BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AT a simple but significant ceremony in the archway of the National Museum, the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) today (May 10) made a hefty donation to the St. Christopher National Trust, geared towards the preservation of the Federation’s Heritage Sites.
SIDF’s Chairman Terrence Crossman handed over a cheque in the amount of EC$100 000 to the President of St. Christopher National Trust, S.W. Tapley Seaton, while stating that one of the Foundation’s missions is to support matters such as those in which the National Trust is engaged.
“The SIDF has been established for the diversification of the national industry from sugar to non-sugar industries. We feel that one of our core missions, in addition to commercial activities, is to support matters like this. We were approached by Mr. Seaton and it was very easy for us to make that decision to proceed and assist the National Trust in what we think is a very worthy and worthwhile effort,” Crossman said.
Seaton thanked the SIDF, noting that the National Trust had made a proposal to the SIDF for the establishment of a Heritage Site Management Unit.
“We had put in a proposal to the SIDF, which totalled $700 000, for the establishment of a Heritage Site Management Unit. We have four heritage sites which are vested in the National Trust: Spooners Ginnery; Mansion; out of Bloody Point – the Carib Petroglyphs; and Belmont Estate as a sugar museum. We want to develop those sites so we could have some heritage management and preserve our heritage assets. This is the purpose of the proposal and we certainly are appreciative of this contribution, as it will start us off in this quest to protect our heritage assets,” Seaton said.
He continued: “We see our heritage assets deteriorating around us and we know that the heritage tourism can be very strong in terms of one of the elements of tourism promotion. Additionally, we need to be conscious of our heritage and that is why the St. Christopher National Trust had been established...we are extremely grateful to the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation for this very timely presentation.”
Seaton told SKNVibes that the money would be used to delineate the boundaries of the heritage sites.
Formerly known as the St. Christopher Heritage Society, the St. Christopher National Trust is a national, non-governmental, voluntary organisation established in 2009, whose mission is to preserve and promote the natural, historical, ecological and cultural heritage of St. Kitts.
