Cry from Botanical Gardens

I am on the Board of the Botanical Gardens and we have been lobbying for two years to have:

(a) the Prison Extension moved from the gardens (the facility abutts the proposed site for the children’s playground).

(b) the Women’s welfare division moved from the building that is supposed to be used by the Botanical Gardens and where parking for the facility is located. Once (a) and (b) are enacted the gates to Victoria Park would be locked at sun down.

(c) Round the clock security is a must. The Defence Force refused to help and the Police Force said they would “step up patrols”!. In February I wrote to the Acting Commisioner of Police requesting more help. In April I followed up with a phone call and was told my letter was on the desk and that I would be responded to shortly. Not even the courtesy of a reply to date.

As far as I am concerned the Police are a complete waste of time just going through the motions.

Government has finally released funds in order to hire two security guards leaving most of the daylight hours still unattended.

They were due to start mid June, now it will be July 1. The Botanical Gardens Board has been operating entirely by donations for any project it has so far managed to complete. It is not a Board that has received any Government remuneration to date. The upgrade of the fencing ($2000 for every 50 ft) and public toilets ($250-300,000) are our next projects. Why is everything such an uphill battle especially when we have so many people willing to give of their time and expertise.