Island Council passes
Monuments Ordinance
ST. EUSTATIUS--An ordinance for the preservation of objects of historical and sentimental value was passed unanimously by Statia’s Island Council at a meeting on Thursday morning.
All members of the Council, including Commissioners Roy Hooker and Julian Woodley, together with Adelka Spanner, Reginald Zaandam, Opposition Member Clyde van Putten, and Chairman Hyden Gittens, were present at the meeting.
Van Putten suggested that a synopsis of the ordinance be prepared and Hooker further suggested that an English translation be provided to the Public Library so that interested persons could study it.
Chairman Gittens agreed with these suggestions and then proceeded to give a short summary of the ordinance.
He said the ordinance was based on a similar federal ordinance, and would allow identification and registration of those sites, buildings, or objects considered to be monuments, and provide for their protection and maintenance.
An area such as the Historic Core region of Upper Town, Oranjestad, can also be designated as a monument because of its typical nature.
Gittens said a Monuments Council would be set up to provide advice and recommendations to the Island Territory on matters concerning monuments.
In order to be designated as a monument, an item must be at least 50 years old. Candidates for monuments will be suggested to the Council which will, if it approves, post a public notice to that effect.
Once entered into the Monuments Register, the object will be protected and owners of the monument must adhere to maintenance and protection rules. Any changes to the monument require the approval of the Executive Council. Special arrangements, he said, are allowed for churches.
Gittens further explained that any spatial development plans must take into account those monuments which may be within the area of the development plan.
The Executive Council is currently developing a policy under which candidates for monument status can be accepted.
Gittens added that compensation may be available to owners if this is needed for maintenance of the monument.
A chapter covering archaeological monuments has recently been added to the federal ordinance, and because Statia has many archaeological sites, it is desirable that a similar chapter be included in Statia’s version. This part, however, has not been completed. Gittens expects that the archaeological chapter will be ready to be added by the end of summer.
