Over 200 veterinarians, local and from abroad, attended an opening ceremony for the 28th Biennial Caribbean Veterinary Medical Association Conference on Tuesday, 4 November 2014 at the Marriott Hotel.

Minister responsible for Agriculture, Hon. Kurt Tibbetts officially opened the ceremony and thanked the organisers of the Cayman Islands’ Veterinary Association for making this conference possible. He also noted that this was the first time the conference has been hosted in a British Overseas Territory.

The four-day conference features presentations from internationally renowned speakers. The conference theme, “Opening New Frontiers in Veterinary Medicine: The Work, The Life, The Balance” focuses on the ultimate goal of improving animal and by extension, human quality of life.

The event also featured a lively cultural segment with performances by George Town Primary School dance team and local folk singers group.

Exhibition booths were set up to showcase the various services and technologies offered within the veterinary industry.

Through presentations and breakout sessions during the conference, participants learned about addressing the needs of homeless cats and dogs, animal overpopulation, top ten diseases in mammals, medical treatments, future progress and challenges as well as engage in practical lab sessions along with other related topics. Other activities included a Cultural Night, a welcome reception at Government House as well as a dinner banquet.

For more information on the Caribbean Veterinary Medical Association, visit www.cbvma.org

Photo captions: Photos by Information Officer Yvette Cacho

1. Hon. Kurt Tibbetts opens the ceremony.
2. George Town Primary School students perform a cultural dance.
3. Cayman Islands folk singers at opening ceremony
4. A guest checks out a display booth.