TERRENCE HONORE

THE RECENT celebration of World Environment Day caused me to consider how much more attention should be given to the God-given green spaces in our communities. Palmiste Park is one such place. It is the only public park and green space of its size in the south of the country.

Located on the outskirts of San Fernando, Palmiste Park presents a relatively small but important carbon footprint for the area. The 40-acre estate holds a special place in the hearts of individuals who live in the surrounding areas and across the southland. Many use the park for recreation and religious activities. But there are condemnations to those who put on their parliamentary clothes and leave this special place neglected.

We must be careful that some people might perceive that the state of Palmiste Park reflects the way we govern our nation.

The park needs good governance. It is 16 years since there was an official committee to manage the affairs of the park. This has resulted in a woeful state of negligence, with no clear management structure and action plan. It amounts to a regrettable abandonment of the responsibility to preserve this aspect of our heritage.

We should be aware that Palmiste Park boasts a rich heritage. The area has a history of over 240 years. It began as a pasture for animals in 1782, as part of the Phillipine Estate operated by St Luce Phillip. He was the head of a coloured family that migrated from Grenada at the time of the Cedula of Population, which brought French-speaking planters to Trinidad. Many settled in the Naparimas with the very fertile soil. Over the years, the name of the area was changed from Phillipine Pasture to Palmiste Pasture, to Palmiste Park, but the potential remains the same.

Over the years, the park benefitted from the efforts of three former prime ministers from the South. Basdeo Panday, a nearby resident, approved the construction of a teak fence around the park, replacing the old sections of railway lines that were used as fence posts. Then there was the effort by Patrick Manning, who responded to a letter by a concerned teenager from the community to have the park cleared of overgrown brush. And the most recent effort was the creation of a nature walk during the tenure of Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who also lives a short distance from the park.

But despite the timely interventions by three prime ministers, and other notable efforts, the park remains in need of urgent attention. Many are still waiting to have Palmiste Park named as the second official botanic gardens in the country.

Meanwhile, a URP crew continues to maintain the grounds, the Forestry Division occasionally cuts and removes old trees, but much more is needed to take it to the next level to be a world-class tourist destination.

Interestingly, it was the PNM government, back in May 2006, that passed a parliamentary motion to appoint a management and development committee for the park. It was a step in the right direction but failed to gain momentum. Yet another team was named in 2011