Ministries of Environment, Agriculture sign MOU
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THE ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE ACTION, AND CONSTITUENCY EMPOWERMENT MINISTRY, AND THE AGRICULTURE, MARINE RESOURCES AND COOPERATIVES MINISTRY, today inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to use lands on the Royal Basseterre Valley National Park, popularly known as the Aquifer ahead of next month’s annual ‘Open Day’ by the latter.
Signatories to the MoU were Ministers, Dr. Joyelle Clarke of the Environment Ministry, Mr. Samal Duggins, the Agriculture Ministry, and Permanent Secretaries (PS) Sharon Rattan and Miguel Fleming of the respective government ministries.
The 2023 Agriculture Open Day will be held April 27-28. The MOU is effective until April 30.
Dr. Clarke pointed said her ministry has the responsibility of protecting the Royal Basseterre Valley National Park and part of that is instituting MOUs.
“Part of that is establishing its use and maintaining the integrity and protecting the biodiversity and water reserves at the park. Hence, any use should rightfully be governed by an MOU which outlines what can and cannot be done in the Royal Basseterre Valley, even if it is the same government or related Ministry,” she said.
The primary objective of the concord is to ensure there are adequate garbage receptacles in addition to discouraging waste, and preventing fertilisers, wastewater or sewage from leaking into the Aquifer.
Meanwhile, Environment Ministry’s PS, Sharon Rattan, said the site has been deemed critical to the welfare of the population, therefore, the water source must be protected.
“The Ministry of Environment has recognised the value of the lands of the National Park and has sought to develop them in a manner that provides for their sustainable use, without harming the aquifer,” Rattan added.
