At a meeting on Friday November 25 in the Conference Room of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport in the Pine, Minister John Boyce advised a group of interested citizens and MTW staff, that indeed, after much consultation and research on other options, the Silk Cotton Tree in Warrens – opposite the Baobab tree – will need to be removed.

Minister Boyce was speaking to a group which included David Spieler representing the Flower Forest and Earthworks pottery, Mr Reginald Medford – Medford’s Mahogany, Mr Dave Scantlebury – MTW, Mr Nigel Jones – Natural Heritage Department (NHD), Mr Abdul Pandoor – Consulting Engineer to the Warrens Project, Dr John Webster – Landscape Designer, Mr Kammie Holder – PRO for the Future Centre Trust, Permanent Secretary Mr Lionel Nurse, Mr Steve Devonish – Natural Heritage Department, Mr Mark Brathwaite – Consulting Landscape Architect to NHD and myself. This was in fact the second meeting called in recent weeks, with Dr Karl Watson and Ms Mia Mottley attending the previous meeting to offer their views.

It would appear that the main reason for the take down of the tree is related to cost. The landowner, after consultation with the Ministry, requested a sum of millions, which would in fact mean the acquisition of the entire land space surrounding the tree.

The discussion of the tree was brought to the attention of the FCT earlier this year with a large push on social media sites including Facebook, by Mr Kammie Holder. Mr Holder has pursued the matter since this time and has been a keen advocate for the tree.

During the meeting, the Minister highlighted the plans for the entire Warrens area and explained that the aim of the MTW was in fact “not to build as many roundabouts in Barbados, but to enable the traffic to move through Warrens in a speedy way.” Mr Steve Devonish of the NHD then explained the plan for green spaces and tree planting within the area, with specifics of species in each area indicated by Mr Brathwaite.

One main theme that arose from the discussion was the amount of privately owned land in Warrens which could prevent the area being transformed into a much greener thoroughfare in the future. Those from the private sector were encouraged to seek out land owners and lobby them to consider including trees in their various site plans.

So for now, the Silk Cotton Tree will be removed in short time. There are plans, depending on the condition of the tree, to use the trunk as a memorial to centenarians in the area and to re-use as much of the tree as possible. The support over the past ten or so months has not gone unnoticed by the Ministry with Minister Boyce explaining the plan to embrace the BAC Project – ‘Beyond Asphalt and Concrete’- as a way forward for any future road developments. They will be seeking means and ways to include as much green planning in the initial stages as possible to ensure reference to the physical environment and planting back of greenery.

Thank you Minister Boyce for taking the time to listen to the concerns of the people and we look forward to hearing more from the Ministry as it plans to plant more trees in the area including 3 silk cottons to assist in carbon offsets in the future for the tree that needs to be removed.

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Please note that we have had a change in Digicel Mobile Numbers to the following:

Nicole – 836 6163

Lani – 836 6189

Vicky – 836 6186

Ayana – 836 6187

Any questions, please get in touch! Thanks again to Digicel for their support of the FCT

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This morning, FCT Administrative Director, Nicole Garofano is contacting groups who have expressed an interest in participating in this year’s Clean Up Barbados event to finalise their group numbers and chosen locations for Clean Up Barbados 2011. “Groups are contacting the FCT to register daily”, says Garofano. “The biggest challenge is finding locations for the groups with a high demand for beaches around the country.”

Ms Garofano added, “Although the focus is not soley on beach clean ups, there is a large interest in these areas because they are deemed to be safer to clean with children in the groups and of course you can go for a lovely sea bath afterwards – weather permitting!”

The locations locked in so far are as follows:
Brandons/Brighton beach – SBI Distribution and affiliated Brownie Pack
Accra Beach and eastern end of Boardwalk – Accra Beach Hotel
Barclays Park to ‘Random’ – Charity Chicks
Consett bay to Bath South – RBC Reinsurance
Bath beach – Stantec Consulting
Silver Sands and Miami – Christ Church Barbados District of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Drill Hall Beach – The Maas Clinic
Hastings Boardwalk end to Drill Hall – KPMG
Batts Rock – Shell Western Supply and Trading
Dover Beach – Yellow Bird and South Gap Hotels
Oistins – United Insurance
Barclays Park south – Structural Systems
Worthing Beach – Island Villas
Dover Woods – PWC
Weston, St James, (area behind John Moores Bar) – Rotaract Club of South Barbados
Mango Bay Beach, Holetown or Gully, St James – Super Centre
Martins Bay – RBC/RBTT
George Street, Belleville – Deloitte Touche
Folkestone Beach – Bellairs Field Studies Semester Group

And to help with the International Coastal Clean Up Day, which has operated for over a decade:
Pebbles Beach with the Barbados Cruising Club assisting Barbados Blue
Brownes Beach with The UWI Young Economists assisting the Sunshine Optimists
Long beach – Caribbean Youth Environment Network
Morgan Lewis Beach – Environmental Protection Department

We still need areas! Other areas highlighted, but not personally inspected include:
Welches, Christ Church
St Albans, St James
Goding bay area, St Peter
Heywoods beach, St Peter
River bay, St Lucy
More help from Cattlewash to mid way to Barclays Park

If anyone has any experience in the St Philip area that may have suggestions – or INLAND, please advise!

We are still to confirm contributions of trucks to assist in the final clean up effort for distribution of the waste either to the transfer station or the various recyclers. Please get in touch if you can help!

Further information can be obtained by contact the Future Centre Trust on 625 2020 or Ms Garofano on 836 6163.

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Check these links for the February Contributions to Business Barbados.com:
http://businessbarbados.com/green-business/should-we-save-our-natural-heritage/
and
http://businessbarbados.com/green-business/chancery-lane-development-update/

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With some forty nine community representatives requesting information on the CoRe NETWORK project focused on community recycling, we have now received thirteen applications from registered community groups.

The process of decision making is now underway and those communities who have applied will be contacted by Friday March 4 to be advised of their status.

We thank all of the groups for their interest in the project and we look forward to advising those who are successful in their applications!

Thanks to the Coca Cola Foundation for their commitment to this exciting Community Recycling Project.

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The Bri and Luk Eco Puppets Travelling Show made three presentations at the 4R’s Fair on Saturday February 5. The Solid Waste Project Unit appreciated the presence of some child-friendly options, that adults could enjoy and learn from as well. Bri and Luk Eco Puppets fit the bill!

The three sessions were well attended, with the Acting Minister and Permanent Secretary enjoying the final performance for the day. Minister Kellman expressed his interest in encouraging more of this type of education to students to enhance their appreciation of the environment.

Bri and Luk Eco Puppets are available to Schools across the country simply by making a reservation at least 4 weeks in advance and is free of charge. The show is aimed at Reception, Infants A and Infants B and will include in the future worksheets for students to take home and remember the show and hopefully some of the key points!

Thanks to the British High Commission for their continued support of this initiative.

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