Saturday, January 3, 1998

Arawak artifacts found

at Harris Promenade

Archibald Chauharjasingh, secretary of the Archaelogy Society, carries out a d

delicate search for artifacts found in an Arawak midden during excavation work at
Harris Promenade,
San Fernando. Photo: KRISHNA MAHARAJ

By VIDHISHA MANNAH
South/Central Bureau

A NUMBER OF ITEMS which could provide an insight into the lifestyle of the early
inhabitants of Trinidad have been unearthed by workmen engaged in the
redevelopment of Harris Promenade, San Fernando.

The artifacts, pottery and shells, are believed to have been used by Arawaks and are to
be sent to the archaeology centre at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

"We are going to test the shells to determine what kind of foods the Arawak ate,"
Archibald Chauharjasingh, secretary of the Archaeology Society said. "In about two
weeks we should have some answers."

"We are very excited about the discoveries," Mayor Gerard Ferreira said as he gave an
update on work on the Promenade in an interview with the Express. The artifacts were
said to have been found in several areas and workmen were taking care to avoid
undue damage to any of the finds.

Work on the Promenade, which has been at a standstill since December 23 for the
Christmas holidays, is scheduled to resume Monday.

Ferreira said he was pleased with what has been done so far and also made it clear that
suggestions to rename the Promenade had been shelved.

The suggestions included naming it after Olympic 100 metres gold medallist,
southerner Hasely Crawford and Rodney Wilkes, who won silver and bronze Olympic
medals for weightlifting in 1948 and 1954 and who still lives in San Fernando.
"We have no intention at this stage to rename it," Ferreira said.

When completed, the project which is expected to cost $6 million, will form part of a
promenade/parkland link between Library Corner, Lady Hailes Avenue and the
waterfront area where a new transit hub will be located.

The work being carried out includes the demolition of structures, concrete
construction, tiling and road paving, park furniture, electrical lighting and
landscaping, earthworks, plumbing for a sprinkler system and water fountain.

The $676,378 design cost was put up by the Ministry of Planning and Development.
In order to fund the construction, UDeCOTT (Urban Development Company of
Trinidad and Tobago) was mandated to raise contributions from the private sector and
state enterprises.

By September UDeCOTT was able to raise, for the first phase, $2.2 million from
commercial banks, Pt Lisas-based companies and the Ministry of Planning and
Development contributed a further $350,000.

The biggest contributors were Petrotrin and Caribbean Ispat Ltd which came up with
$300,000 each. Other big contributors at $200,000 each were National Gas Company,
Trinidad Cement Ltd and five banks-Republic, Royal, First Citizens, Bank of
Commerce and Scotiabank.

Discussions are ongoing with Plipdeco, Unit Trust Corporation and National
Petroleum for further contributions, UDeCOTT said.

Contributors will be recognised through an engravement on an "Honour Wall" which

will form part of the project.