Restoration of Magnificent Seven still unknown

Asked yesterday, at the installation of the Council of the National Trust, Robinson-Regis said the Red House’s completion (of restoration) was stalled by the Amerindian burial ground discovery.

She identified five sites in her address for a historic restoration project by the Government.

The buildings are Mille Fleurs, Stollmeyer’s Castle, White Hall, the Red House and President’s House, the latter to be given priority.

Robinson-Regis addressed and handed out letters of appointments to the six-member council.

The council is headed by Margaret McDowall-Thompson, deputy chair is Geoffrey Maclean, Candice Ramsaran, Secretary and Neisha Ghany, Aduke Willimas and Louis Vilian as members.

Robinson-Regis said Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had taken a stewardship role in the restoration , preservation and conversation of the Magnificent Seven Buildings and the Parliament.

She said a historic buildings restoration project was being co-ordinated through the office of the PM to ensure the effective completion of all these projects with its main focus being the restoration of the five buildings.

The cabinet appointed committee, she said, composed of Rowley, Attorney General Faris Al Rawi, Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young, Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert and Regis.

She added that the Old Post Office in Sangre Grande had also been assessed and was being developed for restoration.

She added the Lapeyrouse Cemetery among others was, “an interesting venue for slowly building niche market in grave yard and cemetery tourism.” The newly appointed council was charged, she said, with developing a strategic plan for the national trust to become sustainable.

She asked a feasability study be done by the council to find out how much the sector could add to the economy. She noted that the Trust’s staff achieved a revenue growth of 308 percent in one year.