FROM EARLY NEXT year, people using the Folkestone Marine Park will be expected to pay a fee.
Earle Yarde, chairman of the National Conservation Commission (NCC), said the user fee was among efforts to increase revenue.
Speaking at the launch of NCC’s week of activities in observance of National Arbor Day 2013 yesterday, at its Codrington House, St Michael’s headquarters, Yarde said other plans included expanding NCC’s landscaping services in an increasingly competitive market and the opening of the newly constructed restaurants at Barclays Park,?St?Andrew, and Folkestone Marine Park, St James.
He said efforts were being undertaken as Government was going through tough economic times and indicated that the recent Budget would impact on all Government departments, including the NCC.
The chairman said that the NCC would also continue to improve the services that complemented the tourism industry: improving drainage at Oistins Bay Gardens and expanding the washroom facility that currently posed problems during peak periods.
NCC’s board also requested management to urge staff to be more cost conscious with the resources provided to undertake its daily operations.
“In these harsh economic times, these tasks may seem insurmountable but the commission will ensure that all of its operations continue to function at optimal capacity so as to deliver the best possible service to all Barbadians,” Yarde said.
He also explained that with the appointment of the new board in June this year, the commission continued to focus its energy on assisting with the implementation of Government’s greening policy of which National Arbor Day was one component. (AH)
