Heritage Tourism boosted by SIDF donation

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 10, 2011 (SKNIS): Heritage Tourism in St. Kitts stands to benefit from a donation of EC $100,000.00 made by the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) on Tuesday (May 10).

Chairman of the St. Christopher National Trust (SCNT) S.W. Tapley Seaton Q.C. accepted the cheque at a brief ceremony under the archway of the National Museum on the Bay Road and noted that the organization was working towards establishing a Heritage Site Management Unit which will oversee affairs at historical venues including the Spooners Ginnery, Mansion, Bloody Point and Belmont Estate.

“We want to develop those sites so that we can have some heritage management in order to preserve our heritage assets,” Mr. Seaton stressed, while revealing that the associated cost will total approximately $700,000.00. “We certainly are appreciative of this contribution as it starts us off in this quest to protect our heritage assets.”

In donating the cheque, Chairman Terrence Crossman expressed pleasure in assisting the initiative as one of the mandates of SIDF is to support commercial activities and related areas that contribute to the overall diversification of the economy.

The St. Christopher National Trust formally began operations in October 2010, replacing what was known as the St. Christopher Heritage Society – an organization which existed for more than 20 years. Chairman Seaton urged nationals to become more involved in protecting and promoting local heritage.

“We certainly would like to encourage [the SIDF] to make this donation not the last one but certainly we hope it is the first of many to come. We welcome other persons to come onboard and assist us with heritage preservation,” he stated.