The NGO Citizens for Conservation, which has been advocating for the preservations fo the former Greyfriars Church of Scotland on Frederick Street, is proposing the creation of a Woodford Square Heritage District in the centre of Port-of-Spain. Here they explain their vision for it:
Situated in the heart of Port-of Spain, Woodford Square is one of the capital’s busiest public squares. It is renowned as a place of political and religious gatherings, entertainment, discussions and craft markets. Formerly known as Brunswick Square, it was renamed after Governor Sir Ralph Woodford, who was responsible for rebuilding the square and much of the city after the 1808 fire.
During T&T’s independence movement, led by Dr Eric Williams, the square was dubbed “the University of Woodford Square” and became a place of many political gatherings, and there is an area near the eastern gate known as “the Port of-Spain Speakers Corner.” Also included in the Woodford Square Heritage District would be the Old Police Station on St Vincent Street, the Cabildo building on Sackville Street and St John’s Baptist Church on Pembroke Street.
Woodford Square, as a Heritage District, will be an important attraction for visitors and provide the stimulus for the private and public sector to restore the historic buildings and sites.
The identification of new ways to utilise these buildings can encourage funding for the repair, restoration and maintenance of these sites. Creative and adaptive reuse can help develop a heritage economy. Adaptive reuse must be stimulated by the State in creating districts and providing fiscal incentives and investment to encourage the private sector to restore buildings and sites for use in new and productive ways that will ensure their maintenance and their survival.
Heritage tourism helps make historic preservation economically viable by using historic structures and landscapes to attract and serve travellers. It can be an attractive economic revitalisation strategy, especially as studies have consistently shown that heritage travellers stay longer and spend more money than other kinds of travellers. As an added bonus, a good heritage tourism programme improves the quality of life for citizens as well as serving visitors.
Heritage tourism is defined as “travelling to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past,” and heritage tourism includes cultural, historic and natural resources.