February 26, 2010 … Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environment, Hilson Baptiste, during his opening remarks, at the Sustainable Island Resource Management Zoning Plan (SIRMZP), workshop for Antigua & Barbuda, including Redonda, demanded the final version of land –use policy by June.
“Come hell or high waters, I want the land –use policy, no later than June,” Baptiste said, adding that land use policy has been in the works, for several years, however, “the final version must be done during my tenure.”
He stated that, the plans, must not be shelved but the agencies, should come together to bring the discussions into action. “As you deliberate, think about the long-term.”
He urged individuals to respect the waterways, wetland, and the eco-systems.
Baptiste stated that the twin –island state has entered a pivotal stage of its development; faced with both local and international challenges of environmental degradation, the scarcity of land resources, the demands for agriculture, residential, and tourism developments, employment, climate change and globalization.
“Today, we in the ministry are here to ask you to help us shape a vision and plan for Antigua & Barbuda, through the National Physical Development Plan.”
Sebastien Paddington, of Genivar Consultants, during a power-point presentation outlines the State of the Country (Antigua, Barbuda, and Redonda).
Paddington said the objectives of the exercise are to provide technical assistance, to the Core zoning Plan Committee, in the preparation of a sustainable Island Resource management Zoning Plan (SIRMZP) and integrate the SIRMZP, into a revised and updated National Physical Development Plan that can be submitted to the government for review and enactment in parliament.
He also outlined the tasks of the SIRMZP, to review existing policies, development of a land use zoning mechanism to address competing /conflicting land uses.
This, he said will be done through an adaptation and implementation of a participatory planning approach.
SIRMZP is being done in four phases:
Phase 1: Preparation
Phase 2: Situational Analysis
Phase 3: Strategy Formulation and Elaboration of Physical Development Plan
Phase 4: Review and Finalization of the Physical Development Plan
The consultant, also outlined, the environmental characteristics of Antigua, and Barbuda respectively. In Antigua, 7 0-percent of the country is above sea-level, with 13 watersheds, 6 of which are considered major. So far, 53 wetlands were identified.
On the sister island, about 3 m, above sea-level expect in the high-lands near the Northern end where heights reach up to approximately 38 m. Barbuda is divided into 10 watersheds that are poorly defined and studied. A Codrington lagoon, wetland system is the largest in the country, less diverse patch reefs around Barbuda.
Paddington also touched on the vulnerable areas, priority conservation areas recommended by the EAG, eleven areas were listed, Nelson’s Dockyard, Body Ponds, Fig Tree Drive/ Wallings, Sugar Loaf, Forest of Stone (East & west of Buckleys Road), Fitches Creek, Rendezvous and Deigs, Ayers Cree and Black Ghaut, Rooms and Seatons Coast, Shekerly Mountains (Including Mount OBAMA, Christian Valley and Midway Peak) and Sleepy Indians (Saddle Hill & Surrounding areas.)
Other topics such as the current conservations, settlement hierarchy, population projections, infrastructure for housing, general land use, changes in land use, social infrastructure, economy and livelihoods, legislative framework and Institutional arrangements and the way forward were presented.
Other group sessions, were held to discuss:
The bio-physical environment: ecological integrity and sustainable resources,
The built environment: settlement pattern/population & Housing
Physical Infrastructure: Transportation and Communication
Social Infrastructure: education, health, security and recreation
Economy and livihoods : Tourism, agriculture, fishing
Culture and Recreation
Legislative and Institutional Framework: Development Controls and processes governing marine and land use activities.
The final section, re the vision for development in Antigua & Barbuda was chaired by Ivor Jackson 7 Associates /Kingdom Consultants Inc. Ruleta Camacho, project co-ordinator gave welcoming remarks. Stakeholders were drawn from critical agencies, directly involved in the SIRMZP. Chief Environment Officer, Ambassador Diann Black-Layne, was in attendance, Permanent Secretary Clarence Pilgrim, Chairman of the Development Control Authority Sylvester Browne, Chief Town and Country Planner, Denzil Solomon and other Ministry Officials.
