PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament Maurice Lake says he intends to table a motion in Parliament to call on the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure to develop a “Nature-Agriculture Park.”
The Park, geared to ensuring the protection of the environment and heritage should be developed in Emilio Wilson Estate, Lake said. In the motion, Lake intends to call on Government to promote sustainable development of agriculture via the creation of an agriculture station on the Estate.
The station and nature park can also become a tourist attraction. The station can charge fees for its fresh produce and juices to visitors. Rainforest Adventures can also work to promote the Station in its marketing, said Lake.
"St. Maarten imports the majority of its food. This means that our foreign exchange goes right back out of the country in order to purchase produce, since we import basically everything, this does not bode well for food security for the people of St. Maarten," he said.
Government purchased the Estate for the people and Rainforest Adventures will be developing part of the property as a new tour for cruise and stayover visitors. "This will benefit our economy by creating employment for our people, bringing in revenue to the coffers of Government and keeping our destination competitive with others," he said.
The projects of the General Pension Fund APS, Rainforest and Henry Brookson can complement each other in the bringing back the history, heritage and culture of St. Maarten, said Lakem. "All projects should work together in the general interest of St. Maarten, based on the draft zoning plan for the area."
