Frequently Asked Questions

The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) replaced the Jamaica National Trust Commission in 1985 and works to protect, preserve and promote the reminders of our rich and varied material cultural heritage. Under the law, the Trust is responsible for declaring/designating places and objects of historical value as National Monuments or Protected National Heritage. The historic Headquarters House in Downtown, Kingston, which was the home of the colonial Legislative Council 1872-1962, now houses the Trust.

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 the historic, architectural, traditional, artistic, aesthetic, scientific or archaeological value. While a designated protected national heritage usually has group value particularly where buildings together make up an important architectural or historical unity or a fine example of planning.

Criteria For Inclusion on JNHT List of National Monuments

To have a site listed as a national monument or protected national heritage, it should:

Identify with Jamaican history

Prominently identify with great Jamaican personage

Prominently identify with an important moment in Jamaican history

Illustrate the culture of the pre-historic people associated with archaeological discoveries

Identify with an architectural style related to an early master builder/architect

Possess great antiquity

Be an example of important regional or local architectural style

Be of importance to the public’s imagination

Possess great natural beauty

Be a place name associated with the above criteria

The Process

Step 1

A request to the JNHT to have a site declared a national monument or protected national heritage must be accompanied by a letter stating the reasons for wanting the property listed. In addition, you should include:

Name and address of owner and occupier of site

Location of the site

Volume and folio numbers of registered certificate of title and/or LNS and folio numbers at the Island Records Office in respect of the site. If a title for the property is unavailable, then references or boundaries are used to identify the exact location of the site to be protected.

Any information on the site

A photograph of the site or building

Step 2

Once the JNHT receives the above information, the organisation takes steps to:

Verify the volume and folio numbers and location of the site at the Office of the Registrar of Titles, Survey Department, or Land Valuation Department.

Obtain the relevant diagrams, plans or drawings in respect of the site.

Conduct research and prepare a report and recommendation for the approval of the JNHT’s Board of Trustees.

Once approved, prepare and serve the draft declaration/designation and notice of intention to declare/designate the site on the:

Owner/occupier of the site

Local authority or Municipal Corporation where the site is located

Publish draft declaration/designation in the Jamaica Gazette and a notice of intention to do same in a daily newspaper with islandwide circulation.

Affix a copy of the draft declaration/designation on a conspicuous part of the site.

Step 3

The JNHT does not arbitrarily declare a site without some input from the public. In this case, the public has twenty-eight (28) days for objections and representations to be made to the Trust from the date of publication in the newspaper; and date of service of notice to the owner/occupier.

If no objections are made, then:

Declaration/designation notices are served to the owner/occupier, the Municipal Corporation and other interested parties. They are also published in at least one daily newspaper and the Jamaica Gazette and affixed to a conspicuous part of the site.

The declaration is noted on the title.

A mark indicating the site is a National Monument or Protected National Heritage is then placed on a conspicuous part of the site.

Where possible, a public forum is held in the community where the site is located to advise persons that the site is being declared and the consequences of this act – examining the benefits, added responsibilities of the JNHT and the community and the laws governing future use of the site.

Preservation Notices

In cases where a historic site has not yet been declared or designated and is under threat of demolition, damage or removal, a Preservation Notice is served on the owner or occupier to legally protect it. This gives the organization time to conduct necessary research and make its recommendations. The notice has a maximum of six (6) months and is issued by the Minister under whose jurisdiction the Jamaica National Heritage Trust falls.

The JNHT and its approved partners/licensees are the ONLY organizations legally approved to do excavations.

Yes, you can. Please contact the JNHT at (876) 922 1287 or archaeology@jnht.com.

The JNHT does not currently offer any financial support. However, we encourage interested parties to contact us at (876) 922 1287 or executive@jnht.com.

The JNHT does not offer any tour of Fort Charles. For more information, please contact the Port Authority of Jamaica at (876) 922 0290 -8 or email paj@portjam.com.

The JNHT currently does not offer any hiking and/or other outdoor activities.

Old Naval Hospital

Colbeck Castle

Seville Heritage Great House/Park

Fort Rocky

Headquarters House

Bustamante Museum, Tucker Avenue

Bustamante Museum, Blenheim

Stokes Hall

Stewart Castle

Stony Gut

National Heroes Park (Shrine area)

Please contact the Jamaica National Heritage Trust for more information at (876) 922 1287 or jnht@jnht.com.

Please see the cost for the various tours at our different locations here: [link to tours webpage]

Yes, you can. However, it will be on the property title that the property is designated/declared.

Yes, you can. Please submit your renovation plan and pictures to the JNHT for requisite approval via the Heritage Development Review Committee (HDRC). If you reside in Falmouth, please see the attached guidelines [insert link to document].