BNT Appoints Ellsworth Weir as Director of Parks
BNT Director of Parks, Ellsworth Weir
April 7th, 2023
The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ellsworth Weir as Director of Parks. With many years of experience in park management and enforcement, Ellsworth brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the position.
Throughout his 10-year career at the BNT, Ellsworth has worked in various capacities within the organisation, serving as a Deputy and Senior Park Warden, and Grand Bahama Parks Manager. In these roles, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, wildlife protection, and public education. This newest appointment comes as the previous Director of Parks, Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle, was promoted as the BNT’s new Executive Director at the start of the year.
As the Director of Parks, Ellsworth will be responsible for overseeing the management and conservation of the BNT’s national park system. This will include developing and implementing policies and programs to promote the protection and conservation of natural resources through enforcement and surveillance, advancing management plans to guide natural resource management within all national parks, as well as overseeing park operations across the system.
Ellsworth will also be responsible for working with other stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, and nonprofit organisations, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the park system. The BNT’s Parks Department has over 30 staff members which includes wardens, park managers, planners, and more. The BNT manages a unique 2.2 million acre park system, and has several major projects underway that will enhance many national parks around the country.
“As I take on the new role of Director of Parks at the BNT, I am excited, energised, and honoured to continue in the footsteps of our Executive Director-Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle and build upon her success, and take the Parks Department to even greater heights. During my ten-plus years of experience working for the BNT, I have gained a wealth of knowledge and a solid foundation to lead this department and I am motivated to continue the efforts of showcasing what our islands have to offer through nature, the importance of national parks, and why we protect them. My love for nature has driven my passion to develop and improve the national park system during my tenure as Grand Bahama Parks Manager, and now I will strive to continue to grow and enhance our public image so that we can be an even greater example for national park systems of other countries to follow.” said Ellsworth on his promotion.
“It gives me great pleasure to appoint Ellsworth to the Director of Parks position. He is a man of integrity, who has been a top performer in the organisation for the past 10 years. His passion for helping people and dedication to community development has allowed him to build meaningful partnerships and relationships that will continue to enhance BNT’s plans to work closely with Bahamian communities to directly benefit from their national parks. I have no doubt that Ellsworth will do well in this new capacity, and will continue to elevate the organisation and its key function of national park management, for and on behalf of the people of The Bahamas. I am excited about the plans for the enforcement programme that Ellsworth and his dynamic team will lead, through effective collaboration with our government enforcement counterparts.” said Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle, BNT Executive Director, on Ellsworth’s promotion.
The entire BNT Council, executive team, and staff congratulate Ellsworth Weir on his promotion!
To learn more about the role the BNT plays in managing terrestrial and marine national parks, protecting species, and informing environmental policy, please visit its website: www.bnt.bs, and follow/subscribe to its various social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
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Media Contact: Leah Carr | lcarr@bnt.bs | (242) 429-7902
About the BNT:
The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) was created by an Act of Parliament in 1959 to manage the national park system of The Bahamas. Possibly the only non-governmental organization in the world charged with such a responsibility, the BNT works daily to conserve and protect the natural resources of The Bahamas through stewardship and education for present and future generations. There are currently 32 National Parks managed by the BNT with more than 2 million acres of marine and terrestrial areas protected.