celiaToppinCelia Toppin, Culture and Heritage, Project Manager for the OAS , will formally introduce Neil Silberman and Dr. Angela Labrador of Coherit Associates, the USA based Technical Coordinators at a media event to officially announce the commencement of an Organisation of American States, Heritage Project of extreme importance to the the Caribbean, titled ?Expanding the Socio-economic Potential of Cultural Heritage in the Caribbean?.

They will deliver a presentation outlining the significance of this flagship project, the leading role that Grenada will play and the benefits that can be nurtured and enjoyed by society as a whole. Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Availability permitting, we will also be inviting the Hon. Brenda Hood, Minister of Culture and Hon. Yoland Horsford-Bain, Minister of Tourism to make brief addresses.

On Wednesday, the 21st of January 2015, Professor Corinne Hofman of Leiden University and the Ministry of Culture and the Grenada National Trust signed an MOU, agreeing scientific and cultural cooperation as part of the ?Nexus 1492 ERC-synergy? project.

Nexus 1492 ERC-synergy objectives
The ambition of NEXUS 1492 is to rewrite a crucial and neglected chapter in global history by focusing on transformations of indigenous, Amerindian cultures and societies across the historical divide of 1492. It investigates the impacts of colonial encounters in the Caribbean, the nexus of the first interactions between the New and the Old World.

Objective 1: Provide a new perspective on the first encounters between the New World and the Old World by focusing on the histories and legacies of the indigenous Caribbean across the historical divide and by addressing the complex intercultural interactions over the ensuing centuries.

Objective 2: Raise awareness of Caribbean histories and legacies, striving for practical outcomes in future heritage management efforts with implications for local communities, island nations, the pan-Caribbean region, and globally.

The first objective will be addressed by creating (1) a multi-scalar temporal (AD 1000-1800) and regional (pan-Caribbean) approach to Amerindian archaeology, specifically addressing the historical divide and thereby bridging the gap between pre-colonial and colonial histories, (2) a trans-disciplinary research design targeting the intercultural nexus of colonial encounters and Amerindian-African-European dynamics, and (3) a systematic approach to apply and develop cutting-edge multi-disciplinary methods and techniques.

The second objective will be reinforced by the involvement of Caribbean scholars and local communities in the proposed research agenda, enhancing international cooperation and a sense of ownership. Furthermore, a joint heritage agenda will be designed to mitigate loss of indigenous cultural remains caused by natural and human forces, and to raise historical awareness on local, regional, and global scales.

NEXUS 1492 addresses two main research questions:

  • What are the immediate and lasting effects of the colonial encounters on indigenous Caribbean cultures and societies and what were the intercultural dynamics that took place during the colonisation processes?
  • How can the study of indigenous Caribbean histories contribute to a more sophisticated awareness and to the design of a heritage programme that will speak to multiple and perhaps competing stakeholders at local, regional, pan-regional, and global scales?

MOU-Grenada-300x225Professor Hofman was also invited to give a lecture during a session at the Grenada National Museum on the Nexus project and its significance for Grenada.

During late March and Early April 2015, Grenada Museum Curator, Angus Martin will visit Leiden University to progress project.

The process of developing the 5 year strategic heritage plan commenced over 2 years ago and has seen several drafts. It is with great pleasure that the Trust can now present this plan for public consumption.

The main goals and objectives of the plan are:

The Goals

  1. To conserve to international standards the heritage assets of the nation, through professional implementation and monitoring.
  2. To maintain to international standards the heritage assets of the nation, through initiatives that encourage involvement of the people of Grenada in the beautification, upkeep and ultimate ownership of these assets.
  3. To increase visitors both internationally and locally to all heritage sites in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique by providing access to safe, enjoyable and well managed sites.
  4. To increase national awareness of the nation?s heritage assets, through dedicated marketing and PR initiatives that encourages involvement, and engages the us of all media platforms.
  5. To create a highly respected, visual and active national heritage organisation, driven by efficient, motivated, professional staff and volunteers.
  6. To develop the financial and professional capacity of the organisation to be effective custodians of Grenada?s heritage assets, including the generation of commercial income.
  7. To take the lead role in representations to both government and other parties in matters directly relating to heritage conservation and well being.
  8. To continually seek an increase in the organisation’s membership at both corporate and individual levels.

