Frontline Port Workers On Tour

The Anguilla Tourist Board has embarked on an effort to conduct guided tours and training for frontline workers at the ports so that they could better inform visitors about places of interest on the island.

One of two Bird Observation platforms at East End Pond

Director of Tourism, Amelia Vanterpool-Kubisch, along with members of her staff, organised the tours with the cooperation of Customs and Immigration personnel who released a number of employees for the trips which commenced last week. The trips are also open to taxi-drivers and other port workers who come into frequent contact with visitors.

Executive Director of the Anguilla National Trust, Ijahnya Christian, hailed the undertaking as a good idea. “I believe that the intention of the Tourist Board is to ensure that all our first point of contact people at the ports should be able to adequately answer any question asked by the visitor,” she said.

Mrs. Christian was at the time leading a tour party of port workers to the Big Spring, an Amerindian site at Island Harbour. The descent to the rock-strewn spring is facilitated by a long wooden walkway beautifully constructed among the trees by John Lloyd, who first discovered the petroglyphs and other Arawak markings on the rocks. The awareness and educational tour paid off because some of the port workers did not know about the existence of the Big Spring. Even the taxi-driver who took them around, and who lives in the area, was not aware of the new access to the heritage site.
The National Trust Executive Director gave a comprehensive historical overview of the Big Spring. It is situated on 0.4 acres of land and is to become the first terrestrial protected area on the island. Activities at the site can include educational tours for students, visitors and other persons on its history and ecology as well as archaeological research. Ecologically, it offers a superb representation of Anguillian flora and fauna.

A section of the attractive boardwalk leading to the historic Big Springs at Island Harbour

The site comprises a small area surrounding a large collapsed cavern in which there is a fresh water spring. The Island Harbour community has traditionally used the site as a watering hole for animals, a place to wash clothes and a play area for childen.

The Big Spring site is one of two such sites on the island, the other being the Fountain Cavern at Shoal Bay North. The Anguilla Government and the Island Harbour community are working together to conserve the Big Spring site.

A similar approach to conservation is being taken at the East End Pond, where two viewing platforms have been erected. They will be connected by a board walk and the area around them will be fenced and landscaped by January.

The site offers bird-watching opportunities, but the tour guides are being trained to tell visitors the story of the community as well.

The port workers have also been taken to Sandy Ground, where Sir Emile Gumbs spoke to them on the salt industry which was once a way of life on the island. It is expected that they will be taken to other areas of interest to tourists.

The touring party at Big Springs in Island Harbour

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