| Government Breaks Ground for Agro-Tourism Project |
| By Teshell Samuel |
| |
|
|
|
Prime Minister Denzil Douglas plants a Flamboyant tree as a memorial to the groundbreaking. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Government has turned the sod at the site of a proposed multi-million dollar Agro-Tourism Project in the Sir Gilles area. Tuesday’s (Jan 31) ground breaking ceremony was hosted by the government of St. Kitts-Nevis and the Embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan in St. Kitts-Nevis. Heavy showers of rain punctuated the event however officials commented that they hoped it signified a blessing on the venture.
The ceremony signaled the official start of the development of an EC eight million dollar demonstration farm that will merge agriculture, tourism and renewable energy on a 20-acre plot of land.
According to Senior Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris, the ground breaking of the proposed farm has a multitude of significance. He said that not only has it taken the cooperation between both countries to another level, it also gives an insight into the potential of Agro-Tourism.
“The Agro-Tourism approach has long been talked of but a real demonstration like this one will prove that it can work and can be an enterprise contributing to the livelihood and income generation of many of our citizens and residents,” the Minister said. “I am happy for this new effort in Agro-Tourism. In the end we will learn why some agro projects succeed and why some fail.”
The farm is strategically positioned at the turnaround point of the Scenic Railways’ island tour allowing for optimum use by visitors. The Minister indicated that guided tours of the plant will give visitors the opportunity to “experience the rustic reality of farm life” while sampling the island’s produce through a pick and pay system.
Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas explained that the Agro-Tourism demonstration farm was designed to attract the visitor with an interest in the country’s flora and fauna but it will also show the young people of the Federation the importance of the land.
“This project presents another face of Agriculture to the youth of the nation. It presents yet another way to which our precious lands can be appropriately used, yet another way in which planting and growing can be a meaningful source of revenue and inspiration to our people,” the PM said.
Resident Ambassador to Taiwan His Excellency Miguel Tsao indicated that the features of the demonstration farm will incorporate the cultures of both St. Kitts-Nevis and Taiwan and will exhibit the tangible efforts of the Federation to push forward in becoming a top tourism destination.
The project will feature a tea room, green house, botanical garden, interpretation point, tourist center, sugar industry relic area and sugarcane labyrinth and maze made in the shape of both countries. The botanical garden will house medicinal plants indigenous to the Federation together with a number of Asian medicinal herbs while the green house will be used for research with both local crops and those familiar to Taiwan. Rows of solar panels will be installed at the farm to power the various offices that will be erected there including the newly opened Preparatory Office.
A single Flamboyant tree was planted on the grounds of the farm to act as a memorial to the groundbreaking of the tourist attraction.
According to officials construction on the project will be carried out in phases and could begin as early as April with the erection of the greenhouse. The entire project is tentatively scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013. |
