Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698843266290.pdf (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
HERITAGE MATTERS : Using Modern Technology to Map the Past 2 3 4 5 From the Desk of the Executive Director National Trust Financial Statement (2015) Meet the National Trust’s Newly Elected Executive Members Trust Pleased as Government Signals Commitment to Historical Conservation 6-7 8 8 9 10 10 Rave Reviews for Heritage House Children’s Storytelling Series National Museum to Exhibit 200 Year Old Slave Registry Historic Site Threatened by Illegal Dumping!
Post-Irma Visit to Vested Heritage Sites Journey Back in Time Scenic Railway Tour Brimstone Hill Fortress Hosts 20th Annual Emancipation Concert Basseterre Burning 11 A Fond Farewell Summer at the Museum 12 12 Minute details of the millennia-old Stone Fort Petroglyphs have been captured in 3-D images using a process called photogrammetry.

The images are created from multiple photographs.


"All that's required to create them are some high resolution photographs taken from different angles, 20 to 30 photographs per model," said Glasgow Caledonian University lecturer Edie Horn, who visited St. Kitts this summer as a guest of the National Trust.

The Stone Fort ravine is the site of the 17th century Blood River Massacre and home to some of only a handful of Amerindian Petroglyphs in the English-speaking Caribbean.
The river and the ravine are believed to have had religious significance to the Kalinago people who inhabited the island when the British arrived in the 1620s.

A survey at the end of the 20th century identified 115 petroglyphs on the walls of Stone Fort Canyon, some of which have been damaged by modern-day painters.

Even as the National Trust explores measures to protect the ravine and its fragile ancient art, it is cognizant of the need to document the site in as much detail as possible.
"I think this will provide a fairly good solution for preserving a digital archive of the carvings," Mr. Horn explained.

While on island to scan the Berkley Memorial in Basseterre for another project, Horn and fellow GCU lecturer Stevie Anderson offered to scan one of the heritage sites vested in the National Trust.

The age, size and vulnerability of the Stone Fort Petroglyphs made them a prime candidate for the kind of detailed imaging documentation provided by photogrammetry.
"This [process] provides good results without the need for expensive laser scanning equipment.

Obviously this process could be used on other sites/artefacts in the future," Mr. Horn said.

The Stone Fort Petroglyphs are susceptible to damage by both nature and human activity.

Besides the painters, the sandstone is subject to erosion from the elements.

Historians theorize that the carvings were made during the Saladoid period, which lasted roughly from 545 B.C.
to 545 A.D. P A G E 2 FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR On behalf of the staff and volunteers I extend a very warm welcome to our newly elected Executive Officers on the Board of Directors and congratulate them on the very bold step that they took to be part of this auspicious organisation and accepting the challenge to take the Trust to the next level.
At our 6th Annual General Meeting held on August 10th, the membership re- elected Schneidman Warner as our President, Alfonso O’Garro as our Vice President, Deniece Alleyne as our Honourary Secretary, Carol Phillips as our Honourary Treasurer and Livingston Huggins as one of our Nominated Members.
Our full Board of Directors will consist of two appointed nominated members, and representatives from the Ministries of Tourism, Culture, Sustainable and Education, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society.

For the first time since the Trust has been established, the membership were provided with a set of Rules and Regulations that will guide the affairs of the Organisation.

The Rules were accepted and approved with some minor amendments.
Members will be able to have copies of these Rules and Regulations once they have been signed by the Honourable Prime Minister and Gazetted.

The Trust has had a very challenging yet rewarding year so far.

We have been actively pursing funding for the restoration of our home the iconic “Old Treasury” building.

Our Building and Sites Committee has joined with Engineering and Architectural experts from the Public Works Department to finalize on the plans for the renovation work.
In the mean time we have to continue to protect citizens from falling masonry by returning the protective boards around the building.

This protective barrier will remain in place until renovation work is completed.

