One of Tobago’s oldest artefacts has received a facelift.
On Monday, after undergoing refurbishment works, the Fort King George Lighthouse was recommissioned.
Situated on the grounds of Fort King George in Tobago, the lighthouse has been inactive for over two decades.
Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities, and Transportation, Tashia Grace-Burris said the lighthouse, which is over 200 years old, deserves preservation.
“This lighthouse was constructed in 1821, which means that this stands as one of the oldest pieces of architecture on this island, and we have a responsibility as Government, as a people, to ensure that while we are progressing, while we are encouraging development, while we are inviting all that is new and all that is shiny and all that is good, and all that represents enhancement, that we take a time to look back and remember from whence we came.”
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine noted that because the Tobago House of Assembly administration recognised the value of Tobago’s historic monuments, the Department of Antiquities was established.
“So the Department has a task to do an inventory of our artefacts everywhere across the island to protect the artefacts, to catalogue them, and to, of course, use it as a marketing tool for the island and to see how best we can monetise our artefactual assets.”
The project was managed by THA-owned Eco-Industrial Development Company (E-IDCOT) and was contracted to Parks International. It includes two phases.
“Phase One includes the refurbishment of the lighthouse and the beacon, and Phase Two involves the design build of an observation deck which is to come soon.”
A permanent lighting fixture for the beacon will also be installed by March 2025.