A last-minute stay of execution for Greyfriars Church in downtown Port-of-Spain, has inspired something, I daresay, more important than the building itself.
The city corporation's intervention to essentially stall the demolition appears to have forced civil-society groups and government agencies together in a coalition to save the church. The dire fate of the nearly 200-year-old structure also seems to have birthed a renaissance of smouldering passion for heritage in this country.
Businessman Alred Galy, who acquired the church, set out to do what was expected of him: convert his investment into some money-making enterprise. What matters most now is how we as a nation take advantage of this pregnant moment.
Heritage lobby group Citizens for Conservation has long advocated the designation of Woodford Square in the capital city as a heritage site. Had this been done when it was proposed, the current impasse between state agencies, NGOs and a businessman who just wants to take his money and go home could have been avoided.
The declaration of Woodford Square as a heritage site would have brought buildings in the area under the protections in law afforded to the square itself. In theory, any prospective development in the area would only be allowed if the historical aesthetic of the buildings is preserved.
Citizens for Conservation envisions Woodford Square as a last stand, a pushback against development imperatives deadly keen on purging the capital city of all architectural character and historical context.
Many ornate iron balustrades and overhanging balconies have been swept away, replaced by soulless concrete-and-glass facades. With Woodford Square there is an opportunity to create an oasis of beauty in the city.
The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the Old Fire Station, the Red House (once that gets sorted out) and Greyfriars church. All of these buildings form a ring around Woodford Square, a crown in the capital city.
In our desperation, towering structures were erected in Port-of-Spain to convey this idea of first-world aspirations and progress. What we also need is a city which reflects the heart of a Caribbean nation rich in history and culture.
When tourists pour out of cruise ships docked in Port-of-Spain, ideally they should be shepherded towards Woodford Square, a site restored and developed to showcase our Caribbean aesthetic and culture. It is unlikely that visitors from developed countries, having come all this way, would be interested in seeing a weak imitation of the mega-cities they left at home.
Instead of wandering aimlessly on the Brian Lara Promenade, regaled by the foul language of limers and retired public servants playing checkers with donkey eye and bottle caps, tourists could be treated to a co-ordinated Caribbean tourism experience.
This is where the vision for Woodford Square and Greyfriars church comes in.The world is replete with churches, once abandoned by their congregations, which have been repurposed to preserve the aesthetic charm which they lend to the landscape.
In Rhinebeck, New York in the United States, a Baptist church built in 1825 has been remodelled on the inside to create an absolutely-stunning restaurant. Visitors dine beneath exquisite vaulted ceilings.
In Norfolk, Virginia a Presbyterian church originally built in 1873 has also been converted into a restaurant.
Patrons sample artisanal breads and fine wine, bathed in the kaleidoscopic glow cast by stained-glass windows. These are just two examples of the myriad ways in which Greyfriars could be preserved as a landmark for future generations.
Citizens for Conservation understands that buildings can scarcely be preserved solely on the strength of their aesthetic value. The organisation intends to approach the Cabinet with a private and public joint-venture concept that will offer some hope for the salvation of this old church.
For his part, the owner simply wants to see a return on his investment. Mr Galy has offered the property for sale to the Government. The figure cannot be quoted here because this column doesn't not permit obscenities, although I dearly wish it were not so.
Even as the fate of Greyfriars hangs in the balance, particularly encouraging is what appears to be a growing appreciation for our architectural heritage and history. Moves to demolish Greyfriars triggered an online petition to save the structure, a petition which I understand garnered in the neighbourhood of 2,000 signatures.
Concern about the future of this landmark has convened meetings involving Citizens for Conservation, the Port-of-Spain City Corporation, Town and Country Planning, the Ministry of National Diversity and the owner of the building.
The media, far from indifferent to the plight of national heritage, have dedicated columnists in the persons of Angelo Bissessarsingh in the Guardian newspaper and Richard Charan at the Express, both of whom deliver sterling pieces each week on our history.
This is where we need to be for structures like Greyfriars to have a future.First we find a place for our hearts for them, then we find a place in the changing landscape for them.
Study Findings
The study, conducted by SMG-Insight/YouGov, one of the world's leading sports measurement, research and analysis companies, showed a breakout across each of the eight markets as follows:
�2 Antigua and Barbuda � US$13.8 million
�2 Barbados � US$28.7 million
�2 Grenada � US$13.3 million
�2 Guyana � US$24.5 million
�2 Jamaica � US$25.1 million
�2 St Kitts and Nevis � US$26.3million
�2 St Lucia � US$13.9 million
�2 Trinidad and Tobago � US$21.1 million
In order to gather appropriate information to calculate the projected Total Economic Impact of CPL on the Caribbean economy, SMG-Insight/YouGov hosted an online survey on http://cplt20.com/ where cricket fans could access an online questionnaire.
To incentivise participation in the survey, cricket fans had a chance to win an exclusive signed shirt and 1,809 respondents from across the Caribbean took part in the survey.
Further key findings of the SMG-Insight/YouGov Survey (2014):
�2 91.5 per cent of respondents surveyed said they were "very interested" in cricket and 70.4 per cent said they were "very likely" to revisit the area for leisure in the future based on their experience of CPL T20
�2 62 per cent of respondents said that the CPL T20 tournament was "very important" to the local Caribbean economy
�2 CPL T20 has strong appeal to both men (65 per cent) and women (35 per cent) cricket fans where the biggest following amongst those surveyed was between the ages of 25 and 34
�2 Domestic spectators surveyed said they spent on average US$53.25 and international spectators said they spent US$138.45 per day.