The Trust has also began to focus on doing restoration work at three of our vested sites, namely: Stone Fort in Challengers, Charles Fort in Sandy Point and the Cotton Ginnery in Cayon in preparation to have them accessible to visitors for tours and other events.
The Trust is very encouraged by these developments but as we begin to focus on these major projects we are mindful that we need financial support and we are therefore appealing to our members and the corporate community to give heed to our financial needs.

The Trust will need approximately 2.5 million EC Dollars to fund the restoration work of the old Treasury building and the development and renovation plans of the three vested sites.
The work of the Trust has been and continues to be of national importance.

As our country begins to shift its focus from the main stream tourist attractions of sun, sea and sand and more towards heritage tourism, the Trust and our partners in Tourism must position ourselves to distinguish our product offerings from those of our neighbours.

“Our Heritage Belongs to All of Us” is the motto of the Trust and it is a motto that needs to be resonated by every citizen of this fair land of ours.
We are committed to protecting, promoting and preserving our history and heritage for the benefit of generations to come.

We seek your support in helping us achieve this goal.
Ryllis Percival Executive Director St. Christopher National Trust P A G E 3 NATIONAL TRUST FINANCIAL STATEMENT (2015) NATIONAL TRUST FINANCIAL STATEMENT (2015) NATIONAL TRUST FINANCIAL STATEMENT (2015) P A G E 6 Meet the National Trust’s Newly Elected Executive Board Members PRESIDENT, SCHNEIDMAN WARNER: This is Mr. Warner’s second term as President of the St. Christopher National Trust.

He began his first term in 2013.


At the organization’s Annual General Meeting on August 10th, he accepted the nomination for the post of President and was re-elected to the position.

Mr. Warner, who works in the Financial Services Sector, has a keen interest in history and has served on the Board of both the Trust and its precursor, the St. Christopher Heritage Society.

He is also a member of Council of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society.
VICE PRESIDENT, AL O’GARRO: Mr. O'Garro is a Kittitian entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience mainly in the ‘Travel Retail’ sector.

He has served in Senior Management and Marketing positions at two of our leading business firms in the Federation, TDC and Delisle Walwyn.

Mr. O'Garro served as Chairman of the Board of the St Christopher Tourism Authority during a period of significant growth and development of the Tourism industry.
He holds a Master's Degree in Project Management from the University of Liverpool and is a graduate of the UWI school of Management Studies.

Mr. O'Garro has a passion for our intangible cultural heritage and has attributed his interest in heritage and culture to his close friendship with late Sir Probyn Inniss who encouraged him to become a member of the St Christopher National Trust.

HONOURARY SECRETARY, DENIECE ALLEYNE: Deniece Alleyne is a partner and co– founder of HazelAlleyne Law Office.
She obtained an LL.B with a minor in Forensic Science from Staffordshire University in the United Kingdom in 2005 and the Legal Education Certificate from Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica in 2013.

MEMBER, LIVINGSTON HUGGINS: Livingston Huggins, is the founder of the popular St. Kitts and Nevis historical reference site, Buckleys Boyz.
He founded the site over a decade ago when assisting youth from the Buckley's area with homework, he became frustrated by the lack of easily accessible information about the country's history.

She is passionate about civic engagement and in addition to her new position on the Board of the National Trust, currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis.
She has also served on the UNESCO Slave Route Committee and the Executive Committee of Alliance Française of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Mr. Huggins, who has worked in commercial printing for nearly 35 years, is a huge sports enthusiast, a devout Seventh Day Adventist, a social activist, and an avid photographer.

A lover of nature, he enjoys hiking and has taken most of the hiking trails and visited almost all historical sites in both St. Kitts and Nevis.
HONOURARY TREASURER, CAROL PHILLIPS: Carol Phillips has been a member of the St Christopher National Trust and its precursor the St Christopher Heritage Society since 2006.

She has also been a member of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society for over a decade and is now a member of its Council.

