Kudos to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College for hosting its first conference on historic-site management.
The public event, which included experts from here and the United States Virgin Islands, tackled an important issue that is often overlooked in this territory. Indeed, many of the VI’s historic sites have been sadly neglected for generations.
Increasingly, however, committed historians and other residents are pushing for change. This month’s conference facilitated interdisciplinary discussion that should help acceleratetheir efforts.
Well-conceived preservation initiatives bring many benefits. Most importantly, perhaps, they provide a physical reminder of the past. This is particularly valuable for a community whose ancestors, most of whom were enslaved Africans and their descendents, are largely absent from any written record.
Historic sites also offer an educational attraction for tourists, who are increasingly looking beyond the proverbial sun, sand and sea offered in so many Caribbean destinations.
We are particularly glad that the conference included speakers from the USVI, which offers many examples of successful preservation initiatives. St. John, for instance, maintains several sites that give visitors a visceral and immediate understanding of the island’s past. Though this territory has a handful of similar projects, it could learn much from its neighbour while working to build on its successes.
Also welcome was news of progress toward the creation of a central registry of historic sites in keeping with the Physical Planning Act of 2004. This step — which would help planners take preservation into account when making development decisions — is badly needed. Given that heritage sites are steadily being destroyed across the territory, we hope that the registry will be completed as soon as possible.
Even then, much more will need to be done. Since current legislation is weak when it comes to preservation, legislators should follow other countries’ example and pass a dedicated law mandating the protection of certain heritage sites. A comprehensive preservation policy is also needed to guide decisions going forward.
Government and most residents seem largely to agree with all of these ideas, but action nevertheless has been slow in coming in spite of the tireless efforts of a few dedicated preservationists.
We hope this month’s conference marks the start of a wider community conversation that will ultimately bring substantive change.
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