RADHICA DE SILVA
Senior Multimedia Reporter
Instead of spending Emancipation Day at celebrations or relaxing with family, a group of Sea Scouts dedicated the public holiday to cleaning and preserving the historic graves of the Sir Lamont family, former owners of Palmiste Estates, while urging citizens to help protect Trinidad and Tobago’s heritage.
Members of the 31st Trinidad Sea Scouts partnered with the Palmiste Historical Society to clear overgrown vegetation and tidy the centuries-old burial site, one of the few remaining historical landmarks in the area.
Deputy National Commissioner for Programme of the Scout Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Vincent Ramoutar, said preserving the country’s history was a shared responsibility.
“This site is one of the few that remains intact within the Palmiste area, and it’s our responsibility to preserve our history and our culture and ensure we know where we came from,” he said.
Ramoutar said it was important for young people to understand the history of the communities where they live. He explained that Sir Lamont played a significant role in Palmiste’s development after arriving from Scotland and becoming one of the area’s principal landowners.
However, he lamented the poor condition of many historical sites.
“It is very heartbreaking knowing that we have all these historical sites and there’s little being done about it,” he said.
He noted that the cemetery has no proper access road and said the site could become a heritage tourism attraction if properly maintained. Ramoutar added that the Scout Association hopes to strengthen its partnership with the Palmiste Historical Society by involving more young people in heritage projects.
Palmiste Historical Society board member Janelle Alexander praised the Scouts for sacrificing part of their holiday to assist with the clean-up.
“Other people could be resting today, but they used their free time to come out because this is a historical park for us. The only way we can use it in the future is to preserve it,” she said.
Marking Emancipation Day, Alexander encouraged citizens to honour their ancestors by protecting the nation’s cultural heritage.
“Happy Emancipation Day to everyone. So much struggle has been overcome for us. Let’s continue to grow, give and continue to develop Trinidad and Tobago,” she said.
