US Ambassador, Linda Taglialatela, and a team from the US Embassy
in Barbados undertook a tour of the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park with visits to Shirley Heights, Blockhouse, Dows Hill, Clarence House, and the Dockyard.
This was the Ambassador’s second visit to the National Park. She had previously
visited the Dockyard and was given a boat tour of English Harbour and was eager
to see more of the Nelson Dockyard National Park (NDNP) and share it with her
delegation from the US Embassy.
The visit demonstrated the many NPA initiatives undertaken as part of the legal
mandate to preserve, protect, manage and develop the natural and environmental
resources, the historical, architectural and the cultural heritage of the NDNP.
From Shirley Heights, the Ambassador saw the entirety of the UNESCO World
Heritage Site, the historical structures, landscapes and the key viewscapes of that
inscription. She also was briefed on the marine ecosystems of the NPA, including
the coral restoration project to keep the coral reefs healthy, and the inclusion of
new swim and no propellor zones in Freeman’s Bay and Pigeon Point to preserve
the lives of swimmers, snorkelers, feeding turtles and protect the seagrass bed
ecosystems. Additionally, the erosion undermining parts of Fort Berkeley was
pointed out, reiterating a discussion had with Her Excellency on her last visit about
plans to stabilize the ruins and protect the harbour.
At the Blockhouse, the NPA introduced the Ambassador to the stabilization
projects to preserve the ruins and to convert them into safe and usable spaces. The
delegation received a firsthand viewing of the skilled stone masons executing this
work as well as showing the previously successful stabilization work carried out at
the Gun Powder Magazine within the Blockhouse fortifications.
At Dow’s Hill, the Ambassador was shown the boundaries of the NDNP,
stretching from Mamora Bay to Cactus Hill at Carlisle Bay.
The delegation then received a tour and lunch at Clarence House. Clarence House
was showcased as a successful donor- funded project managed and completed by
the NPA utilizing and promoting skilled Antiguan and Barbudan artisans, local
stone, and intelligent planning to provide a spectacular restoration of a historic
house of the highest quality while still being under budget. During lunch, several
NPA initiatives involving heritage, interpretation, environmental data collection
and preservation, and Park infrastructure projects, were pitched to the delegation.
These projects will ultimately enhance the management and protection of the
NDNP as well as increase the quality of life for the communities inhabiting the
Park and Antigua and Barbuda.
The visit concluded with a brief tour of Dockyard and with pledges of friendship
and support for the work being carried out by the NDNP. The NPA looks forward
to hosting the US Ambassador and members from the US Embassy in the near
future to continue sharing the history, heritage, and environment at the Nelson
Dockyard National Park and working with them closely to better develop and
manage our cultural, historical and environmental resources.
