Edward Rutherfoord Dear Trevor Burrowes, I hope your meeting with Peregrine Bryant goes well. Hopefully the experience will mirror the influence the Georgian Group had on Jamaican heritage back in the 1950s!
Having spent some time in the Caribbean (I'm a conservation architect in the UK) I have always been very interested in the difficulties of enabling coordination between the various parties that have an interest in Caribbean heritage. It seems there has seldom been any long lasting joined up thinking in the region when it comes to heritage. Whether on the islands themselves, or on a trans-Atlantic basis between the Caribbean and European states. The UK and the EU really should take a more serious interest in this matter especially when considering their own international development agendas.
In the face of decay, and hasty development, the timely and accurate recording of buildings and sites (by mean of drawings and photographs) is absolutely vital. The safe archiving of such records and making them accessible is equally important.
Local heritage organisations could have their capacity reinforced by direct targeted assistance from former colonial powers. In the case of Jamaica and other BWI dependencies this would of course come from the UK and the EU cultural departments in recognition of the shared nature of the heritage and the wider economic benefits heritage preservation can bring.
Developers for major developments could be required to carry out environmental impact assessments covering ecological and heritage issues before permits are granted. How many pre-Columbian or early Colonial archaeological sites have been wrecked by bulldosers to make way for modern developments?
It seems that, nowadays, with the internet providing better means of communication of ideas, there is more potential to make things happen today than, say, 10 years ago?
Having spent some time in the Caribbean (I'm a conservation architect in the UK) I have always been very interested in the difficulties of enabling coordination between the various parties that have an interest in Caribbean heritage. It seems there has seldom been any long lasting joined up thinking in the region when it comes to heritage. Whether on the islands themselves, or on a trans-Atlantic basis between the Caribbean and European states. The UK and the EU really should take a more serious interest in this matter especially when considering their own international development agendas.
In the face of decay, and hasty development, the timely and accurate recording of buildings and sites (by mean of drawings and photographs) is absolutely vital. The safe archiving of such records and making them accessible is equally important.
Local heritage organisations could have their capacity reinforced by direct targeted assistance from former colonial powers. In the case of Jamaica and other BWI dependencies this would of course come from the UK and the EU cultural departments in recognition of the shared nature of the heritage and the wider economic benefits heritage preservation can bring.
Developers for major developments could be required to carry out environmental impact assessments covering ecological and heritage issues before permits are granted. How many pre-Columbian or early Colonial archaeological sites have been wrecked by bulldosers to make way for modern developments?
It seems that, nowadays, with the internet providing better means of communication of ideas, there is more potential to make things happen today than, say, 10 years ago?
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment