Fort Duvernette opens next week

Fort Duvernette, which has undergone rehabilitation over the last few months, will be reopened next week.{{more}}

The rehabilitation work on the historic site was carried out by Sea Operations (SVG) Limited under contract with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) National Trust. The project, known as the “Fort Duvernette Rehabilitation Project”, was funded by the Embassy of Finland to CARICOM and the OECS, based in Caracas.

The grand opening of the site will be held on Thursday, May 19, at Fort Duvernette, and will be attended by His Excellency Mikko Pyhälä, Ambassador of Finland to CARICOM and the OECS, and officials of the S.V.G National Trust.

The project included the rebuilding of the jetty, installation of protective netting, installation of garbage receptacles and repair to the steps leading to the Fort.

Work on the site commenced in early October 2010 and was expected to be completed by the end of December 2010.

The Fort is the property of the National Trust and was conveyed to the Trust in 1971. The site is a 195 foot high volcanic plug made of hard columnar basalt just off the south shores of St. Vincent. Fort Duvernette has two batteries which were constructed during the colonial era of St. Vincent.

The site also has a unique eco system populated with birds and rich with flora and fauna. The restored site is expected to add to the ecotourism heritage product of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.