• Latest
Restoration of Fort George

Response to Old Buildings

5 years ago
Entertainers fully vaxxed and ready to perform at Sandals Grenada

Entertainers fully vaxxed and ready to perform at Sandals Grenada

2 hours ago
Senator identifies finance as major shortcoming for sectors he represents

St Clair: MNIB resuming exporting of produce is good news 

2 hours ago
Working together for growth & development

Working together for growth & development

7 hours ago
Government says “no physical altercation” between journalist and junior minister

Collaborate with NaDMA for Covid-19 compliant relief effort

19 hours ago
Securing Economic Integration: The importance of intraregional trade

Guidance for processing incoming persons from St Vincent

19 hours ago
Ridge to Reef and MNIB launch Pest Management Project

MNIB resumes exporting; Increased inquiries from Barbados

22 hours ago
Environmentalists unconvinced over Levera no-encroachment claim

Levera Project holding community consultations

23 hours ago
SGU and Government of Grenada establish diagnostic testing facilities

SGU reopening; mandatory vaccination for all on campus

24 hours ago
Finding a way forward

Finding a way forward

1 day ago
SGU Receives Equity Investment

In-person learning on SGU True Blue campus for August term

1 day ago
SAMS lends support to government vaccination drive

SAMS lends support to government vaccination drive

1 day ago
Grenada welcomes UN plans to strengthen coordination of development assistance

Grenada welcomes UN plans to strengthen coordination of development assistance

1 day ago
NOW Grenada

Main Header Ad 468x60

booked.net
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
NOW Grenada
No Result
View All Result

Article Header

Response to Old Buildings

This story was posted 5 years ago
4 January 2016
in OPINION/COMMENTARY
2 min. read
Aerial view of Fort George pre-Ivan
Share

Response to the reaction of a reported statement made by the Minister of Works, The Honourable Gregory Bowen concerning the existence of Old Buildings in St George’s.

I write in my capacity as a member of The Council of The Grenada National Trust. However, the views expressed here in no way represent the views or policies of the Grenada National Trust. Readers interested in the views and policies of The Trust are encouraged to visit its website at grenadanationaltrust.org.

The report claims that the Minister said that “there too many old buildings in St. Georges” and wondered what could or might be done about the situation.

I agree with the Minister. There are indeed too many old dilapidated and dangerous buildings, not only in St George’s, but throughout the State. Many of these buildings are not only dangerous, they are an eyesore, they are a breeding ground for vermin and they pose a serious threat to the Health and Safety of citizens and visitors alike.

However, to conflate the demolition of some of these with the destruction of our Heritage is muddle-headed and wrong. Not every old building should be preserved nor should every old building be destroyed. What we urgently need is clearly defined and effectively enforced regulations concerning the status and management of these buildings. We also need much more than that.

In 1967, a group of concerned citizens were able to persuade the Government of the day to enact legislation for this very purpose. Ordnance No 20 of 1967 established The Grenada National Trust with a mandate to Preserve and Protect Grenada’s Heritage. What we did not have at the time was the necessary and appropriate legislation to carry out its mandate effectively. As a consequence, the country has lost forever a large number of very important and irreplaceable Heritage assets.

A great number of the Great Plantation Houses have disappeared forever, while our neighbouring islands have not only preserved theirs, but today use them as major income bearing assets in the Tourism business.

Areas of our national parks are constantly being vandalized with questionable and vulgar activities in the name of tourism with scant regard to the aesthetic impact on the local environment or existing legislation.

Irreplaceable artefacts from earlier periods of settlements of these islands have been openly plundered, often it is believed with the acquiescence of those charged with the responsibility of protecting them.

Protesting and having photographs taken of old buildings, even writing letters to the news media is and could never be sufficient. The Grenada National Trust has made, is making and will continue to make representation to The Government for the enactment of urgently needed and appropriate legislation to enable it and other heritage agencies to intervene to Preserve and Protect our Valuable and rapidly Disappearing Heritage for the benefit and education of our people and future generations.

Newton Alexander
St Patrick

NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.

Tags: gregory bowengrenada national trustheritagehistorynewton alexandertourism
Next Post
ECTEL’s Number Portability Policy for Public Comments

ECTEL’s Number Portability Policy for Public Comments

Home Sidebar NP 300x250

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved. Published by Aqua Design Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Copyright NOW Grenada

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

NOW Grenada
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.