The Department of Environment commenced its implementation of the Biodiversity and Heritage Act (2009) with a focus on the Nomination Process for the Fountain Cavern to be inscribed on the United Nations’ World Heritage List of Historical Sites.

The fountain Cavern remains the single most important piece of heritage in the Eastern Caribbean from the pre-Columbian period where the Arawak People met to celebrate and worship ‘the giver of Casava – Jocahu’.

This prominent three dimensional carving of the Arawak supreme deity Jocahu stands approximately 15ft tall in the Fountain Cavern with several other petroglyphs such as “Juluca” the rainbow deity, and “Zemi” the spirit eyes.

The department continues to keep pressure on the United Kingdom Department for Culture to ensure that the fountain cavern remains on the United Kingdom short list for world heritage site status for submission to UNESCO for inscription of the Fountain Cavern by the British Government.

In so doing, the department facilitated a tour of the Fountain Cavern by representatives from the Governor’s Office, the Office of the Deputy Governor, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Infrastructure.

With the recent changes to the selection criteria for heritage sites and the nomination process of the sites, the successful inscription of the Fountain Cavern looks more favorable now compared to previous years.

Having the Fountain Cavern inscribed as a World Heritage Site is an opportunity for Anguilla’s tourism brand to develop its environmental niche as well as the opportunity for increased technical and financial support for the management of the site.

For further information contact the Department of Environment at environment@gov.aior telephone 497 0217.

- Press Release

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