Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Trevor Prescod (left), greets Kenya’s High Commissioner to Barbados, Anthony Muchiri during a recent courtesy call. (A.Husbands/BGIS)

Two top scientists from the Kenya Forestry Research Institute in Nairobi are scheduled to arrive in Barbados this week to conduct assessments on the two acres of land adopted by the Kenyan Government in the National Botanical Gardens at Waterford, St. Michael.

Kenya’s High Commissioner to Barbados, Anthony Muchiri, made this disclosure recently, during a courtesy call on Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Trevor Prescod.

Citing the disconnect between Barbadians and the Kenyan people, Mr. Muchiri said the adoption of land and the indigenous African trees, which will be planted there, will create an opportunity for locals to “remember their kin in Africa”.

He added that one of the scientists include the Senior Deputy Director Research and Development, from the Kenya Forestry Research Institute, who along with his colleague, will be here to assess the soil quality and environment at the gardens to ensure that the native trees from Africa can thrive there.

Minister Prescod said he welcomed the visit by the scientists, saying that he was “happy” that Kenya would play an important role in the development of the National Botanical Gardens.

“Developing an institution of that type, such as the Botanical Gardens, really requires not just workers, but workers with a scientific mind and workers with a sense of history and purpose in order to know exactly what it is that is required, especially when there is going to be such heavy emphasis on the indigenous nature of the plants within that botanical garden,” Mr. Prescod told the High Commissioner.

He said Kenya’s contribution to the National Botanical Gardens would help Government achieve its goal of developing it indigenously.

Minister Prescod and High Commissioner Muchiri also discussed matters relating to tourism, education and bilateral agreements between the two countries.

Barbados and the Republic of Kenya established diplomatic relations on September 3, 2014.

melissa.rollock@barbados.gov.bb

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