As early as 1979, a group of concerned citizens including Architects John Newel-Lewis and Rudylynn De Four Roberts, Engineer George Butcher, Christine Millar, Megan Hopkyn-Rees and others, began promoting greater understanding for Trinidad and Tobago's heritage. In 1985, following the public outcry over the intended demolition of the "George Brown House" on the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Citizens for Conservation was formed to provide an official voice for the protection of Trinidad and Tobago's natural and man-made heritage. Through open discussion they sought to sensitize the public to the importance of conservation and preservation. Through the efforts of Citizens for Conservation the National Trust Act was drafted and passed by Parliament in 1991 and eventually enacted in 1999. Their present aim is to provide support for the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago as well as other interested groups and to lobby as the need arises for the respect, protection and preservation of the many aspects our heritage.
Press Release - 08 July 2010 The President's House
At a meeting with Minister of Works and Transport and Acting Prime Minister, The Honourable Jack Warner, on 8th July 2010, Mr. Warner gave Citizens for Conservation his full support and backing and is looking forward to their participation with the Government in matters of conservation and heritage.
Rudylynn Roberts, Andrew Lawrence and Margaret McDowall-Thompson spoke on behalf of Citizens for Conservation and Bernard MacKay on behalf of the Consultants.
An evaluation of that that is necessary to restore The President's House is to commence immediately by an appointed Committee which will include the original Consultants headed by Mr. Bernard MacKay, three Members from Citizens for Conservation, a representative of the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago and representatives of the Ministry of Works and Transport. The Minister has called for a meeting of the Committee on site to discuss basic issues and has promised a covering to protect the damaged area of the building from further deterioration.
Part of the roof and upper floor of President's House, formerly Government House, collapsed on 16 May 2010, falling through on to the Ballroom on the ground floor below.
The building was condemned by the Ministry of Works as structurally unsound almost ten years ago and the recommendation was that it should be vacated and restored. Numerous warnings were given by the Ministry's engineers and architects over the years regarding the safety of the building.
The foundation stone for the building was laid on 24th July 1873 and construction completed in 1876 at a cost of 44,630 pounds sterling. The Architect was James Ferguson, designed in a loosely classical Revival style. Ferguson's original plan was not followed precisely.
The building comprises 24" load bearing masonry walls constructed of squared hard blue limestone from the Laventille Quarries, to the outer face. The inner walls are random roughly coursed grey limestone rendered with lime plaster. The blue limestone was difficult to cut and much of the ashlar quoins were substituted with Bath stone imported from England. Extensive use was made of cast iron columns, and fabricated steel beams spanning between masonry walls and cast iron columns. Structural timbers for the ground floor, upper floor and roof were pitch pine.
Working drawings and specifications for restoration work were completed and ready for tender in 2006 when the project was halted by the Minister of Works.
The Architect was Bernard MacKay, Structural Engineers CEP Limited, Quantity Surveyors Ellis and Associates and Electrical/Mechanical Engineers ENCO. Foreign Specialist Consultants from the UK were Donald Insall Associates Limited (Architecture) and Glifford and Partners Limited (Structural)
Rudylynn Roberts 17 May 2010
Trinidad Guardian, Real Estate, "From Colonial to Contemporary", 30 June 2010
Written by Geoffrey MacLean
Articles - "Preserving our Real Estate Heritage" and "The Gingerbread House" - appear on pages 4 and 8 respectively in the Trinidad Guardian's Real Estate supplement, "From Colonial to Contemporary", 30 June 2010. Unfortunately the supplement does not appear to be available online. It might be noted that the "List of popular protected buildings of Trinidad" is inaccurate in that no buildings in Trinidad and Tobago are "listed" for protection.
Healing our capital's heritage buildings
Written by Afra Raymond
Article in the Business Guardian, Thursday June 3, 2010