Ms Phillips is the Immediate Past President the Rotary Club of Liamuiga and is a Paul Harris Fellow.
She is a member of a number of organizations including the Jamaican Kittitian Nevisian Association, the Judges Coordinator on the Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant Committee and the Media Liaison & Chair of Media Committee of the St. Kitts Cricket Association Local Organizing Committee.
Ms Phillips, who works in the fields of finance and accounting, and administration and management., holds a Masters of Science Degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies with Honours from the University of the West Indies.

Mr. Huggins particularly enjoys documenting estate ruins and has photographed over forty-four such sites in the Federation.

In 2014 he was named Rekindling our Kittivisian Pride's Unsung Hero.
He is a member of The St. Kitts National Men's Council and a NEMA volunteer.

BECOME A MEMBER!

Help support the work of the National Trust by becoming a Member.

Members become advocates for the protection of our history and heritage.

They also get free admission to the museum and use of our Documentation Centre; our news sheet and news letter, discounts in the Gift Shop and special member rates for all our events.
Call (869) 465-5584 or email info@stchristophernationaltrust.kn P A G E 5 Trust Pleased as Government Signals Commitment to Historical Conservation The National Trust welcomes the news that the Government is working toward nominating a male and/or female enslaved person for due recognition as a national hero of the Federation.

National Trust Executive Director Ryllis Percival "The National Trust stands ready to assist with any initiative to that end," says Executive Director Ryllis Percival.
Prime Minister Dr.

The Honourable Timothy Harris, during his Heroes Day address on September 16th, indicated that his administration was looking to partner with the St. Christopher National Trust and Museum to invite citizens, especially youth, to undertake necessary research to make nominations.

"We see the foregoing as likely to ensure that all of the citizens can recognize the outstanding contribution of our fellowmen and women upon whose shoulders we now stand in 2017.
We must recognize these contributors over all of the years," the Prime Minister said.

Ms Percival said that the Trust was pleased with the government's focus on the country's history and heritage.

"Our task to preserve and protect our heritage is often daunting.

Throughout the region, sourcing funding for natural and historical conservation projects is becoming increasingly more difficult.
Here at the St. Christopher National Trust, even as we shoulder the responsibility for the administration of a number of heritage sites, we are struggling to find financing to carry out much-needed restoration work on our own building."

The iconic old Treasury Building that houses the National Trust is in dire need of repair.
“The whole building needs some preventative maintenance,” Othneil Heyliger, Chairman of the National Trust’s Building and Sites Advisory Committee said recently, while emphasizing that the roof is the priority.

Ms. Percival sees the Prime Minister's Heroes Day presentation as a signal that heritage conservation and education is moving up the government's list of priorities.
In addition to his announcement about identifying enslaved persons for recognition, Dr. Harris also indicated that government would explore how the Buckley's Uprising and the site itself could be properly acknowledged for their important role in the nation's history.

"Last year, we put to you the need to look at the pantheon of National Heroes and to see whether we could expand the list.
At that time during my address to observe National Heroes Day, I pointed to the Buckley’s Riots of 1935, the seminal action of the Moyne Commission, which would follow, and how it established some guiding principles for the empower-ment of an emancipated people in the British West Indies," the Prime Minister told the National Trust Building St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr.

The Honourable Timothy Harris gathering at the Heroes National Park.
"During the course of those Riots, three persons sacrificed their lives: Joseph Samuel, John Allen and James Archibald.

Nine others were injured, including two women in Olive Allen and Virginia Greaux," he said.

Buckley’s Uprising (1935) "The question now is, should Buckley’s be declared a National Heritage Site?

Should any among the leaders of the rebellion be declared National Heroes?

Is there a special place for Olive Allen and/or Virginia Greaux among the distinguished pantheon of National Heroes?"
Ms Percival says that the Trust, for its part, is excited about the initiatives raised by the Prime Minister on Heroes Day.

"We look forward to working with the Honourable Prime Minister and the government to preserve and promote the natural, historical, ecological and cultural heritage of the island," she said.

