World Heritage Status - Could the Salt Islands in TCI join the list?
Salt Cay, Grand Turk, South Caicos and the surrounding cays is one of only 41 sites competing in the bid to be awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO. The British Government will be submitting their shortlist and the Salt Islands in the Turks and Caicos have forwarded their application to the UK to join the 890 properties of “outstanding universal value” including 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed properties in 148 States Parties.
The World Heritage Committee will consider requests for the inscription of new sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List when it meets for its 34th session in Brazil from July 25 – August 3.
Ethlyn Gibbs-Williams, Executive Director of the National Trust confirmed that an application was forwarded almost 10 years ago for Salt Cay but that bid did not make the UK’s shortlist. The Weekly News reported that Ms. Gibbs-Williams made the following statement regarding the current application, “This time we included more of the country (Salt Cay, Grand Turk, South Caicos and the surrounding cays in that area), emphasizing its cultural and historic value along with the habitat it provides for a range of migratory birds. Salt Cay also has the largest population of heather, the Turks and Caicos national flower. If the Salt Islands were to become a World Heritage Site, it would award them far more protection and really give the country recognition.”
Looking for the “wow factor” Britain’s Tourism and Heritage Minister, John Penrose, released the list of requests for recognition noting that each of the sites on the list “have a cultural resonance that makes them real contenders to sit alongside the Pyramids and Red Square in this most distinguished of gatherings.”
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations established in November 1945. Its purpose is to contribute to “peace and security” by promoting international collaboration through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and the human rights along with fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the UN Charter. UNESCO is based in Paris France and as of October 2009 has 193 Member States and seven Associated Members.
Current sites on the World Heritage List include: The Great Barrier Reef and Fraser Island both in Australia; the Historic District of Old Quebec in Canada; the Colonial City of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic; National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers in Haiti; Venice and its Lagoon in Italy; New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands; Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the Tower of London in the UK and many more. For a full list please visit the UNESCO website.
Article provided courtesy of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Turks and Caicos