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Le Pavillon Royal Museum (Saint Lucia)
The LePavillon Royal Museum houses a collection of artifacts and documents which chronicle the history of Government House and officials who have administered the affairs of state since 1627. It also exhibits contemporary material of national significance.
Our primary goal is to increase the awareness of nationals and visitors of the historic and cultural asset that is Government House and to serve as a foundation for the preservation, documentation and dissemination of those aspects of Saint Lucia's history and cultural heritage with which the Office of the Governor General has been associated.
We are committed to making the information contained in our collection as accessible as possible to the public. We intend to put in place a school visiting program, providing publications, participating in outreach to the non-academic community, host visiting researchers, and develop electronic means of data sharing. The Museum is pursuing avenues which will foster this development within the Saint Lucia System of Museums, nationally and globally.
Researchers, professors and students interested in visiting the LePavillon Royal Museum to assist in its development or to study its collection are welcomed. A computer and other data equipment are available to visitors who may also make use of our small library facility within the museum. Please contact the Collections Manager in advance of a planned visit.
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New Developments at Brimstone
Three new staff positions at the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society have been established during the past year: an Administrative Officer (with duties mainly at the general office in Basseterre), a Museum Officer and a third Visitor Attendant. The staff now numbers 20 (as well as 2 personnel provided by a security firm).
For the first time, under an amended Articles of Association, there is a student member in the policy-making Council of Management of the Society.
We have completed extensive work on the arched gate and wall at the entrance; the condemned magazine above the Prince of Wales Bastion has been converted into a cistern; and the privy near to the citadel has been restored. We have also widened the road within the Park at some points to create lay-bys, which will please persons driving up the Hill.
Our two major developments this year have been the promotion of the Prince of Wales Bastion as a Conference, Banquet and Wedding facility, and the launch of our website.
The restored barrack rooms of the Prince of Wales Bastion now comprise a conference room with a capacity for 24 persons and an adjacent kitchen/secretariat equipped for light catering. The open area, within the walls of the Bastion, may be cordoned off and can accommodate up to 120 persons for dining and 200 persons informally. Long known for its accessibility as a site for picnics, outings for schools, religious ceremonies and concerts, the Brimstone Hill Fortress offers this area as another means of promoting, among the local community, a feeling of ownership and a deeper appreciation of its cultural heritage, as well as of enhancing the tourism value of this our World Heritage Site. We have hosted several weddings already! Information can be obtained via the second of our major projects, namely, our website www.brimstonehillfortress.org
We can also be contacted by e-mail: at the office - brimstonehill@caribsurf.com or
the museum - fortressmuseum@caribsurf.com or
by telephone - 869 465 2609 or by fax 869 466 7784
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CASTRIES MUSEUM PROJECT (St. Lucia)
By Ian Constantine - Director of Programmes, St. Lucia National Trust
The Castries Museum will be one in a system of museums for St. Lucia which will nurture pride among St. Lucians and educate both residents and visitors. Museums which are part of the system will be either publicly or privately operated. The Castries Museum will be constructed on Manoel Street, on the lot that was previously occupied by the old Ministry of Agriculture Building. The Saint Lucia National Trust believes that a system of museums should be developed, and made available to the Saint Lucian population and visitors alike, for the following reasons:
To establish and sustain public awareness for our St. Lucian patrimony.
To establish a central base or headquarters for administration, research, documentation, curation, conservation, restoration, storage, preparation and display of exhibits.
To help diversify the cultural tourism product.
To fulfill the 1975 legal mandate of the St. Lucia National.
Trust to establish museums.
A decision was taken by the Museum committee of the Saint Lucia National Trust to scrap the original plans for the restoration of the old Ministry of Agriculture Building and to proceed with the construction of a modern museum under current international standards used in the design and development of museums. This decision was only taken after thorough consultation with relevant parties, which included a publication of the proposal in the ‘Voice’ newspaper of August 2001, requesting the public to voice their opinion on the proposed demolition and new construction. Based on professional recommendations and with no objections received from the public, the proposal for a new building to house the proposed Castries Museum was approved by the Council of the ‘Trust’. This decision was subsequently approved by the Saint Lucia Cabinet of Ministers.
Some of the factors which led to the eventual decision to demolish the existing building in favour of a new building are indicated below:
The old Ministry of Agriculture building was donated (by the Government of St. Lucia) to the National Trust in 1998 for the purpose of establishing a Castries Museum
The building was not reflective of the predominant architecture that existed in that area (Prince Alfred Basin) prior to the 1948 fire.
The National Trust has an existing classification system for buildings of Architectural & Historical merit. Upon evaluation, the old Ministry of Agriculture building on Manoel Street did not fit into categories A or B, which is a requirement for preservation.
The building was sinking and would have required raising by more than one foot (12 inches). The estimated cost of raising one (1) inch is about EC,000.
The new structure (Proposed Castries Museum) will reflect the neo-classical design of the Muter Buildings, which extended from the Peter & Company Building to the boundary of the proposed site, which housed the Government Offices in the first half of the 20th century. The St. Lucia National Trust intends to re-create the architectural style which was prevalent in the area, prior to the 1948 Castries Fire. The National Trust strongly believes that the new building will assist in restoring the architectural beauty to Manoel Street and make a bold statement as one enters the city center from the La Toc Road.
The complete structure is presently being designed but it is envisaged that it will be three floors with the following dimensions: 71 ft. x 71 ft. It is expected that the new building will accommodate a permanent and temporary exhibit, art gallery, storage, documentation center, conference room, staff offices, audiovisual center/ lecture room, café, souvenir shop, and toilets.
The Museum Committee of the SLNT is comprised of the following:
Mrs. Patricia Charles Chairperson
Mr. Eric Branford
Mr. Robert Devaux
Mr. Giles Romulus Executive Director/SLNT
Mr. Jim Sparks
Mrs. Margot Thomas
Mr. Duane Marquis Architect/SLNT
Mr. Gregor Williams
Dr. Michael Louis
Mr. Ian Constantine Historical Building Preservationist
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ST LUCIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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From The Webmaster
News from Havana CUBA in a few days
Stay tuned.
Cyril J Saltibus
Webmaster
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