P A G E 6 Rave Reviews for Heritage House Children’s Storytelling Series mornings inside the National Museum, in a room that was transformed into a fun storytelling space.
The Series kicked off with ‘a dramatic presentation by National Trust President Schneidman Warner, ‘I am Kalinago,’ the tale of an Amerindian boy who observes and describes the arrival of the first Europeans to the island.

Complied by Director of the National Archives Schneidman Warner kicked things off with ‘I am Kalinago’ read a story for them," he said, adding that he couldn't help smiling just thinking about the children's reactions when meeting him again.
"I do look forward to participating next year," he said.

On July 29th the Series took the bold step of opening up the sensitive subject of enslavement.

Attorney and arts enthusiast Jihan Williams presented a first person story about 'Priscilla,' an enslaved woman brought to St. Kitts from Africa in the late nineteenth century.

She lived at Shadwell Estate until the age of 102.


The story was compiled Mrs. O'Flaherty from information available about Priscilla and based on our understanding of life on the estates at the time that she lived.

Ms Williams (an attorney, a writer and an arts enthusiast) adapted it to language that is appropriate for children.
Jihan Williams enacts the story of enslaved woman Priscilla Enslavement is a complex and important subject and the National Trust is ever grateful to Ms. Williams for her thoughtful and candid handling of it.

The children were incredibly responsive, both during the telling of Priscilla's story and the discussion afterwards.
The following week Veterinarian Dr. Kimberley Stewart of the Sea Turtle Monitoring Network and Marine Biologist Tricia Greaux, Habitat Monitoring Officer at the Department of Marine Resources, teamed up for ‘Sea Talk.’ "Dr. Kimberley" spoke about the endangered turtles that nest on beaches in St. Kitts, and told a story about a turtle who accidentally ate plastic and got very sick.
Then 'Auntie Tricia' told the children all about the beautiful, yet destructive lionfish and discussed with them all of the ways we can help keep their population under control.

Victoria O’Flaherty, Mr. Warner brought the story to life engaging the children with probing questions about their thoughts of what it might be like to have lived in St. Kitts at that time.
The following week saw Entrepreneur Troy "Uncle Spuddy" Hendrickson, sharing Heidi Fagerberg's account of real life 'friends' Oliver the monkey and Lionpaw the dog, who live together at Reggae Beach.

As the unlikely duo live on a beach, the story was followed by an animated discussion with the children about environmental conservation.

The Series saw its largest turnout om the third weekend (July 22nd) when the guest storyteller was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Shawn Richards.
He shared a story by Carol Ottley-Mitchell, Chee Chee the Monkey in Paradise.

Much to the children's delight, the Minister paused several times during the tale to ask for their opinion of Chee Chee's decisions and get their feedback on how they would handle similar situations.

He also chatted with them about school and asked what additional subjects or activities they would like to see added to the curriculum.
"Since, my participation I have met quite a number of the kids," the Deputy Prime Minister later told the Trust.
Deputy PM The Honourable Shawn Richards Chats with the children after story time "It's such a good feeling to have them run to me and give me a hug and say to their parents that I Troy Hendrickson with the children and some parents The sound of children’s voices raised in song filled the air at the National Museum on a sunny Saturday morning in late August, as the curtains came down on the National Trust's inaugural Dasani-Harper’s Heritage House Storytelling Series.
That morning (August 26th) musician, composer, poet and performance artist Creighton "Papa George" Pencheon regaled the children with the tale of Markus King of the Woods, an African enslaved man who escaped captivity from Cunningham Estate in the 19th century.

Markus led a band of some 30 other maroons who roamed the high forested areas of St. Kitts in the 1830s, raiding plantations for food, animals and firearms.
Creating their own story Creighton “Papa George” Pencheon teaches the children folk tales Papa George captivated the children with his recounting of Markus' story.

He sang folk songs, and taught them an old Negro spiritual and a song that he has composed about Markus.

