Our Heritage assets

Tobago on the other hand, continues to offer a more traditional “island holiday”. There has also been some emphasis on eco-tourism and that seems to be very successful. However, judging from the neglect of our historic buildings and sites, it is clear that we have overlooked the revenue stream that could flow from celebrating our historic patrimony.

The City of London earns an average of ?15 million per year and is probably the world’s best example of a city that generates substantial tourism revenue from the preservation and management of its historic buildings.

Closer to home there are numerous examples of economically sustainable tourism sites in the Caribbean – Devon Hall in Jamaica, Brimstone Hill in St Kitts, Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua and Sunbury Plantation House in Barbados.

The historic buildings and heritage sites of Trinidad and Tobago are the backdrop to our unique culture and there are tremendous rewards to be earned if we were to restore and maintain our historic sites and buildings and put them to adaptive re-use as museums and places of interest.

The combination of architectural designs and detailed craftsmanship make our historic buildings, from the “leepay” hut to Knowsley House, are nothing short of treasured works of art. By preserving them and acknowledging that they comprise our heritage assets, we ensure not only a glimpse into the past but set the tone for our future.

Unfortunately, the majority of these beautiful buildings and sites have been neglected through an ignorance of their importance as historical landmarks and the basis of our cultural identity. As a result, many have either been demolished or are in a terrible state of decay. It is indeed lamentable that as a people – from the ‘man on the street’ to officialdom – we lack this basic understanding of the great value of our heritage assets. This ignorance in turn means that we miss the opportunities to tap into their tremendous economic potential. It becomes a moot point whether the attendant neglect of our heritage has also contributed to the decline of our holistic values as a society.

In the last few years only, there have been some unfortunate events that penetrated public consciousness.

The levelling of the old Greyfriars church on Frederick Street and the home of the late dance icon Beryl McBurnie have left a bitter taste. Some hope has been rekindled with the promises from Government that restoration work on five historical buildings – President’s House, the Red House, Whitehall, Stollmeyer’s Castle and Mille Fleurs - will be given top priority over the next five years. Undoubtedly this will present some challenges in the face of falling government revenue, but if this is viewed as an investment rather than simple expenditure the task can be accomplished. In the meantime, however, there remains a singular lack of appreciation for the value of many old and unique structures; structures that represent the way of life of bygone eras.

It is imperative that as we mature as a society, we weave the threads of our past and future together to better appreciate the unique nature of Trinidad and Tobago.