On October 28th, 2026, His Majesty King Charles III visited Bonefish Pond National Park in New Providence, where he learned about mangrove conservation and coastal resilience.
A Patron of The Bahamas National Trust (BNT), King Charles III toured the wildlife grounds. Guided by BNT New Providence Park Manager Mr. Anwar Rolle, the King saw spiny lobsters and sponges in the mangrove habitat and learned how its ecosystem works.
He also planted an indigenous tree, the Silver Buttonwood Mangrove, in the park; Mr. Lindy Knowles, BNT Acting Director, educated the King about the tree and helped him plant it. The King was very conversational with Mr. Knowles, asking him about the mangrove’s potential size, its durability, and how the Bahamas hurricane season has been, to which Mr. Knowles responded, “Good. We have had no hurricanes for the year.”
The Hon. Lynn Gape, O.E., BNT Special Projects Consultant, presented a painting to the King, and Ms. Joyann Smith, BNT President, helped the King unveil the plaque commemorating his historic visit to iconic Bonefish National Park.
Also in attendance were the Hon. Zane Lightbourne, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources; the Hon. Keith Bell, Minister of Housing and Land Reform; the Hon. Darron Pickstock, Minister of State for Immigration – Foreign Affairs; Mrs. Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle, BNT Executive Director; Mrs. Marcia Musgrove, Executive Director, Nature Conservancy – Northern Caribbean Program; and Ms. Karen Panton, Executive Director, Bahamas Protected Area Fund.
