ST. PETERS--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake wants an update on the plans of Rain Forest Adventures (RFA) for Plantation Industry and Golden Rock (commonly called Emilio Wilson Estate). He has written to Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Angel Meyers via Parliament seeking a general update.
Rain Forest Adventures has to contribute to the economy by giving a percentage of their revenue back to the community, Lake said on Friday. That revenue will come when RFA creates its chairlift attraction spanning from the valley to the top of Sentry Hill, the highest point on the Dutch side of the island.
Lake hopes Meyers, who has St. Maarten’s natural and cultural heritage at heart, will make an effort to shed some light on the project. He advised Meyers to sit with Rainforest Adventures to get more information.
“Rainforest Adventures needs the guidance and support of all stakeholders to make this project a success and to let them tell the cultural and natural history of St. Maarten,” Lake said.
“The Estate is of invaluable natural, cultural, historical and social significance, it is the people’s patrimony and estate,” said Lake.
He also wants to know if the entire estate that Government purchased was given to RFA and if Government finalized the agreement with former landowner Henry Brookson for the building of a road to access his property.
The awarding of RFA the Estate in long lease by the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet was one of the reasons, Lake said, he broke with the crumpled United People’s (UP)-led Coalition. RFA was given long lease for the Estate at NAf. 1.20 per square metre. “Rain Forest Adventures got a steal of a deal,” the MP said.
The original idea was for Government to develop a plan with input from stakeholders on natural, cultural, historical and social heritage value of the estate, said Lake.
The MP said he has also recommended that local agriculturists plant on the estate, especially guavaberry and fruits. With this usage, the Estate could have been a place to educate the young people of the importance of planting natural foods and eating healthy, he said.
“Why the zoo and local museum can’t be part of the estate where it can be an educational and recreational park for the people and tourists visiting St. Maarten,” Lake said. He understands RFA has plans for sustainable tourism, but the plans must complement the local cultural and heritage projects of stakeholders and that of Brookson.
