The Journey of the Trust
December 9, 2008 will mark the 50th year Anniversary of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. In 1958, A.G.S. Coombs, then Minister of Communications and Public Works, introduced in the House of Representatives a Bill to make provision for the preservation of monuments, sites and objects of historic interest and of national importance.
The Rt. Excellent Norman Washington Manley, who was Premier at the time of the introduction of the Bill, spoke of the importance of the Jamaican people having a sense of history in order to move forward the process of nation building.
Noting that "West Indian history is a modern thing ..." Mr. Manley observed that "tradition is something which we have to foster and create and its development is a deliberate act of intelligence ... It is one of the most powerful forces in the development of the character of the people ..." he noted.. Manley also believed that it was vital to the national spirit and could contribute to the creation of a unifying force, "a force that makes the people one without which no people can ever hope to be great in history."
Over the years, the Trust has worked to carry out its mandate of declaring, preserving, maintaining, and promoting the cultural heritage resources of Jamaica. The institution has grown over the years and with the growth came new responsibilities. In 1985, a new law was passed which changed the name from the National Trust Commission to the Jamaica National Heritage Trust and enlarged its functions.
There was also growth in staff moving from a small skeleton staff working out of the Institute of Jamaica, to a statutory body with a compliment of 118 staff members working in five divisions. The Trust carries out its mission through various divisions. These include: Heritage Protection, Research and Information, Communications; Archaeology; Estate Management and Business Development; Corporate Services.
The Trust currently has over two hundred (200) Declared Heritage Sites. In addition there are towns which have been protected such as Spanish Town, Falmouth, Port Royal, Black River and the Titchfield Peninsula in Portland. Many of the declared sites include churches, public buildings, great houses, water-wheels, forts, mills, aqueducts, archaeological sites, cemeteries, caves, clock towers, bridges, court houses, battle sites, mineral baths, statues and monuments, ruins and natural beauty spots.
Seventeen years after the Jamaica National Trust Commission was established, there was the creation of an Archaeology Division. This division has uncovered a wealth of historical treasures. There are over two million pieces of material that were recovered from several excavations. With proper identification and conservation, they have and will continue to constitute the basis for empirical research and publication of findings. The Trust has formed partnerships with private sector companies to lease and restore heritage sites as places of attraction and pleasure for the Jamaican people.
In addition there is the Trust's development of the Seville Heritage Park, and birthplace of National Hero the Rt. Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante at Blenheim, Hanover and a Visitors’ Room at Stony Gut, St. Thomas dedicated to the memory of National Hero the Rt. Excellent Paul Bogle, as heritage tourism attractions and education centres. As part of its public education strategy, the Trust has also done various storyboards, exhibitions and publications. The major publications being Jamaica’s Journey to Independence’, ‘The Right to Vote’ and the translated version of ‘Spanish Jamaica’ the latter being in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain.
These are but a few examples of the work that the Trust has pursued since 1958 in an effort to carry out its Mission: To inspire a sense of national pride through the promotion, preservation and development of our material cultural heritage, utilising a highly motivated and qualified team in conjunction with all our partners. The Jamaica National Heritage Trust currently falls under the Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth & Sports (MICYS).
