily resulted in a logistical disaster or an unsafe environment for the children.
Yet while her small team worked tirelessly on the ground to ensure an incident-free day, we were left to face the reality that all the previous community work had gone down the drain, leaving the space abandoned in bureaucratic limbo.
Did the government make a monumental mistake? The answer is a resounding yes.
By letting public-private negotiations lapse and failing to establish a permanent framework for dedicated local trail wardens, the Ministry of Agriculture has allowed a crown jewel of Antigua’s biodiversity to waste away. The public deserves to know the true inside story of how we let a world-class reserve crumble into disrepair.
The government must immediately step up, iron out its administrative disputes, and reinstate dedicated, structured management to Wallings before this vital environmental asset is lost.
Signed by a surviving camp visitor
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They took it from her because of some dispute then later saying they go give it to some Jamaican company along with the fort at Deep bay and up to now…nothing. If you see some truck tyres piled up by the roadside some person dumped them in the dam area a few years back and I dragged them out with my vehicle and called the DOE (guess I should have called Solid Waste but they not that efficient either). Why not just give it to National Parks? It’s a historic site.
This a great site for ecotourism, wouldnt take much to get it up to scratch
Wait. It was she the Refica that did not want to negotiate with the Ministry because she wanted complete ownership of Wallings Forest. When it was made clear to her that she could not get even a lease of the forest instead of the same partnership, she packed up the donations, tore down installations, and left. Even she and her Uncle had a dispute because of alleged threats she made to him.
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