PHASE two of the Leon Levy Plant Preserve was officially opened by Prime Minister Perry Christie in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, on Friday.

Prime Minister Christie was accompanied by Minister of Tourism, Obie Wilchcombe; Minister of State for Legal Affairs and Central and South Eleuthera MP Damien Gomez; Minister of the Environment and Housing, Kenred Dorsett and Minister of State for Investments, Khaalis Rolle. Also present were the former Deputy Prime Minister, Brent Symonette and his wife.

Praising the contributions of non-Bahamians to the country, Mr Christie said he was extremely pleased by this gesture of goodwill.

“There are people who come to the Bahamas and make meaningful contributions to this country,” said Mr Christie. “This project exemplifies such a case.”

Mr Christie said that the preserve could serve as a “model’ for other parks in the country, in addition to being an attraction and helping research.

The Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve is a 25-acre ecologically sustainable sanctuary created jointly by the Bahamas National Trust and the Leon Levy Foundation. The foundation was founded in 2004 and is a not-for-profit organisation created from the estate of Leon Levy, an investor, whose family has a home on the island of Eleuthera.

In 2006, Shelby White, Mr Levy’s wife, approached the Bahamas National Trust about setting up a memorial for her husband in Eleuthera. Consequently, the Leon Levy Plant Preserve was created. Ms White said that she felt tremendously “honoured” to be able to realise this dream in her husband’s memory and hopes that it would make a major contribution to the island of Eleuthera.

“The preserve has already welcomed more than 10,000 visitors and has helped make Eleuthera a must-visit tourist destination,” said Ms White.

“We hope more visitors will join us to experience the real Bahamas, the mangrove boardwalk, the fresh water wetlands, our orchid strewn trails, the tower which affords a 360-degree view of the island, glimpses of native birds, including the rare Kirtland’s Warbler and even our collection of poisonous plants.”

Following the opening, the Prime Minister and his delegation were taken on a tour of the compound and were also treated to a tasting of teas and infusions made from local plants grown at the preserves.