BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - ON the heels of the call for the government to develop a national park in the Ponds Needsmust area for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis as well as visitors, Prime Minister of the twin-island Federation the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has announced plans to have it done.
The call was made this morning (Oct. 17) by the President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, David Lake, who said that a recreational area equipped for picnic and other family-oriented events is needed.
This call was made during his presentation at the 2013 National Consultation on the Economy held at the St. Kitts Marriott Ballroom.
"The Chamber recommends that a national park at Ponds/Needsmust be developed as a recreational park for the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and visitors alike. With Warner Park virtually off limits to public access, we need a recreational area with picnic and camp grounds and jogging and biking trails."
Dr. Douglas, in his presentation minutes after the call was made, said that plans are in the making for the development of the much asked for national park.
He said that his government has already taken measures to also protect the Federation’s critical environmental resources.
Dr. Douglas said that under the OECS Parks and Associated Livelihood Project, the government has formally designated a number of specified lands as potential protected area.
"In this our central forest reserve there are opportunities, very many opportunities for participation in green tourism livelihood activities. The Integrated Watershed and Coastal Areas Management Projects is also providing us in part with resources to protect our critical ground water sources within the lower coastal section of our Basseterre Valley."
PM Douglas promised that the Ponds/Needsmust area that protects the Basseterre Valley Aquifer would be developed into a national park.
"And so I can assure the Chamber President and others who are here that under this particular project we will see the development of a national park in Ponds/Needsmust Estate area. And so apart from protecting our precious water supply, this national park would provide an avenue for passive and active recreation for generations today and in the future."
This comes after the land opposite Pond’s Pasture was cleared and was said to be maintained as a green space rather than being turned in to a national park.
Earlier this week, SKNVibes was told by the Ministry of Public Works that the area, which was cleared some weeks ago and is now being levelled, would remain as it is and that rumours suggesting that a national park would be erect there were untrue.
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