Tobago’s green spaces may be hiding pieces of the island’s history,
However, very little is documented and too often, when it is discovered, it is discarded or even destroyed.
To help address this, the Tobago Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme on Thursday signed a MOU with the Tobago Conservation Heritage Society aimed at preserving historical artefacts discovered on lands under the purview of the Tobago House of Assembly.
It is common for areas such as the Botanical Gardens, under the purview of the Tobago Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme, to contain historical artefacts.
Knowing what to do about it is a challenge.
Together with the Tobago Conservation Heritage Society, they hope to change just that.
Tobago Reforestation Chairman, Sean Mc Coon says the MOU will provide training to workers so they can recognise artefacts and respond appropriately when discoveries are made.
“For our cadres of workers in identifying what antiquities are if they stumble upon something, when they find something out in the natural environment, how to respond, how to care for it how to document those items.”
The Tobago Conservation Heritage Society will also assist with research and documentation, working alongside the Department of Antiquities to ensure discoveries contribute to Tobago’s heritage tourism product.
The first of these projects would be developing the cocoa house in Charlotteville.
“Which is used for natural treasures day during the Tobago heritage festival to have all year round maintenance, upkeep, and you know just general landscaping control.”
For Director of the Department of Antiquities, Abby Taylor, the project is particularly significant since much of Tobago’s cocoa history has been lost over time.
“We don’t really have the history of our cocoa industry and that played a major role in Tobago’s history and how much it contributed to the economics and the economic growth of Tobago.”
According to Head of the Tobago Conservation Heritage Society, Gabrielle de Gaetano, Tobago accounted for as much as 20% of national cocoa production when Trinidad and Tobago was the world’s third-largest cocoa producer in the early 20th century.
“The production that was done in Charlotteville was very significant… the quality of cocoa. and that area that Abby has identified, its an area adjacent to the cocoa house which has already been 90% restoration.”
In addition, the partnership will focus on preserving and enhancing sites including the Scarborough Botanical Gardens, Courland Heritage Park and several tourism assets managed under the Tobago Eco-Stewardship Programme.