FIVE acres of state land will be given to the indigenous community for the establishment of a modern Amerindian village.
This was revealed on Monday night by the Minister of Community Development Marlene Mc Donald during her feature address at the 2nd Biennial National Heritage Preservation Awards at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain.
Mc Donald said the Government reviewed the first report sent to them by the indigenous community in a bid for more “meaningful recognition” and as a result has sort to grant them five acres of state land.
She said the land will be a site for a modern Amerindian village and would be used as grounds to revive Amerindian practices and traditions including showcasing their art and crafts and agricultural practices and crops.
She assured Government’s strengthening and pursuing of strategies and continuity of grants in support of national heritage preservation.
Mc Donald also took the opportunity to encourage the youths to get involved in the preservation of the country’s heritage, not only for themselves but for the memory of their ancestors.
She also challenged the corporate sector to support the heritage fund, saying that Government could not do it alone. She also urged all businessmen who own “ancient buildings” to do all they can to preserve the architecture.
Over the years, president of the Carib community in Arima, Ricardo Bharath-Hernandez has called on the Government for state protection of sacred sites, for land for his people and an end to the destruction of medicinal herbs and plants by quarrying activities in the Tamana forest.
Some of the awardees for the night included: Pastor Cherice Job Lewis of the Black Rock Moravian Church in the Best Historic Restoration Project (Small). In the large category, Fawzia Rahaman copped the title for the Queen’s Royal College.
Best Natural Heritage Site title was given to Anthony Ramnarine - Caroni Bird Sanctuary. Winning the Lifetime Achievement Award was Archibald Chauharjasingh of La Romaine.
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