PHILIPSBURG:— Over the past years more and more community members are becoming consciously aware of the great benefits agriculture has to offer if implemented in one’s day-to-day life. From great tasting organic food to a much healthier lifestyle and diet. Many have become aware and have taken the advantage over the past four years to embrace the positive activity within the agricultural sector going on in this St Peters area. The project, the St. Martin agricultural research and development center, Headed by Director of Spaceless Gardens Mr Denicio Wyatte has been making a great impact amounts the surrounding communities, its members, visitors, schools and collaborative organizations. Unfortunately the center is now being faced with possible demolition.
Although there may seem to be a lot of controversy surrounding the matter at hand, there comes a time that we all must work towards the best interest of our families, communities, and country. The controversy surrounding the land that houses the Agricultural Research and Development Center, is not an issue that cannot be ironed out in the best interest of Country St. Maarten if Minister Giterson and Mr. Wyatte can sit at the table, put past issues behind them and come to a reasonable solution. All it may take is the shake of the hand and stroke of a pen, and that totally depends on minister of VROMI honorable Mr Gitterson.
The solution
On August 29, 2018 during the press briefing of the Council of ministers Wyatte expressed he was pleased to hear the Prime Minister of St. Martin Ms Leona Marlin announce that the country is ready to move forward with the national recovery and resilience plan. Mr. Wyatt also expressed that he was pleased to hear that Minister Giterson also expressed his support for community members interested in the agricultural sector.
After the passing of hurricane Irma in September 2017, many were displaced by the natural disaster. Many lost their jobs, homes and had to seek alternative solutions such is leaving the country to cater for their family’s well-being. Even the local government has not been spared its challenges towards getting the country back up and running.
The National recovery and resilience plan brings hope. The NRRP brings a diversified range of opportunities not only too country St. Martin, but also to the local community members, visitors, investors and government while giving our people more confidence and opportunities towards revitalizing their livelihood.
The partial statement below falls under the visions and objectives of the NRRP and will help the general public to understand a bit more of what our local government plans to set in place towards achieving this vision.
‘’The NRRP recommends as top priorities: (a) the basic needs of the people of Sint Maarten—such as food, shelter, health and psychosocial care, education, and livelihoods, (b) the emergency projects currently under preparation to ensure Sint Maarten is ready for the peak of the upcoming hurricane season and (c) key initiatives aimed at restarting and revitalizing the economy. Toward this end, priority interventions include assistance to vulnerable
groups to ensure they have a roof over their heads and a basic income to buy essentials, as well as an immediate solution to the debris left behind by Irma and the wider issue of dump fires threatening both public health and the tourism-dependent economy.’’
There many components and subcomponents expressed in the National recovery and resilience plan such as its Principals, Scope, Methodology, Summary of Disaster Losses and Needs, Community Recovery and Resilience, Propose recovery Interventions and Resilience, Government Recovery and Resilience and Economic Recovery and Resilience.
In order to achieve this vision and objective, we as residents of St Maarten must also realize that, it will take more than just the work of government but also the work and input of each and every individual citizen of this country to ensure their livelihood and that of the generation to come.
Over the next few days Mr. Wyatte will be releasing a series of press releases categorized by components of the NRRP, the first being ’’Community Recovery and Resilience’’ that will demonstrate the importance and added value of having the Agricultural Research and Development Center and how it has the potential tool become one of the first sustainable projects, in the direction of community recovery and resilience once granted the support of local government.
‘’ I would like government and especially Minister Giterson to understand I am not here to fight against government but only to see where I can pay my part as a productive citizen toward seeing how I may be able to make my contribution towards my community and country St Maarten’’. Mr Wyatte explained.
The project provided unique learning opportunities, community out reach efforts, volunteer \ compensated opportunities, capacity and leadership building, entrepreneurship opportunities, socially interactive experiences, Phycological evaluations, waste management through organic reconstruction and possibilities towards a healthier lifestyle. It also offered higher quality organic produce for free or at lower cost then the average supermarket price while offering a place to getaway from the over crowded developments and be inspired by nature towards preserving the environment.
The project has been supported by the members of surrounding communities, supportive organizations such as Prins Bernhard Culture Fonds, UNESCO, UNDP, SZV, BAK, Spaceless Gardens, Ministry of Health (Dept VSA), St Maarten Tourist Office, The St Maarten Vegan Community, Students of Howard University, Philipsburg Jubilee Library, K1 Britannia, St Maarten Youth Council, St Maarten Chamber of Commerce and many others.
The scope and livelihood of the project also granted participating team members a second-place spot at this years (BBB) build back better event. The project clearly shows the true potential of one that can be of Great added value to the existing NRRP. In 2018 the project received a positive Report from UNDP on its outstanding efforts and also positively contributed towards influencing the framework of MAF’s MDG’s and sustainable development goals (SDG’s) here on St Maarten.
We have all seen the grief and sorrow of a natural disaster and the organization is asking Minister Gitterson not to create a man-made disaster but consider using the already thriving project complement and be one of the first sustainable projects in the direction of community livelihood and resilience of the NRRP.
Over the next few weeks the organization has a number of collaborative activities scheduled with the Agricultural Research and Development Center and is asking Minister Giterson to consider holding off the demolition based on the following:
Aug 31, 2018 – Meeting with Minister of Tourism Mr Stewart Johnson
Sept 1, 2018 – Community Market Day
Sept 8, 2018 – Community Market Day
Sept 10, 2018 – Ms Marcellia Henry of UNESCO & Charlotte Brookson students visit Agricultural Center
Sept 13, 2018 – Sustainable Development and Agroecology seminar with the University of St Maarten.
Mr. Wyatte , now president of the St Maarten Agricultural Research and Development Center also mentioned over the next few days he will be trying to establish communication with the minister with hopes on getting a speedy appointment to sit and discuss positive possibilities on moving forward with the project and perhaps how government can also play a great role towards using the research and data gathered by this project to help complement and strengthen the national recovery and resilience plan. There has been over 700 Digital and physical signatures gathered in support of this project thus far, all that is missing now is the positive support and signature of the Minister Giterson himself.
Source: St. Martin News Network http://www.smn-news.com/st-maarten-st-martin-news/29978-the-agricultural-research-and-development-center-and-its-dedication-to-the-national-recovery-and-resilience-plan-nrrp.html
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