CATEGORY:MAJOR DEVELOPMENT ------------------------------ INSIDE GRENADA Thursday April 19,2007 by Wallace J.A GRENADA: Many local groups and individuals in Grenada have expressed deep concerns over government’s proposed amendment to Section 6 of the National Parks and Protected Areas Act which states that “except as provided by this act, no government land within the national parks system should be granted, sold or otherwise dispersed of and no person shall settle, use or occupy such land.” The proposed amendment, however, will give the Governor General the right to allow for the sale of lands designated as national parks to private developers after consultation with the National Parks Advisory Council: (1A) The Governor General may, by Proclamation, make an exemption to declare for the purposes of conveyance, possession, use or access or both, an area declared to be a National Park or a protected area, exempt from the provisions of subsection (1), subject to such terms and conditions as he or she may deem necessary after consultation with the National Parks Advisory Council.” The proposed amendment to the Act was presented to the members of the House of Representatives at a special sitting of the House last week Friday. The Bill was passed in spite of vehement objections articulated by opposition parliamentarians. On Tuesday of this week, a special stakeholders’ meeting was held at the conference room of the Grenada Red Cross on Lucas Street, St. George’s to look at and discuss the possible implications of the amendment to the Bill. This very important meeting was attended by representatives from the Parliamentary Opposition, Friends of the Earth (FOE), Willie Redhead Foundation, Agency for Rural Transformation (ART), Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GCIC), Grenada National Organization of Women (GNOW), Grenada Human Rights Organization and the media. Some of the concerns raised by persons at the meeting related to the effect that such a bill can have on the habitat of the Grenada National Dove and other areas that offer protection to Grenada’s wildlife. Some viewed the amendment as a reflection of government’s disregard for our heritage and felt that if the amendment goes through all stages and is adopted, then nothing in the country will be protected. Some of the decisions that members at the symposium agreed to include presenting a petition to the Senate (Upper House of Parliament)on Thursday April 19; preparing a position paper so as to generate public discussions on the matter and designing a comprehensive plan for the sustainable development of Grenada’s environmental heritage. One of the ‘protected areas’ that is expected to come under private ownership is the Mount Hartman area, which is the home of the Grenada Dove. The area is expected to be developed by a foreign investor. This has sparked outrage and intense objections from groups of local as well as regional environmentalists and conservationists. Hon. Gregory Bowen, Minister with responsibility for Lands, said that the amendment will provide for government lands close to, or among developmental lands to be owned by investors. He went on to state that contractual arrangements will protect the country’s natural resources.