Caribbean PRI of Barbados (CPRIB)

Project Type

Project Summary

The Caribbean Permaculture Reseach Institute in Barbados becomes reality once funding is secured. CPRI intends to work with all CARICOM nations.

Project Description

The CPRI project will aid the government of Barbados and Regional governments in raising public awareness on issues of "Food Security" thereby decreasing the countries exceedingly high Food Import bill and encouraging sustainable economic growth. It has received endorsements from the Barbados Minister of Agriculture Dr. David Estwick and his team of technicians, Dr. Chelston Braithwaite Chairman of the National Commission on Agriculture, and other prominent and active Barbadians who have personally helped me in the pursuit of this project are Mr. Keith Laurie OBE who is also Ambassador to Haiti, and Mr. Andrew Alleyne and Mr. Allan Marshall of Friends of Graeme Hall Inc. The project also receives the support from The Future Centre Trust, a NGO green initiative started by a permaculture enthusiast, Mr. Collin Hudson some 25 years ago. In fact, Bill Mollison visited Collin's garden when Bill was invited by the government to speak at the Sustainable Development Conference some 15 years ago. How sweet it would be for Mr. Mollison to see his efforts materialize into the creation of CPRI.

There are three potential sites for this project, but most preferred is the land situated at Graeme Hall Ministry of Agriculture in Christ Chruch on the south coast. The reason is that this location is more populated and has sufficient highway access and public transportation access for everyone to get to the site. This location is also adjacent to the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary which is the only nature sanctuary that remains on the island, and privately owned by a Canadian business man who is passionate about keeping it a sanctuary. Despite the support, the challenge is of course funding. It must come from International sources, and at this point I am aware of two available sources, the Canada Fund and the UNDP, which would cover one tenth of the total budget, but not without guidelines.

The project will achieve its goals through the developement of a demonstration site, commercial crops, on-site retail farm market, teaching PDC courses, PRI Internships, Outdoor School Garden curriculums with the aid of the Department of Education, community Outreach Programs, the revival of neighbourhood kitchen and urban gardens, and the introduction of community gardens. The project will demonstrate how to take a relatively infertile piece of land mostly of limestone and transform it into a fertile garden teaming with soil life while supporting and preserving the natural ecological environment.

PRI persons interested in particpating in this CPRI Master Plan Design should look forward to an upcoming post listing available employment opportunities. The business plan will be available to those interested in working on this project. Thank you.

Please view a map of Barbados here: http://www.ezilon.com/maps/north-america/barbados-maps.html

Please view Climate Institute - Barbados here: http://climate.org/climatelab/Barbados

Sincerely,

Lorraine Ciarallo

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