Plans for establishing a heritage museum, historical library and cultural centre in Bluefields, Westmoreland are to be steered by a 14-member committee which has been mandated to establish the Bluefields Heritage Society for

the purpose.

The fourteen members are:

. Terry Williams (Chairman of the BPCA);

. Rex Gadsby;

. Manley Wallace;

. Eric Clarke

. Peter Ramson;

. Nigel Myrie;

. Wolde Kristos;

. Keith Wedderburn;

. Andrew Williams;

. Dr Ron Wong;

. Paul Gayle;

. Virginia Turner;

. Marcia Rose and

. Dawn Mullings.

The BPCA’s Wolde Kristos told the select group consisting of citizens from Westmoreland and Hanover, businesspersons, representatives of funding agencies, historians and archaeologists, of plans for establishing the proposed Bluefields Heritage Museum, Historical Library &

Cultural Centre.

The Museum will house artefacts relating to the Taino Period unearthed across from the old Bluefields Police Station in June 2008 by the team of archaeologists from the Archaeology Division of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), and the Missouri State University including Professor William Wedenoja, Ronald Dalton and Heidi Savery. The three were present, explained the “archaeological dig” process, and displayed some of the articles found.

The old police station, an 18 century Tavern, has been identified as the preferred site for the Museum but is currently owned by the Ministry of Lands.

“We are asking you,” Wolde Kristos told the gathering, “to become partners in restoring the Tavern to establish the Museum – which will be second to none – while working to have Bluefields declared a Heritage Village.”

The steering committee is to recruit the 21 persons needed for registration, which is targeted for completion three months after its first meeting.

Also in attendance were Founder of the Hanover Museum Mrs Evangeline Clare, Historian Ms Marguerite Curtin and Dr Candice Goucher, professor of History at Washington State University, Vancouver, Washington, USA.s