By Sue-Ann Wayow
POLITICAL leader of the Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) Phillip Alexander has filed a request via the Freedom of Information Act asking for information pertaining to the Wildflower Park
Alexander first raised issues regarding the public park on April 4 via social media.
The Ministry of Agriculture issued a statement the following day stating that 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 before the date of the event.
On Tuesday Alexander told AZP News, “We have raised a FOIA request with the Ministry of Agriculture. Since then, those bent on controlling that park put up misleading signs regarding pesticide treatment to scare the public away.
“At this point the matter is clear law-breaking but it seems political connections are protecting the wrongdoers. We intend to prosecute this matter to the fullest and ensure that a precedent is set here to prevent this sort of behaviour ever again.”
He added, “We’ve learnt from sources within the horticultural division that the intention was to fence the park and a committee would control who has access.”
A security camera has also been erected in within the park which Alexander said police have admitted was is a clear breach of the law and they are awaiting instructions on how to proceed.
Others have also raised questions regarding the park, asking why the nearby Botanical Gardens and Queen’s Park Savannah did not have the same policies and also called on the Ministry of Agriculture to make a statement regarding the new issues raised.
