By December this year, the promised monkeys, lions, serpents and other animals will be housed at the Hope Botanical Gardens. So says Kenneth Benjamin, chairman of the Guardsman Group and chairman of the committee that is spearheading the restoration of one of the island's national treasures.

He was hosting a gathering at the zoo on Friday night as part of Guardsman's 35th anniversary celebrations. The venue for the party was a set of three gazebos that are now available to the public for a range of outdoor-type functions. As you can see, they are fabulous!

So far, the zoo has some deer that were sourced from Portland, and more than 100 palm trees of all varieties are growing nicely. All were donated by Benjamin.

There is, however, a need for someone to sponsor the feeding bill for the lions. They eat a lot.