The inaugural Heritage House Series, which got underway on July 8th, was a huge success.

All sessions were booked to capacity and the feedback from parents and children was exceptionally positive.
A total of 76 children attended the Series, and volunteers are already coming forward to serve as storytellers for next summer.

Meanwhile, the Trust is making plans to hold other activities for children during the school year.

Designed for children aged 6-12 years old, the Heritage House series was hosted on Saturday P A G E 7 Ferocious lionfish!

The children then took part in a dance presentation that told the story of the lionfish!
There was lots of laughter and quite a bit of shrieking, and a good time was had by everyone.

The children were exceptionally engaged and asked a lot of well- considered questions.

Dolphins, tigers, monkey, turtles, sea princesses, litter bugs and Darth Vader all made appearances at the August 12th session of the Heritage House.

They all came out of the imaginations of the children, who broke up into groups to create their own story!
Early Childhood Education Specialist 'Auntie Jaya' (Relwani) and her team of scribes, guided the children through the creative process to come up with their own story which they then presented.

There was acting, an attempt at dancing and even guitar playing, accompanied by lots and lots of laughter.

On the penultimate week of the Series, we were honoured to have the new Director of Government House Mrs. Charisse Gumbs as our storyteller.
Mrs. Gumbs filled in for the Governor General who was recovering from a minor illness.

She shared the story of Betto Douglas, a woman who was enslaved in St. Kitts on the estate owned by the Earl of Romney.

In the 1820s at the age 52, she attempted through a court challenge, to obtain her freedom.

Previous reader Jihan Williams sat in on the session and helped out by explaining some of the intricacies of the court system.
The story lead to an interesting discussion about societal structure, privilege, colourism and morality.

The children as ever, were both engaged and engaging.

support of a number of partners.

Special mention must be made of Mr. Maurice Widdowson from Caribelle Batik, who came forward and pledged to pay the registration cost for the first two weeks of the Heritage House.

"I think it is a marvelous initiative," said Mr. Widdowson of the series.
There was a $10 registration fee to cover the cost of supplies and a party on the last Saturday, but Mr. Widdowson said he was concerned that the fee would make it out of reach for some parents.

“There may well be several single mums to whom $10 per session is a tough option…I just want all children to have the opportunity to attend.

I hope that other companies will come forward and sponsor a future session,” Mr. Widdowson told the Trust.
Maurice Widdowson “I think a lot of our children don’t read books anymore and perhaps parents don’t have time to read to their children anymore.

I just want all children to have the opportunity to attend.

I hope that other companies will come forward and sponsor a future session,” Widdowson said.

His generous gesture caught the public's attention, and within the space of a few days, we had enough pledges to cover the cost of all eight weeks of the Series.
The Trust extends its profound thanks to Dasani Water (Agents: Koscab St. Kitts and Nevis) and Harpers Office Depot and all of its other partners Caribelle Batik, Caribbean Journey Masters, Caribbean Reads, the Department of Youth Empowerment, Gary's Fruits Flowers and the Social Security Board along with a number of private patrons The Trust also thanks the wonderful readers who so readily and enthusiastically gave of their time.
Deepest appreciation is also extended to the Director of Youth Empowerment Pierre Liburd and Document and Research Specialist at session with the Deputy Prime Minister.

The National Trust also offers its thanks to the parents, godparents, family and friends who signed up the children and brought them each week.
The real stars of course, were the children Dr. Kimberly and Tricia Greaux pose for pictures after a energetic session of ‘Sea Talk’ whose energy and enthusiasm filled the Heritage House every Saturday morning.

Of course, we have to mention our volunteers who eagerly assisted before, during and after the Series.

Heritage House could not have been the success it was without them.