The Objectives

  • To have a minimum of 15 heritage properties or sites vested with the Trust by 2017.
  • To achieve annual direct income from tourist receipts of EC$650,000.00 by 2017.
  • To achieve an annual percentage of 10% of overall tourism revenue for heritage related income by 2017.
  • To increase direct employment within secretariat from 2 in 2013 to 5 by 2017.
  • To achieve direct site employment nationwide to 105 persons by 2017.
  • To increase site volunteer work force nationwide from 17 in 2013 to 155 by 2017.
  • To increase individual membership from 57 in 2013 to 2000 by 2017.
  • To increase corporate membership from 6 in 2013 to 50 by 2017.
  • To achieve 100% school membership by 2017.
  • To create reserve fund of EC$100,000.00 by 2017.

To download the entire document please click here

The significance of our fort systems is often glossed over by all but a few. Certainly, at the local level the general public are not aware of the potential pulling power of these magnificent structures.

In the 17th and 18th century Grenada was in a tug of war situation in which English and French forces alternated their ownership? of the island. The first attempted (British) settlement of the island in 1609 ended in a rout. A second (French) attempt in 1638 met with similar failure. Serious opposition by? indigenous inhabitants caused the newcomers to withdraw. Sustained European settlement was finally achieved (by the French) in 1649 with the construction of a fort in Beausejour and for the next 134 years the island?s fortification network was progressively enlarged to deal with? Anglo-French rivalries in the region. The matter was eventually settled in 1782 when the French Admiral de Grasse was comprehensively defeated by British Admiral Rodney at the Battle of the Saintes (near Dominica). This, and the resulting Treaty of Paris a year later, put a damper on? French ambitions in the West Indies and Grenada remained British for the next 200 years? or so,? until it was granted its? independence in 1974.

Over the years of Anglo French conflict in the region, a network of forts and? batteries? was erected. The main forts were located in and around the capital St George?s and the three most impressive ones still stand to this day : Fort George, Fort Mathew and Fort Frederick . A comprehensive network of batteries was also set up to discourage landings in the rest of the island. The West coast was equipped with a dozen coastal batteries and an additional six batteries were set up on the eastern side. An approach from the west was the preferred selection for an invasion of the island ?whereas ?the strong easterly winds made the east coast less appropriate for a landing. Additional fortifications were also set up in some of the promontories in the south east.

Progressive decommissioning of batteries has all but obliterated them but the main forts in St George?s remain and are well worth visiting.

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The Grenada National Trust is pleased to announce that during the month of May 2013, we will be taking control of the management of the beautiful Priory House Property and its splendour gardens, situated in Church Street, St. George?s.

The Priory

The Priory is considered to be the most outstanding building of character in St. George?s, if not Grenada. Its beautiful Greek revival fa?ade, accented with Victorian details, projects a majestic presence along historic Church Street, once lined with some of the prettiest domestic houses in St. George?s Town. It is believed that The Priory or the ?Priests? House? was constructed in the late 1700s by the Roman Catholics as a Presbytery for the Dominican order. Over the years, it has seen a number of alterations, but a noted change was the addition of the front and the bay windows when the house was sold and renovated in 1917 after the Dominicans moved into the newly built Vicariate further up Church Street. Between 1996 and 2001, the property was fully renovated to an exceptional standard and has become the jewel of St. George?s Town, topping the Government?s list of official historic buildings. This gingerbread-style house remains quite unique to St. George?s Town and Grenada.

When the Grenada National Trust was approached about the possibility of managing this historic treasure, it jumped at the opportunity. The GNT is presently in negotiations with the owners of the Priory, Mrs. Pratizia and Mr. Pietro Banas, to develop a management plan for the operation of this property as a national historic building.

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