THE museum traces the parish’s history from the first settlers, the Tainos, to the early days of exporting lard, to the city’s current reign as the island’s tourism mecca. A few steps across the hallway, fine works of art of varying styles are displayed. This is the ground floor of the Montego Bay Civic Centre and the maximum entry fee is $150.

A trip to the museum gives visitors insight into the slave trade with its images of tongue and neck restraints and wrist shackles. It also offers a glimpse into the lives of slaves and the planter classes of the late 18th and 19th centuries.

Little gems of information such as the fact that a Taino man was the first emigrant to Europe can be gleaned from the information boards mounted along the walls throughout the exhibit.

A glance through the visitors’ book shows that those who have had the guided tour have come from countries as far away as England, others have made the journey from neighbouring parishes, the rest are Montegonians. From their comments, most people who have had the guided tour left with positive images, on the whole. And most seem to understand that the Civic Centre is still a work in progress.

Built on the ruins of the Old Courthouse that was destroyed by fire more than 30 years ago, the civic centre is now the centerepiece of historic Sam Sharpe Square.

The original building was constructed in 1810 and fast became the commercial and political centre of St James. National hero Sam Sharpe was tried in this courthouse in April of 1832 and hanged a few feet away on the 23rd of May of the same year. It is this rich history that the new facility seeks to preserve while providing a venue for the city’s events.

When fully up and running, the 20,000 square foot Civic Centre will house a Town Hall that will double as a 250-seat theatre with stage area, a mayor’s parlour, conference and parking facilities, an open air bistro located on the old Albert Market site, plus a restaurant/bar.

According to secretary/manager of the St James Parish Council and member of the centre’s management committee, Christopher Powell, the bistro will be put out to tender by the middle of this month but there will be strict guidelines laid down for its operation. The plan is for the dining establishment to fit in with the general ambience of the Georgian Centre and offer patrons elegant open air dining that may also include evening concerts.

Powell said that the conference centre will offer competitive rates, as compared to the area hotels that now offer similar services. The chairs and tables for the meeting room and the Town Hall are now being sourced and the secretary/manager said that as soon as everything is in place they will begin advertising the facility.

In keeping with the plans to use the civic centre to promote cultural packages, the management committee hopes to use it to stage plays, jazz concerts and similar events.

The facility was built under the San Jose Accord at a cost of about $155 million.