Let’s preserve history to benefit tourism drive – Richard C. de Castro
He was speaking during his Speak your Mind programme aired on JTV Channel 55 on Saturday February 20, 2016.
Further, he encouraged private individuals who are owners of such properties to do something meaningful with them.
“We are losing everyday. We have to start preserving as opposed to destroying because once you destroy it’s gone. You’re no longer able to experience it,” he said.
“There are a number of thoughts on this. You can build around them... you can include them. You don’t have to just make it a monument.”
Mr De Castro said that a good example of this is Sugar Mill Estate, where he said they kept the estate look but also made it into a hotel and dining room.
He added that there are other properties that he knows of that are very rich in quality and that can be used for such tourism purposes.
“One of the things about tourism is about showing your history and explaining your story. I know there is money available for heritage tourism through UNESCO and we are not tapping into that,” he said.
Heritage sites taken for granted
His guest for the show was Director of the Virgin Islands Studies Institute of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, Dr Angel Smith, who said a lot of the heritage sites in the territory are being taken for granted.
He said the institute is making available short term study programmes so that persons can study their history.
“That’s where we keep getting into trouble because we have not taken any time to look at our history,” Dr Smith said.
He further said people will have a better appreciation for where the territory is once they take the time to look back at its history.
“We will know what pitfalls to avoid because sometimes we keep going around in the same circle and keep doing the same thing and getting the same result,” Dr Smith said.
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11 Responses to “Let’s preserve history to benefit tourism drive – Richard C. de Castro ”
Decades ago, the 18th-19th C wooden marketplace building in front of the folk museum was torn down by family and it has remained an open pit ever since. Now it is waiting for a 6 story building which is totally inappropriate for its location next to Pussers. It should fit the scale of the other buildings. Attempts are being made to preserve the prison but even certain details are being diluted as preservation. We are losing the copper kettles and ruins in Brewers Bay, and ruins in almost EVERY bay including Smugglers. THIS IS DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT!. People travel to experience another culture/ heritage/tradition. If they want to stay at a hotel swimming pool they might as well stay in Miami. Please clear away brush from old sites to preserve them. Too bad the Ship Pier Park lost an opportunity for better architecture reflecting cultural authenticity. Instead, they opted for generic warehouses.
This is also a great student thesis waiting to happen. History Matters! It is a marker to tell us how far we have come and what direction we are going (and not all of it is pretty). We are richer than other islands precisely BECAUSE we have more natural environment and potential than other islands who have turned into concrete jungles. And to Courtney's point, Sugar Mill Hotel has won MANY awards and has been consistently rated in the top 5 in travel magazines. History doesn't have to be thrown out in order to cater to the well-heeled.
The history of our islands and our heritage buildings needs more protection period.....no excuses.