00:00Easy access to fruit trees in communal spaces is a key driver of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries' Public
00:08Fruit and Food Orchards Initiative, which was launched on Thursday.
00:13The Ministry intends to begin with five orchards in the next year, with an expansion soon afterwards in as many
00:19communities and schools as possible.
00:22At Palmis Park San Fernando, 100 plants, including different types of mango and cocoa trees, were planted.
00:30Putting food within reach of our people, bringing agriculture into our communities, and putting our public spaces to work for
00:41the people of Trinidad and Toledo.
00:43We are going to be working with local government, Minister of Rural Development and local government, to carry this initiative
00:52into recreational grounds across the country.
00:55We are going to be working with Minister of Education to return orchards in all schools across the country.
01:03But even as the plants were being placed in the dirt, the concern of theft was high among residents, including
01:09the area's councillor.
01:11By having some fruit trees available, we encourage businesses to come out, party, have your picnics, your families, you know,
01:18pick the fruits.
01:19They are free, they are not here for you to pick and sell and hustle. It's for everyone to enjoy.
01:26Over the past few years, community groups have attempted to plant fruit and ornamental trees in the park.
01:32But each time, and within weeks, they're dug out and stolen by criminals.
01:37Chairman of the Pinaldebe Regional Corporation, Gautam Maharaj, says, while municipal police officers may sometimes patrol the area, residents also
01:48needed to keep an eye out.
01:50While we'll have the support of the municipal police, I always encourage that we do not create for ourselves a
01:57handcuffed society.
01:57So we'll also depend on the resident associations, who have been very, very encouraging thus far, and for persons, citizens,
02:04residents here, to also help, be alert, and to help us with security of plants.
02:10It's a very beautiful initiative, and it is a sad day if we really must, as I say, imprison ourselves
02:16to the point where every plant must have a policeman standing next to it.
02:20Cindy Ragubantika Singh, TV6 News.
02:23Cindy Ragubantika Singh, TV6 News.
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