By Robert Andre Emmanuel
The President of the Antigua and Barbuda Association of Persons with Disabilities (ABAPD) has lauded the success of their agricultural therapy program at Belmont, which he says is transforming lives while promoting environmental sustainability.
Bernard Warner, speaking with Observer media, highlighted how the initiative has evolved beyond its initial scope since receiving funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Program in 2021.
“The project is designed to facilitate horticulture therapy … We have aquaponic systems running, and we do have a section designed for hydroponics. The area we have is rehabilitation where we apply a lot of flowers, food trees of various types,” Warner explained.
The center currently operates on a farmers’ market model, where community members can purchase fresh, chemical-free produce to include lettuce, bok choy and celery directly from the site.
Warner emphasized the project’s pioneering role in community re-integration, particularly following the pandemic.
“We are the first group representing people with disabilities who really brought an initiative such as therapy to break the ice and get people with disabilities from their homes back out to the community,” he stated.
However, he expressed concern about the potential impacts of US foreign aid cuts on disability programs in Antigua and Barbuda, highlighting the increasing importance of local food security initiatives.
“It’s more critical now that we begin to look at horticulture therapy and food security.
“Many people may not be able to own a hydroponic system or aquaponic system, but a lot of people have soil in their backyard, have dirt, they have pots,” he noted.
The program, now in its fourth year, continues to focus on biodiversity and environmental sustainability, incorporating features such as beehives alongside their agricultural activities.
Despite these successes, Warner indicated that additional support is needed, particularly in terms of human capacity.
“We need the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, not just to give us plants, but to have people placed to work with people with disabilities, to help them develop their skills and techniques,” he added.
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