(Jamaica Gleaner) Jamaica is losing important artefacts to the scrap-metal trade.
Executive director of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), Lolita Davis-Mattis, said thieves have brazenly removed several artefacts from a number of landmark museums and private collections across the island.
Cannon seem to be a target for thieves as, according to Davis-Mattis, two were stolen from the open space museum at Columbus Park in Discovery Bay, St Ann, and two more from a museum in St Mary.
Just last week, she said a number of cannon were discovered on private property in St Thomas and the JNHT had to put measures in place to secure them “because people are stealing them left, right and centre”.
Thieves have also removed a section of Colbeck Castle, the huge 16th-century structure located near Old Harbour in St Catherine.
“In other words, our heritage is now going to the scrap-iron trade. That’s really what is happening,” Davis-Mattis told The Gleaner.
