The ceremony, will take place 31st January and starts at 4 P.M. The event will be chaired by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Ashton Stanley, followed by the Invocation by Rev. Alberic Rohan of the St. Paul’s Methodist Church and an overview of the project by Chief of the Taiwan Technical Mission, Mr. Mars Shiue.
Remarks will also be given by Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), His Excellency Miguel Li-Jey Tsao and Senior Minister and Minister of Agriculture, International Trade, Industry and Consumer Affairs, Marine Resources and Constituency Empowerment, Dr. Timothy Harris.
The master plan will then be introduced by Mr. Lin and students of the Charles Mills Secondary School who is expected to entertain officials and guests.
Dr. Earl Asim Martin, Minister of Housing, Energy, Public Works and Utilities and Richard Skerritt, Minister of Tourism and Transport will join Prime Minister Douglas, Ambassador Tsao and Minister Harris at the ground breaking ceremony.
Prime Minister Douglas and Ambassador Tsao will plant a memorial tree and cut the ribbon to open the Preparatory Office.
The 20-acre farm which is to incorporate “Green Agriculture,” “Green Tourism” and “Green Energy” stems from an agreement signed in March this year by Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and the Republic of China (Taiwan) Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Timothy Chin-Tien Yang during an official visit to Taipei.
After the signing of the Cooperation Plan, the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) sent two delegations composed of experts in landscape and architecture to the Federation to work out the blue-print of the farm.
The ATDF will incorporate both local and Taiwanese elements. Indigenous crops from St. Kitts and Nevis and Taiwan will be planted on the farm, so that visitors to the farm can appreciate the crop diversity of the two countries.
The sugar industry, which was once a booming industry in both in St. Kitts and Taiwan, will be showcased at a “Sugarcane Labyrinth,” in the shapes of both St. Kitts and Taiwan.
Resident Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), His Excellency Miguel Tsao said the Labyrinth is designed to represent the friendship of both countries.
A “Botanical Garden” with medicinal plants of St. Kitts and Nevis will also be planted alongside Chinese medical herbs.
“Cruise ship passengers, stay over visitors as well as residents and our students can certainly enjoy an educational and cultural tour of this garden and other areas of this project which will become another local tourism attraction,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who is also the Parliamentary Representative for the area.