Designating National Monuments
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The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (MCGES) with a legal mandate to protect and preserve the nation's heritage. The organisation legally declares or designates places and objects of historical value as National Monuments or Protected National Heritage.
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The primary functions of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust are :
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To promote the preservation of national monuments and anything designated as protected national heritage for the benefit of the Island;
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To conduct such research as it thinks necessary or desirable for the purposes of the performance of its functions under the Jamaica National Heritage Act;
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To carry out such development as it considers necessary for the preservation of any national monuments or anything designated as protected national heritage;
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To record any precious objects or works of art to be preserved and to identify and record any species of botanical or animal life to be protected. "Mission and Function" (n.d.).
The legal arm of the JNHT Division provides corporate legal services to the organisation and its Board of Trustees. The Division declares sites National Monuments and designates sites as Protected National Heritage. Under the Jamaica National Heritage Trust Act of 1985, a site is declared a National Monument, if in the opinion of the Trust its preservation is a matter of public interest by reason of its historic, architectural, traditional, artistic, aesthetic, scientific or archaeological value."​Legal/Heritage Protection, Research & Information (HPRI)" (n.d.).
How are structures declared as National Monuments?
The criteria for declaration of National Monuments
To have a site declared a National Monument; it should meet one or more of the following criteria :
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Identify with Jamaican history
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Prominently identify with a great Jamaican personage
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Prominently identify with an important moment in Jamaican history
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Illustrate the culture of the prehistoric people associated with archaeological discoveries
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Identify with an architectural style related to an early master builder/architect
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Possess great antiquity
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Be an example of important regional or local architectural style
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Be of importance to the public's imagination
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Possess great natural beauty
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Be a place name associated with the above criteria. "Legal/Heritage Protection, Research & Information (HPRI)" (n.d.)
National Monuments can be identified with a Jamaica National Heritage Trust insignia
How do you identify a National Monument?
What is the purpose of the declaration of National Monuments?
Declaration of structures as national monuments is a part of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust's attempt to protect the structures under the law. As a result, owners of the structures are not allowed to demolish or alter them without the agency's permission ( Jamaica National Heritage Trust, 2000).