Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 23, 2018 (SKNIS): The history of trade and money in St. Kitts is the main focus of a new exhibition that was launched at the St. Christopher National Trust (SCNT) Museum on Tuesday, October 23, 2018, in collaboration with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).
The History of Commerce and Banking exhibition features trade-related artifacts and documents and a number of coin collections. This is a collection of coins that were used in the territory before Emancipation in 1834 and up to the turn of the century. There are also collections of Eastern Caribbean currency before and after the formation of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). Several businesses that were founded in the 19th century that are still in operation in some form today are also highlighted.
Rylis Percival, Executive Director of SCNT, said the trust uses exhibitions such as this to ensure that persons are properly educated on the heritage of the island.
“The National Trust is geared towards educating persons in St. Kitts about our history and culture and we try to do that with our special exhibitions. We have been mounting them since last year December… Before, we did them in collaboration with the National Archives and we are really excited to be putting on this exhibition in conjunction with the Central Bank,” said the executive director.
ECCB’s Governor, Timothy Antoine, said his institution is pleased to work with the St. Christopher National Trust, adding that it is a natural partnership.
“You are in the preservation business and we are in the preservation business. You preserve heritage and we preserve monetary and financial stability,” said the governor, while acknowledging the Trust for the work it has been doing in preserving the heritage. “I sense that this is not merely a work, but indeed a veritable labour of love and for that we are grateful.”
Governor Antoine added that the “exhibition provides some historical perspectives” and it looks back “to see not only from whence St. Kitts has come, but how far St. Kitts has come…”
He commended the National Trust for the initiative, conveyed his pleasure with the partnership, and expressed the hope that all who visit the museum to see the exhibition will be informed and inspired, especially the younger generation.
The History of Commerce and Banking Exhibition which is open to the public at the National Museum runs until Friday, November 30, 2018.
