The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries is investigating claims made by activist Phillip Alexander concerning the use of the Wildflower Park in Port-of-Spain.
In a press release on Tuesday, the ministry stated that it has taken note of his social media post on the use of the park which is under the remit of the Horticultural Services Division.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Alexander, who also posted a video, wrote, “These are the claims as are clearly visible on my video: 1) Private security officers chasing citizens from the park. 2) Sprinkler systems watering grass during a time of water restrictions to the general public. 3) A pole has been erected in the park with cameras aimed at (name deleted) house, with cables running underground under two pavements and the roadway that stops at (name deleted) house. I look forward to these three issues being investigated as promised here.”
The ministry stated,”The policy position of the ministry for persons wishing to use the Wildflower Park and the Botanical Gardens for any passive creational activities, for example large group gatherings or photo-shoots, is that they must first obtain written permission from the Horticultural Services Division prior to their scheduled date of the event.”
The ministry also stated that it has always worked closely on a professional level with stakeholders from both the public and private sector and “therefore has no sole allegiance to any particular interest group/s.”
Both the Wildflower Park and the Botanical Gardens remain accessible to the national community at all times, with persons generally conducting themselves in a responsible manner and complying with the regulations for its use, the ministry added.
The ministry continues to encourage persons to adhere to the advertised guidelines, strategically placed at both the Royal Botanic Gardens and Wildflower Park in accordance with the Botanic Gardens Act, Chapter 41:03.
However, in a later post, Alexander stated, “To compare Wildflower Park to the Botanical Gardens is a feeble attempt to ascribe high status to the park to justify this heavy-handed and absurd behaviour.”
“For all of my fifty-five years on this Earth I have been to all manner of gatherings in the Botanical Gardens with none of them ever having to write for permission for its use. We reject all of it and call for the reinstating of this park as well as all others to the list of green spaces free for the public to enjoy,” he wrote.
Alexander stated that he is hoping all raised issues will be addressed especially as the public pays for the maintenance of the park and gardens.
The ministry resent a release on the same issue on Wednesday removing Alexander’s name from it.
