Dr Reginald Thomas has been appointed as the government’s new chief veterinary officer, responsible for overseeing veterinary services and animal care standards.
The accomplished veterinarian and dedicated public servant took up the role on 10 March, the Department of Natural Resources told Anguilla Focus this week.
“He aims to provide the highest quality service to the people of Anguilla while making an impactful contribution to animal health and welfare,” a spokesperson said.
Thomas completed his secondary education in 1989 and went on to pursue higher education in agriculture.
In 1995 he earned a Diploma in General Agriculture from the Eastern Caribbean Institute for Agriculture
and Forestry in Trinidad and Tobago.
His passion for animal health and wellbeing led him to obtain a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Central University of Villa Clara in Cuba in 2002.
“Dr Thomas became quite enthused to develop a greater understanding of the connections between humans, animals and environmental health and later pursued studies in this area,” the department said.
He also holds a Master of Science (MSc) in ‘One Health’ from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St Kitts and Nevis.
Thomas began his career as a public servant at the Ministry of Agriculture in Dominica where he was employed as a junior officer.
He later served as the chief veterinary officer for 18 years, then after Hurricane Maria, he ascended to the post of permanent secretary from 2017 to 2020 within the ministry.
Thomas is also a strong advocate for agriculture education and served as an assistant professor at the St Nicholas University in Dominica, where he taught veterinary ethics and clinical medicine until 2022.