Thank you to: Haneesha and Jagruti Relwani, Josias Rosa, Whitnie Collins and Zidane Knight..
The St. Christopher National Trust is ever grateful to those who have supported our events and made donations to the Trust and Museum over the past few months.
Thank you for partnering with us: Caribbean Journey Masters Caribbean Reads Caribelle Batik/Maurice Widdowson The Craft House The Department of Youth Empowerment Bruno Gardien First Class Jewelry Flow Gary’s Fruits & Flowers Harper’s Office Depot Connie Jaynes Koscab St. Kitts Ltd The National Archives O. D. Brisbane & Sons Susan Owen Public Works Department Island Bakeries Sensational The St. Christopher & Nevis Social Security Board TDC Charisse Gumbs talks with the children about slavery, privilege and colourism The National Trust has been able to offer the Heritage House Series free of cost thanks to the the Department of Culture Marlene Phillips who designed and helped build the Heritage House.
Ms Phillips also served as a videographer for the Jaya Relwani encourages the children to explore their imaginations P A G E 8 National Museum to Exhibit 200 Year Old Slave Registry Plans are underway to exhibit a 200- year old registry of enslaved persons living on St. Kitts.

The St. Christopher National Trust is collaborating with the National Archives to work out the logistics of mounting the limited-time exhibition of this historic document at the National Museum.
The 1817 registration was the first time that the enslaved people on St. Kitts were completely listed.

Their names, ethnicity and the estate on which they lived, are also documented © National Archives, St. Kitts - Register slaves St. Christopher Original Register of Slaves, St. Christopher Director of the National Archives Victoria O'Flaherty explains that with the Slave Trade abolished in 1807, the first registry was compiled to ensure that enslaved persons were not being smuggled into the island.
“In St. Kitts, the first one was in 1817.

Following that, it was triennial – almost – there are some gaps up to 1834, when Emancipation came into effect and the former enslaved became apprentices,” Mrs. O'Flaherty says.

Over 20,000 names are recorded in the register, the pages of which are still in reasonably good condition.

Proceeds from the exhibit and other events will be used toward the cost of restoring the deteriorating, leather-binding of the Registry.
The majority of persons listed in the 1817 Registry were Creole (born in the Americas) with about 3200 registered as being born in Africa; of those, 2886 entries record specific ethnic/regional information.

The 200-year old Registry has been included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Project, which is a listing of critical documentary heritage from around the globe.
“The listing of the registry is important for a number of reasons, mainly because it will help us get conservation funding to have the Registry restored and also because it is a critical document in the history of St. Kitts," Mrs. O’Flaherty says.

The Trans-Atlantic slave trade is a sensitive subject globally for many reasons, including issues of race, morality, ethics, identity, underdevelopment and reparations.

Historic Site Threatened by Illegal Dumping!


The National Trust leapt into action earlier this month, after being contacted by a long-time member about the historic Fort Thomas being used as an illegal dump site.

"Just took this to show you the state of affairs at what should be hallowed grounds really," was the message that accompanied a video of the area, sent to the Trust by Tour Operator and environmental conservation advocate, Greg Pereira.
"Please let me know how I can help stop this," he said, indicating that he had reported the matter to the Solid Waste Management Corporation.

Visiting the area, a Trust representative observed about a dozen bags of garbage strewn down the slope, below the wall of the 17th century fort.

Some bags were ripped open, their contents spilling down the hillside toward the sea.

Nestled among them was a large, industrial-sized air conditioning unit.
The Trust immediately reached out to the SWMC to follow up on Mr. Pereira's report and received a commitment to have a team dispatched to the area the following day.

General Manager Alfonso Bridgewater bemoaned the practice of illegal disposal of waste, saying that the problem seemed to be increasing in St. Kitts.

"We have an epidemic in this country," he stated.

He indicated that the biggest culprits are often business places that are not being vigilant about how and where their waste is being disposed.
They pay haulers to collect garbage and do not follow up to ensure that it is taken, as is required by law, to the landfill at Conaree.

According to Mr. Bridgewater, the private haulers, whether to save time and/or make more money, are opting instead to dispose of garbage in areas that are not-heavily trafficked, like ghaut-sides and cane fields.

