Elizabeth Morgan | Integrating Jamaica’s historical heritage into tourism before it’s too late

Jamaica’s historical heritage is about all of us, and preserving it is for all of us – the good, bad and ugly of it. As Marcus Garvey is often quoted, “A people without knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” Thus it should be integrated into our tourism product, telling our story.

Tourism is today Jamaica’s main export industry earning foreign exchange. In 2023, Jamaica had a record four million visitors and earnings of US$4.3 billion. It is reported that historical tourism is a vital part of global tourism. One does not get the impression that the history of Jamaica is actually viewed as an important part of the country’s heritage and of its tourism product, despite what is said by politicians.

NEGLECT AND DESTRUCTION OF HISTORICAL SITES

It seems that with increasing regularity, we learn of the demise, or poor state, of maintenance/disrepair of historical sites/monuments across Jamaica – the destruction by fire of 18th- and 19th-century courthouses, great houses and railway stations; the collapsed ceiling in the 1881 Falmouth Town Hall; the dilapidated state of Vale Royal; garbage pile-up in the non-functioning 1887 cast-iron fountain in Savanna-la-Mar square; and mould in the 1840 Lucea town hall.

Other buildings are infested with termites and are gradually falling apart. Some are just being allowed to be pilfered and demolished, whether declared or not. I do not need to mention the sorry state of the town squares in Montego Bay, Black River, Falmouth and Spanish Town.

This slide into ruin is happening in every parish of Jamaica. Sites/museums are also not properly managed, with some closed to the public.

What have government ministers said about heritage tourism?

MINISTER OF CULTURE, GENDER, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORT

In September 2018, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange said that “Jamaica is strongly focused on establishing a National Register of Cultural Heritage Places and Objects through amendments to the Jamaica National Heritage Act”. Cultural heritage tourism, she said, is valued at US$1 billion globally and is said to be responsible for more than 75 million jobs in the Asia-Pacific region alone. Note that cultural tourism includes historical sites.

In the 2019 Sectoral Debate, Minister Grange informed that there are close to 300 declared national monuments and sites which have been protected, to include historic districts, special communities, archaeological sites, great houses, parks and gardens. The minister further stated that there was a need to become even more proactive in the protection of sites of significance in communities.

In this year’s Sectoral Debate, Minister Grange stated that being deliberate about development, her ministry was moving to amend the Jamaica National Heritage Trust Act to address deficiencies in the framework to respond to changing norms in the area of heritage protection and management, consistent with international trends and best practices.

This, she informed, will serve as a precursor to Jamaica’s intention to ratify the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, and accession to the 1995 International Institute for the Unification of Private Law Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects.

These important development matters, she continued, are aimed at safeguarding our heritage assets. Her ministry had held sensitisation sessions with customs officials in Kingston and Montego Bay on the importance of the conventions for the protection of Jamaica’s heritage assets against illicit transfer and theft.

A concern here is that it seems that Jamaica has not yet fully acceded to two important international conventions dealing with the theft and illegal removal of artifacts from the country. We can imagine that through the years, many important artifacts have been stolen or illegally exported from Jamaica. For example, what happened to the cannons at Fort Haldane in Port Maria?

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

In April, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, addressing the second staging of the Jamaica Youth Tourism Summit at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, was reported as saying that Jamaica must tap into its rich cultural heritage to enhance the tourism product, noting that tourism and culture are intricately intertwined.

A report in Caribbean News and the Telegraph newspaper in February stated that Jamaica would be promoting “dark tourism”, which refers to tourists visiting places marked by historical tragedy. For Jamaica, the history of Britain’s 300-year rule will be explained at the preserved sites – plantation buildings and slave infrastructure. Minister Bartlett was quoted as saying his ministry is working on this with the Ministry of Culture and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.

So, Jamaica is now promoting ‘dark tourism’, as the historic structures continue to decay and collapse, even if they are declared by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.

PM IMPRESSED AND INSPIRED BY INDIAN HERITAGE

During his official visit to India, September 30-October 3, Prime Minister Andrew Holness visited some historical/cultural sites in India.

It is reported that the prime minister described the experience as very enlightening. He had seen how artefacts were carefully preserved for the ongoing education of Indians. The experience caused him to reflect on Jamaica’s rich history and heritage, and on the importance of preserving and passing down such information for future generations. He thought that this was how national pride could be inspired, ensuring that Jamaicans become knowledgeable about their past as a country, and be inspired moving into the future.

Does this mean that Prime Minister Holness will now be acting to ensure that concrete measures are taken to preserve Jamaica’s historical heritage, starting with Vale Royal?

THE OPPOSITION

The Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism and Linkages, Senator Janice Allen, had an article in The Gleaner of Monday, October 21, titled ‘Tourism through My Eyes’. Hopefully, in calling for the diversification of tourism and promoting community tourism, the senator intends this to include historical sites in communities.

Those responsible need to act expeditiously on preserving Jamaica’s historical sites and artefacts for posterity. The history should be properly researched and not be based on myths. Jamaica’s tourism product should include historical/cultural tourism. To quote Nadine Sutherland and Terror Fabulous, what is needed is “action, not a bag a mouth”.

Elizabeth Morgan is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.