Have you ever heard of the “Botanic Gardens Act?”
Well, in Trinidad and Tobago, there exists a legal act which refers to the government’s control and approval of amendments with regards to the botanic gardens of the country. If you want to learn more about this act, have a look below.
The Act Relating to the Botanic Gardens
- This Act may be cited as the Botanic Gardens Act.
- In this Act— “the Gardens” means the Botanic Gardens as delineated and set forth in a certain Plan dated 12th October 1938, signed by Joseph Grant Reece and deposited in the Office of the Director of Surveys, the boundaries whereof are thereon edged pink, and shall include any additional landdeclared by Order as a Botanic Garden in the manner hereinafter provided; “keeper” means and includes any person appointed to guard and watch over the Gardens; “Superintendent” means the Superintendent of Public Gardens, Grounds and Pastures and includes any Assistant Superintendent and the Economic Botanist.
- The Minister may by Order declare as a Botanic Garden within the meaning of this Act any additional land whether adjacent to or separate from the Gardens which may from time to time be acquired or appropriated for any experimental plantation or for cultivation of any vegetable products.
- (1) The Minister may make Regulations relating to the Botanic Gardens for all or any of the purposes following, that is to say:
(a) to fix the hours of opening and closing the Gardens, and the hours at or during which the public may be prohibited access thereto;
(b) for the good government of the Gardens, and of all persons employed therein or resorting thereto, or to their immediate neighbourhood, or in any way using the same or any part thereof;
(c) to control or prohibit traffic therein;
(d) to declare what portion of the Gardens shall be required as nurseries or for other administrative purposes, and not accessible to the public except by special permission;
(e) to prohibit any interference with or damage to or the destruction of trees, plants, shrubs, fruit, gates, fences, or other things within or about the Gardens;
(f) for the management, control and upkeep of any zoological collection, aviary, or museum, or other building that may, with the permission of the Minister, be established or erected within the Gardens.
(2) Regulations made under this section shall be subject to affirmative resolution of Parliament.
(3) Copies of the Regulations shall be put up at the main entrance of the Gardens and in such other conspicuous places about the Gardens as may be considered necessary.
5. Any person who contravenes any regulation made under the authority of this Act is liable on summary conviction to a fine of four hundred dollars.
6. Any person who assaults, or obstructs, or aids or abets any person to assault or obstruct, the Superintendent or keeper, or any other person employed in or about the Gardens, in the execution of his duty, is liable on summary conviction to a fine of four hundred dollars.
7. (1) The Superintendent, or any person authorised by him, or any keeper in uniform, or any constable who may be called to his assistance, may arrest without warrant any person found committing any offence against this Act.
(2) Any person arrested under the authority of this section shall be taken with all reasonable speed and diligence before a Magistrate to be dealt with according to law; but in no case shall any person arrested be detained in custody longer than twenty-four hours before being brought before a Magistrate.
8. The Superintendent and the keeper, in addition to any powers and immunities conferred on them by this Act, shall have and exercise within the limits of the Gardens all the powers vested in any constable, and shall, for acts done in the bona fide performance of their duty under this Act, enjoy the same rights, privileges, and immunities as are possessed and enjoyed by constables under the Police Service Act.
