KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The St Mary Municipal Corporation, with input from several private and public sector entities, is far advanced in establishing a tour project to attract overseas visitors to the parish.

According to Mayor of Port Maria, Councillor Richard Creary, there are several historic sites in the parish that are being looked at to begin the project, such as the old civic centre, which has served as a police station and a courthouse.

“The brickwork on this building is seen nowhere else in the English- speaking Caribbean, except at another building in Port Royal,” the mayor said.

Creary was speaking at a recent ceremony, held at the Claude Stewart Park, in Port Maria.

He added that the Anglican church in the town is another site that has important features for sightseeing, as it was the place which gave birth to local government.

Creary cited the Tacky monument, erected at the Park, as containing a great part of the parish’s history. He also mentioned Fort Haldane, which was attacked during the uprising against the slave system in April of 1760, noting that is has buildings intact, with several huge guns used by the British to defend the castle and the town.

“At Fort Haldane, you also have cannons that would become part of the tour as well,” the mayor said, adding that the funds garnered from the tour will be utilised to upgrade other sites within the parish.

Meanwhile, the mayor said the corporation has allocated funds to replace all the street signs in Port Maria, and that the business places will be numbered.