‘More can be done in the Scotland District’

CHIEF Agricultural Officer Lennox Chandler believes that a National Orchard is needed in Barbados, specifically in the Scotland District.

His comments came on Saturday night as he delivered brief remarks at the Diamond Celebration Gala hosted at the Hilton Barbados to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Soil Conservation Unit.

While commending the past and present members of staff in preserving an area which is approximately one-sixth of the land mass of the island, Chandler opined that a National Park just for tourists to visit that picturesque section of the island is not enough.

According to Chandler, “The time has come for us to make use of the Scotland District. I think that we have to focus on creating some economic activity in that area.”
“A National Orchard should be planted, where persons who live in the Scotland District can utilise the produce to create small industries around the fruit and vegetables that are produced.”

He lamented that at present this land mass is not realizing the economic activity that is needed. “So I am calling now on those who have the power to assist us in creating an economic space in the Scotland District for the people of St. Andrew and the people of Barbados in general.”

Last year during official launch of the Barbados System of Parks and Open Spaces, an initiative seeking to protect the natural assets and open spaces on the island, Prime Minister the Rt Hon Freundel Stuart explained that the system establishes policies to guide future land use and development within the National Park. He also acknowledged that the economic potential from the National Park if properly implemented is limitless.

It was noted that the Barbados National Park Plan acknowledges that there is potential to derive economic benefit from rural tourism, craft industries, environmentally sensitive farming, fishing activities, conservation projects including reforestation, amenity and community upgrading projects, touring and guiding.

The Barbados National Park is made up 7 300 hectares or 17 percent of the island’s total land area , which according to Prime Minister Stuart, is almost twice the Caribbean average of 9.6 percent.

It encompasses an area that stretches from St. Lucy to St. Philip and includes the entire Scotland District. It extends from Archer’s Bay, St. Lucy to Consett Bay St. John, incorporating inland areas such as the Flower Forest, in St. Joseph, Welchman Hall Gully, the Jack-in-the- Box Gully and Harrison’s Cave in St. Thomas.