C O N T E X T 1 1 5 : J U LY 2 0 1 0 37 of a historic environment record or sites and monument record. Records, which are computerised, are published as illustrated inventories of different administrative areas. The protection of cultural heritage in the Seychelles is enshrined in the National Monuments Act 1980 (amended in 1991). The act’s objective is to identify and conserve elements of national importance. Such elements include areas of archaeological or historical interest including buildings. The Seychelles unified system of statutory designation for heritage assets is similar to the system proposed by our own Heritage Protection Bill. Among the more unusual sites is an area of mountain rock pools containing an early species of rice, suggesting early human settlement. The most intriguing cultural site is an area of Mahe at Bel Ombre, thought to be the location of buried pirate treasure. There is no equivalent to listed building consent. National monument status is a material consideration of planning proposals. These are assessed by the National Monument Board, made up of representatives of government departments dealing with planning, culture, education and tourism, and a representative from the business sector, usually a hotel or resort manager. Archaeological issues are dealt with by staff from the National Museum. Essack and his department provide technical advice to historic building owners. They have introduced a number of incentives such as awarding plaques and certificates to historic building owners for successful restorations. Essack would also support the introduction of tax relief to promote conservation projects. Essack’s department has an annual budget of 500,000 rupees (£28,000) for the upkeep of national monuments owned by the government. One example is the historic French colonial cemetery at Belle Air, Mahe, containing 18th to mid-19th century grave monuments. Despite being one of the first scheduled national monuments, many of the grave monuments remain in significant disrepair, with some vaults exposed to the elements due to masonry collapse. A lack of resources in cases such as this is understandable, but it does create a sense of inertia at some cultural attractions. A significant and encouraging development is the establishment of the Seychelles Heritage Foundation, enshrined in the Seychelles Heritage Foundation Act 2006. The foundation is a government quango responsible for the management of a number of culturally important sites. The foundation’s remit includes the identification, conservation and promotion of cultural heritage, generating resources and seeking international support. Essack admitted that not all Seychellois share his value of history but he felt that there was a growing awareness of the importance of preserving historic buildings. Some of the most successful tourist businesses and restaurants are housed in restored traditional buildings. He was proud to tell me that a national training programme mentoring young leaders has introduced a heritage module to nurture cultural awareness. Julian Bagg is coordinator of the IHBC technical panel and a director of Castle House Heritage Consulting. Traditional shops stand beside modern high rise development,Victoria, Mahe Gabriel Essack and Julianne Barra at the offices of the National Heritage Research Section inVictoria, Mahe
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjgyMjA=