The Visitors Centre at the Botanical Gardens received roughly 50,000 visitors last year, not 5,000 as reported in yesterday's Community section.

Bermuda set to lose a friend, protector of the environment Twelve years ago, a slightly-built American plant pathologist arrived in Bermuda armed with a doctorate in plant pathology and some doubts.

Born and raised in the big open spaces of Michigan, she wondered how she would cope with living on such a tiny island.

"I remember discussing a one-year contract with (then-director/Agriculture at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Parks) Dr. Hughes, but I realised I couldn't accomplish much in a year so I settled for two,'' she said.

Now, after twice delaying her return to the US, Dr. Roberta Dow has set March 14 as her final day of work.

Ahead of her lie new challenges and a renewal of her roots; behind her is a proud record of achievements and "firsts'', the benefits of which Bermudians will enjoy for years to come.

If some of her decisions were unpopular initially, the passage of time has proved Dr. Dow right, and even earned her gratitude and respect.

Not that the assistant director of Agriculture worries too much about popularity polls. Her mission has always been to preserve and enhance the environment, and do what is best in Bermuda's long-term interests. For, make no mistake, she really cares about this Island.

Ask Dr. Dow what she considers to be major achievements in agriculture during her tenure and she modestly draws out a "little list of things'' she has prepared by way of an answer. It stretches over two foolscap pages, and includes: Eradication of dodder weed; Prevention of the spread of Mediterranean fruit fly; Increased training for Customs officers who inspect imported animal and plant material; Securing US Government approval for Bermuda fruit to enter the US; Stricter measures to prevent the spread of chronic seed potato scab; Eradication of mango fruit fly problem; Prevention of the pine needle scale via imported Christmas trees; Training programme for Department gardeners; Founding member Bermuda Botanical Society; and Helping the Visitors Centre become reality.

When dodder, a parasitic weed which, if left unchecked, overruns everything in its path was first identified on a local farm, Dr. Dow immediately slapped a quarantine zone on the property and established a regular spraying programme to eradicate it.

Thanks to her vigilance, the problem was eventually eradicated after nine years, and last year the property was released back to the farmer.

"We had several dodder eradication programmes, and I think they were quite important. In fact, there were quite a few quarantine decisions that were significant,'' she said. "We had an embargo on some seed potatoes that had too high a scab level. It represented several containers worth, and quite a loss to the importer.'' Another potential disaster was prevented when a shipment of mangoes badly infested with fruit fly larvae was destroyed.

And of course everyone remembers the container loads of diseased Christmas trees which, as senior plant pathologist, Dr. Dow condemned on sight. The ensuing ruckus involving importers and disappointed consumers ultimately led to Dr. Dow putting in place a more efficient system whereby Department representatives now travel to North America to pre-inspect trees before they are shipped.

A similar system is also in place with regard to some seed potato shipments.

"I increased the inspection level and the manner in which we do our inspections,'' Dr. Dow explained. "If you are trying to prevent economic loss, the cheapest and the best way to achieve pest and disease control is never to let it get in in the first place. So you have to have a vigilant inspection system. I feel very strongly about keeping pests and diseases out as the first line of defence.

"Dodder weed was an example of something we didn't keep out. It was something we found after the fact and then had to quarantine the site to prevent further problems.'' Persuading the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to remove its quarantine restrictions on local fruit going into America is regarded as an important career accomplishment by Dr. Dow.

"In order to achieve this, I made arrangements with the USDA to set up an intensive trapping programme to demonstrate to them that we did not have Mediterranean fruit fly in Bermuda any longer. The Department did the trapping programme under USDA's auspices, and following its completion Bermuda was declared free.

"This means that Bermuda fruit can now enter the United States, and if anyone wants to start a fruit gift pack business it is possible, whereas before it wasn't.'' But it is in her contribution to the career development of Department gardeners that Dr. Dow takes the greatest satisfaction.

Noticing that a significant number of employees appeared to be unmotivated and disinterested in their jobs, she devised a two-year, certificate training course, which she also helps teach, to improve their skills and thus their self-esteem.

"I could see that people were in jobs for which they didn't have the skills, and who were unhappy because they didn't enjoy what they were doing. I strongly believe in people knowing why they are performing certain tasks,'' she said.

The comprehensive course involves both classroom and practical work, and upon completion, the employees are qualified for Skilled Gardening openings within the department.

The first class graduated last June, and another 20 employees are enrolled on the present course.

"It is really a pleasure to see these employees doing so well,'' Dr. Dow observed. "The greatest reward has come from watching them gain skills and self-confidence, and most importantly an improved job attitude. They are a real joy to work with.'' As acting curator of the Botanical Gardens, Dr. Dow is also pleased that a Bermudian, Miss Sarah Vallis, is currently on a training programme in the US to equip her to become curator.

Indeed, there are many more things that the assistant director is pleased about, including the highly successful Visitors' Centre.

"I feel real proud about the creation of the Centre, and I am extremely pleased with the tremendous support received from so many volunteers. Last year we had more than 5,000 visitors.'' As site supervisor, Dr. Dow was responsible for organising weekend volunteer work parties to convert the former restaurant into the smart facility it is today. Indeed, she even rolled up her own sleeves and worked as hard as anyone else.

"It was a project that didn't come easy, but it is going to have a long-term impact because we get really positive comments from the visitors, and the volunteers do an outstanding job,'' she said.

Dr. Dow is particularly proud of the video which plays at the Visitors' Centre, for it was she who wrote the script and helped produce it.

"I drove around at weekends and figured out what I wanted to have on film so that when Panatel came in we did it in three days,'' the meticulous planner said. "By my writing the script and organising it we saved about $20,000.

Panatel did a beautiful job and made really good, constructive comments.'' As a founder-member of the Bermuda Botanical Society Dr. Dow is delighted to see that the initial hard work of getting it going is paying off.

She is careful not to take all the credit.

"No single thing is the result of one person. All of these things involve people participating. I was a catalyst for the Botanical Society,'' she explained.

As assistant director/Agriculture, Dr. Dow is delighted with improved storage facilities at the Government Marketing Centre, and the role the department has played over the years in the retention of Bermuda's precious arable land.

But what of the other Dr. Dow -- the private, off-duty individual? How does she relax? What are her hobbies? As expected of a go-getter, the list is nearly as long as her official one.

Amongst other things, she enjoys scuba diving, art, bonzai, theatre, travel, tennis and skiing, as well as jewellery making, lapidary and various crafts.

But reading is her all-time favourite pasttime, with history, biographies, autobiographies and mysteries being the preferred choices.

And when Dr. Dow finally steps off the soil that has occupied so much of her care and attention for the past 12 years, it will be on a positive note.

"I feel good about Bermuda and her people,'' she said. "I have enjoyed working with a lot of really nice people over the years. I have really good memories about the place.'' FAREWELL, BERMUDA -- Assistant director Dr. Roberta Dow, who leaves the Island in March, will take with her fond memories of a rewarding career at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Parks.