He is urging businesses to ask for the receipt for the tipping fees that a hauler is provided with at the landfill.
If illegally dumped garbage is traced back to the business, the business can be fined and is still legally responsible for its removal.

Upon receiving a report of illegal dumping, SWMC personnel sift through the garbage to determine its source.

The person or entity responsible could face a minimum fine of at $500, though Mr. Bridgewater emphasizes that the court has the discretion to slap offenders with significantly higher penalties.
He is appealing to those who observe illegal dumping to report it to the SWMC or the Health Department.

Indiscriminately disposed of garbage is both a threat to the environment and a potential health hazard, Mr. Bridgewater points out.

For his part, Mr. Pereira is hopeful that the matter does not end with the removal of the garbage at Fort Thomas.

"I hope they find the culprits and turn them into an example," he said.
In the 20th century, Fort Thomas became the site for a Holiday Inn Hotel and later the Fort Thomas Hotel, though in recent years it has fallen into disuse.

It is first mentioned in historical documents in 1629 when it was attacked by Spaniards who invaded the island.

At that time it was occupied by the French.

When Fort Thomas (also known as Fort Bluff) was in its heyday, it was armed with eight 24 pound guns facing the sea.

Its elevation at the time was 53 feet above sea level.
It was eventually named Fort Thomas after Sir George Thomas, Governor of the Leeward Islands.

In1734 the fort had two 18lb and six 12lb cannons.

By 1861 it had 12 guns some of which are still on site.
P A G E 9 Vested Sites Post-Irma Visit Following the passage of hurricane Irma on September 5th, the staff of the St. Christopher National Trust and Board Members Carol Phillips and Livingston Huggins, visited the historic sites vested in the Trust to determine if they had sustained any damage from the storm.

While most of the sites have been ravaged by time, the elements and human activity, there was no obvious additional damage caused by Irma’s winds and rain.
The sites visited on September 7th were: Spooners Ginnery; Mansion Estate; Belmont Estate; Charles Fort and Stone Fort.

(Photos courtesy Livingston A. Huggins) Charles Fort Mansion Estate Belmont Estate Spooner’s Ginnery Stone Fort Mansion Estate Belmont Estate Spooner’s Ginnery Mansion Estate Chapel at Charles Fort Belmont Estate Belmont Estate P A G E 1 0 JOURNEY BACK IN TIME SCENIC RAILWAY TOUR UPDATE!!!
The management of the St. Kitts Scenic Railway has graciously offered to re-schedule the Heroes Day Tour that had to be called off on Saturday 16th September 2017, due to mechanical problems.

The Trust will provide further information via Social Media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), on radio and by email about the new date and time, as soon as it is confirmed.

Even though things did not go as planned, we ended up having a great time despite the disappointment.
We had a little fete on the train while we waited to be pulled back to the station, enjoying the delicious, traditional local delicacies, drinks and entertainment by the Railway's chorale group.

We held our grand raffle and our History, Heritage and Trust quiz, giving away some amazing prizes!

We wish to thank all of our very supportive and understanding patrons for their patience and good humour during the lengthy delay and we hope to see you soon on our very exciting Journey Back in Time Scenic Tour.
Thank you to the Scenic Railway for partnering with us and kudos to their staff who really did their best to try to get us on track.

An amazing team!

Of course we would also like to say a huge thank you to all of our sponsors and donors for their generous support!
Brimstone Hill Fortress Hosts 20th Annual Emancipation Concert General Manager of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Percy Hanley has expressed his appreciation to those who attended the 20th annual Brimstone Hill Emancipation Concert/Festival last month (August 13th).

"The Brimstone Hill Society was pleased to once again stage its annual Emancipation Concert/Festival, which is one of our community outreach events," he told the Trust .
"We thank the various artistes who performed and gave the audience a wonderful show.

