The historic Newton Slave Burial Ground, the final resting place for as many as 600 enslaved people, is on track for a grand opening in November, to coincide with the 60th independence anniversary, Pan African Affairs and Heritage Minister Trevor Prescod has announced.
The cemetery itself remains untouched, while work is actively progressing on the site’s peripheral features, he said.
“The burial ground is the battleground and there’s nothing much we can do about the battleground, but we just replace a number of features on the periphery of the burial ground itself, and we normally try to keep it well groomed.”
At the core of the construction is a prominent dome-shaped memorial structure to house an interpretation centre
Prescod explained: “You’re talking about the section where there is the dome… the dome is in the section where the structure is shaped like an egg. There is a number of pillars of imported poles that came in from overseas because we could not get the materials in Barbados or anywhere around here, but they came in.
And we have already installed the majority of them.
“The contractor still has to do some little fine-tuning on the work there, but we’ll be given the assurance that that part of it should be finished by November.”
Beyond the dome-shaped structure, Prescod highlighted several other features being added to the site, including an expansive walkway and dedicated natural spaces.
“The entertainment section… I think there’s some amendments to the policy programme that will soon be completed because we have to do a lot of regrading of the land space. There’s some indigenous herbal garden, and there’s a pond that’s on the southern side, but the rest of this is really the burial ground.”
Discussing the surrounding perimeter works, Prescod pointed out the progress on the main pedestrian pathway. “This is the walkway that we’re hoping that it’ll be ready by November. All of this, I believe that the majority of this has been completed… right in the boardwalk is a walkway coming right back to the southern side. I did that section, so I’m responsible for that. That is a big thing, but I promise you all you should get good work.”
The minister emphasised the historical significance represented by the site’s structural choices, connecting the architecture directly to the individuals remembered at Newton Plantation. “The pillars that you see is a representation of the enslaved persons who were buried on Newton Plantation,” Prescod noted. “The burial ground actually has fossils on it… over 500 or 550 fossils on our land.”
Modern survey equipment has also revealed that the historical footprint extends further than originally measured. “We can also tell you that we have discovered that there’s a probability of more fossils as we go towards the western side.
“I’m also informed that as a result of using all the modern scientific equipment, we have also identified a specific area which has a lot of artefacts.”
While these findings point to rich potential for future archaeological study, Prescod noted that full-scale excavation must be deferred for the time being.
“We can’t do with all the excavation and things of that nature over that site now because the project is going to be awesome,” he said, adding that the section with the roof “has to be removed” as final preparations continue alongside periodic visits from the project’s architect ahead of the November target.
(RR)
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