Jamaica preparing to ratify Underwater Cultural Heritage

KINGSTON — Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia Grange, says steps are being taken to ratify the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) 2001 Convention for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage.

The convention is the main legal instrument in underwater archeology. Its framework is underpinned by three main areas of focus: improved legal protection of underwater cultural heritage; heightened public awareness; and increased capacity in underwater archeology.

Some 37 countries have already signed the convention, including 14 from the Latin American and Caribbean region including Barbados, Cuba, Grenada, Haiti, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

Speaking at Tuesday’s (May 10) opening ceremony of a two-day Caribbean meeting of stakeholders at Morgan’s Harbour Hotel, Port Royal, Miss Grange said that her Ministry has made a submission and recommendation to Cabinet for Jamaica’s ratification of the convention.

The Minister, who is also Chairperson of the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO, said that although Jamaica is yet to ratify the convention, the Government values its underwater cultural heritage. She said that the administration has done significant work, over the last decade, in researching and documenting much of Jamaica’s underwater cultural heritage, particularly in Port Royal where work has been done, in collaboration with colleagues at the Institute of Nautical Archeology, Texas A&M University, in the United States.

“We have also been doing preliminary work under the waters of the Pedro Banks, where we have spotted valuable shipwrecks, deep below the surface,” she said. She also pointed out that steps have been taken to place Port Royal on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, for eventual nomination to the World Heritage List.

Miss Grange noted that scientific and historical data confirms that Jamaica has a rich and diverse history of underwater cultural heritage.

 She pointed out that, in addition to Port Royal, Jamaica boasts the Pedro Cays and the historical ports of Falmouth, Port Antonio, Black River, Montego Bay, Lucea, Savanna-la-Mar, Bluefields, Kingston, Old Harbour and Morant Bay. Additionally, the island has numerous untouched bays, coves, lagoons and inland rivers, which are home to underwater cultural heritage spanning the history of the diverse cultures that have interacted for over 1000 years.

She said that while the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) has conducted limited tests and excavations in Port Royal and the Pedro Cays, as well as along the shores of the Seville Heritage Park, St. Ann, the majority of the heritage remains untouched, as it is relatively inaccessible. However, it remains the last authentic, undisturbed primary source of information for understanding the past.

Due to their archeological and historical significance, nationally and internationally, the JNHT designated Port Royal and the Palisadoes Peninsula as protected national heritage, in 1999.

 Miss Grange pointed out that Jamaica was one of 88 countries participating in the meeting of experts for the protection of underwater cultural heritage, leading to the adoption of the Convention by the general conference of UNESCO, in 2001.

Against the background of Jamaica’s move to ratify the 2001 Convention, she urged other nations which are not yet signatories to endorse it and the other main cultural conventions; the Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention of 2003, and the Cultural Diversity Convention of 2005.

The two-day meeting brings together more than 20 experts in underwater cultural heritage, as well as signatories and non-signatories to the 2001 Convention, for presentations and discussion on its importance and pertinence, as well as to promote ratification and create awareness of the existence of this area of heritage and create a legal framework for its protection.

The meeting concludes Wednesday (May 11).

By DOUGLAS McINTOSH, JIS Reporter