Tourism policy and revenue generation plan earmarked for Basseterre National Park

A section of the Basseterre Valley in the background (photo by Erasmus Williams)

ST. KITTS, APRIL 9TH 2010 (CUOPM) – Legislation for the establishment of the Basseterre National Park, development of a revenue generation plan, landscaping, selection of specific species of plants and creation of a tourism policy are still to be completed.

These are areas to be tackled in completing the vision of Parliamentary Representative and Minister of Housing, Public Works, Energy and Utilities, Hon. Dr. Earl Asim Martin, M.P. (Labour – St. Christopher 1), for the establishment of the Basseterre Valley Aquifer (BVA) which has received the greenlight of the Cabinet.

The Basseterre Valley Aquifer, south-east of Wellington Road, flanking both sides of the Kim Collins Highway and delimited by the Conaree Hills and the Frigate Bay Road, yields millions of gallons of water that is supplied daily to the Basseterre area, Frigate Bay and the South-East Peninsula.

In updating the Cabinet on the special project geared towards the long-term protection of the Basseterre Valley Aquifer that includes the development of a Water Resource Management Plan and the development of a National Park Management Plan, Dr. Martin highlighted the need for further work to be done and outlined what a second phase of the project would involve.

He informed the cabinet there is need for additional research and complete and accurate mapping of the BVA. It would also involve the passage of legislation to establish the Basseterre Valley National Park, the development of a revenue generation plan, landscaping, including the selection of specific species of plants for the Park and the development of a tourism policy regarding the Park as well as public education and sensitization.

Minister Martin received the go ahead to engage the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other agencies for financial and technical support to move phase 2 of the project forward.