The turnout was modest as there were other events on that day, but those who came enjoyed a memorable show."
House of Judah Drummers Brimstone Hill GM Percy Hanley The Brimstone Hill Fortress has been hosting its Emancipation concert since 1997 to honour the memory of the nation's ancestors, not only those who were involved in the construction of the fortress, but all who resisted, survived and endured that period of St. Kitts and Nevis' history.
Held this year under the theme "Beating the Drums; A Symbol of Peace, Respect & Freedom," the concert featured a wide repertoire of performers who presented poems, songs, spoken word presentations, skits, dance, drumming, steel drums and calypso.

P A G E 1 1 One hundred and fifty years ago on the night of 3 July 1867 one of the worst fires in St. Kitts destroyed the capital Basseterre and impacted lives of the people living in and around the town.
The fire started in a small uninhabited house in an alley, just behind the western side of the square at about 11.30 p.m. By 7.00 a.m. the following day, it had consumed the town west of the Pall Mall Square.

St. George’s Anglican Church was the last building to collapse.

The Treasury Building, the Court House, Government House and the Moravian and Methodist Churches survived.

The Methodist Church is the only significant building that still predates the fire.
Basseterre Burning is the story of the Fire of 1867 and the reconstruction of the town.

It is a factual telling of the story through eyewitness accounts, newspaper stories, and official records.

The language of these sources is maintained, but a narrator weaves it together into a coherent chronicle full of despair and frustration, enterprise, and resilience that sheds light on how much has changed and how much has stayed the same.

Basseterre changed in the months after the fire.


Streets were widened and straightened so that firemen could reach flaming buildings with little or no delay.

The water supply was improved to ensure that there would not be a repeat of the devastation caused.

Slowly but surely the town was rebuilt and returned to business as usual despite official delays and instances of personal greed.
The reading is designed to show the value of archives to the understanding of our own history and encourage people involved in education to find more creative ways of teaching it.

It has been noted over the years that although, St. Kitts relies heavily on heritage to promote its tourism product, there is a lack of knowledge as it pertains to our own story.

Research suggests that an understanding of where one came from encourage a more responsible community.
Families who can come together and reminisce over past experience, build bonds and share goals and the same can be said for a nation that values its heritage.

The Basseterre Burning reading will be held under the patronage of the Governor General His Excellency Sir S. Tapley Seaton GCMG, CVO, QC, JP.

The project originated through research conducted at the National Archives.

The St. Christopher National Trust has lent its support by facilitating rehearsals.
St. George’s Anglican Church which features prominently in the narrative, will be the venue of the reading.

The event was postponed in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and a new date will be announced shortly.

P A G E 1 2 A Fond Farewell In August, the National Trust said goodbye to long-serving employee Althea Spencer, who left the organization to pursue other interests.

Althea worked with the Trust for some ten years, serving in the last few as Gift Shop Manager and Office Manager.
The staff held a farewell party for her on her last day on the job (August 11th), and for her many years of service, she was presented with a solar-powered Citizen watch.

Executive Director Ryllis Percival makes a presentation to Miss Spencer and thanks her for her contribution to the organization Our warmest thanks and best wishes to Althea for her most invaluable contribution to the St. Christopher National Trust and Museum.

We wish her all the very best in the future!


Melinda, Neidai, Althea and Myrthlyn Melinda, Althea and Myrthlyn Brimstone Hill’s Rodina Griffin joined the festivities Summer at the Museum The summer months are usually fairly quiet at the National Museum, with much fewer cruise ship calls and many residents travelling off island for vacation.

We were therefore particularly pleased this year to have our summer months livened up by a number of enthusiastic visitors.
Over the past few weeks we have been pleased to welcome a few groups of STEP (Skills Training Empowerment Programme ) participants, who visited as part of the National Building segment of their programme.

The landscaping group was particularly interested in the exhibits about enslavement and Independence and many have promised to visit again.

We were also thrilled to receive students from the Bright Sparks Academy, who visited us as part of their Independence Programme.

The kids seemed fascinated