[CPProt.net] Jamaica: Cultural heritage targeted

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Cultural heritage targeted 
published: Wednesday | September 14, 2005 


THE THEFT of an imposing two-centuries-old brass lectern from the Parish
Church, Falmouth, is not only an act of sacrilege but another step on the
road of criminal activity with which our society is burdened. 

Talk has been circulating for some time now of the growing illegal trade in
antiquities around the world. The fashion for antiques is also supported by
television shows which portray trading at extraordinary levels for
once-discarded objects, unwittingly inciting the greedy. The Internet also
has many sites devoted to antiquity and lists many collectors willing to pay
high prices for art objects, no questions asked. In the process, the culture
of many countries is being pillaged and their history lost.

Here in Jamaica, the treasures of old churches, great houses and other
historic sites are being looked at as possible tourist attractions. In the
case of Falmouth, with the drive on to position the town as a visitor
attraction capitalising on its Georgian heritage, historic institutions like
the Parish Church and its contents will be valuable assets. It would be
tragic, however, if robbers took this as an opportunity to plunder and loot
and, by their action, diminish the heritage of our nation, already besieged
by far too much of that which is demeaning and unworthy.

According to reports, at least two small community museums - in Lucea,
Hanover and Seaford Town, St. Elizabeth - have suffered at the hands of what
we would like to call 'heritage thieves' who have made off with treasured
objects over recent months. There is suspicion that the stolen objects might
well have left our shores already. In the case of the Falmouth lectern, it
is being feared that it could be scheduled for overseas disposal, which is
why it is important for everyone to be on the lookout to assist in its
recovery.

Our police are not trained as antiquities specialists. They do as best they
can when such robberies are reported but if the criminal trend continues,
there may have to be yet another area of specialist training for the Jamaica
Constabulary Force. We have persons here who could share their particular
knowledge in educating the police to the seriousness of 'heritage crime' and
we already have links with Interpol and other global intelligence agencies,
which take seriously illegal trading in cultural objects.

Canada and Britain are among countries which have formulated codes of ethics
to control this ugly trade. UNESCO, the UN organisation for education,
science and culture, has drafted a Code of Ethics for Dealers in Cultural
Property and the issue will be debated at the forthcoming General
Conference. As Jamaica will be represented, we would hope that our voice
will be heard. Small though we be, we have occasion to be concerned.
Cultural criminality knows no boundaries.

THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT
THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.