Diaspora targeted to rescue Hope Gardens

Facing an $88-million operating deficit, the Nature Preservation Foundation (NPF) has launched an international fundraising campaign to rescue Hope Royal Botanic Gardens (HRBG).

The initiative, unveiled on Monday, is backed by the Blue Mahoe Charitable Foundation (BMCF) – the philanthropic arm of Blue Mahoe Capital, a US-based investment firm focused on the Caribbean.

Under the partnership, BMCF will act as fiscal sponsor, opening the door for funding from the Jamaican diaspora and international donors. The goal: secure the future of the historic St Andrew-based gardens, which was established in 1873.

At the launch, BMCF Chairman David Mullings called Hope Gardens a national asset and urged strong diaspora support. He noted that, as a registered US 501(c)(3) organisation, BMCF can issue tax-deductible receipts to American donors.

“Jamaica’s flag has green in it. The green represents this – the land, the beauty – and it is important to understand that investing in Jamaica ... is not only about investing in roads and infrastructure,” said Mulllings.

“It requires investing in people; it requires investing in the environment, because the environment can survive without us humans, [but] humans cannot survive without this specific environment. So we have to invest in these green spaces. This space is viable, not just as a park, but is an essential urban breathing room for families, and families of all social classes. At Hope Gardens, there is no class,” he added.

NPF Executive Director Carla Myrie underscored the scale of the financial challenge, noting that while the Government provides an annual subvention, it falls far short of what is needed.

Hope Gardens is owned by the Government through the National Land Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining. It has been operated by NPF under a 49-year lease since 2005. The property spans 230 acres from the Liguanea Plains to Skyline Drive, with about 90 acres currently in active use.

“The major challenge now has to do with our finances. So yes, based on the terms of agreement, the Government still provides an annual subvention of $62 million, with increases [each year]. Realistically, on a shoestring budget, $150 million will help us to do everything.

“Most of our staff members now are currently on minimum wage, and so one of the things we would really want to do is to pay people properly, not only pay them properly – to be able to get skilled labour in terms of helping us to advance some of the mandates that we have, in terms of protecting our biodiversity and building out the spaces in terms of landscape,” Myrie told The Gleaner.

She pointed to chronic infrastructure issues, including a broken irrigation system, a non-functional entrance fountain, a shuttered Orchid House, and deteriorating roadways.

NPF Director Blane Stoddart, based in Philadelphia, stressed that Hope Gardens’ survival is tied to Jamaica’s development.

“Public spaces around the world are a direct reflection of the economic development of that country. ... The best botanical gardens in the world – the Kew Gardens in London, the Cape Town Botanical Gardens, the Sydney Australia Botanical Gardens, the Butchart Gardens in Canada and Longwood Garden near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – they are in places where the government and the private sector put an emphasis on public spaces. You haffi put you money where your mouth is,” said Stoddart.

He revealed that he will be making a donation to the effort once the portal on islandforward.com is live.

“When this website is up and the donation button is up, I will pledge the first J$1 million to this organisation.”

karen.madden@gleanerjm.com