"A resounding success" is how many of the 100 plus participants described the second Caribbean Conference of National Trusts and Preservation Societies which took place at the Hilton Hotel and Conference Centre from May 19-21.
The conference was hosted by the group Citizens for Conservation in conjunction with the National Trust and ICOMOSTT and included presentations by persons from the private and public sectors of 15 different countries including the UK, Spain, the USA, Cura�ao, Jamaica, Guyana, Martinique and Barbados as well as local presenters, a release said.
They told stories of the triumphs they had experienced and challenges they faced in the area of built heritage preservation in their communities and shared advice and possible solutions to the problems that face preservationists around the world such as inadequate financing, lack of governmental support and even climate change.
The participants were also taken on bus tours of the heritage sites in the city of Port-of-Spain and also spent an afternoon on Nelson Island watching presentations before sipping cocktails on the terrace as the sun set.
The conference was brought to a close with a lively gathering at Starlift pan yard on Saturday night.
Participants left revitalised and recommitted to implementing the strategies they learned in their territories but not before it was announced that the island of Curacao would be hosting the third Conference in November 2017.