The National Parks Authority (NPA) recently held a special appreciation ceremony to recognize the skilled stonemasons currently working on the stabilization of the Officer’s Quarters at the Blockhouse Military Complex. The event commemorated the ongoing preservation efforts and highlighted the upcoming anniversary of a historical tragedy.
Eight stonemasons, led by veterans Orell Charles, Victor Isaac, and Sean Titus, have been meticulously restoring the 200-year-old structure built from locally-sourced volcanic stone. Their craftsmanship has already resulted in the successful reinstatement of two damaged arches, with work continuing on the broader stabilization project that began in 2024.
The ceremony, held at the Blockhouse Military Complex on March 6, served as the opening event for the NPA’s annual commemoration of March 8, 1744, when eight men—Billy, London, James Soe, Caramante Quamano, Dick, Joe, Scipio, and Johnno—lost their lives in an explosion at the site.
“Gentlemen, this is a proud moment,” said the Minister Responsible for National Parks E P Chet Greene, addressing the stonemasons. “This project aligns perfectly with our recent passage of the Cultural Heritage Bill and our vision to develop more heritage tourism spaces in Antigua and Barbuda.”
The Minister emphasized the historical significance of the restoration work.
“We are not only showcasing the value of these sites as tourism assets but also honoring us as Antiguans and Barbudans—descendants of the very individuals who built these structures.
“When these buildings were first erected, we were strangers to them. Today, we are their rightful stewards; heirs to the legacy of those who constructed them.”
One of the benefactors of the Stabilization Project, Sir Hugh Bailey KGN MBE GCN, attended the ceremony and shared personal connections from his youth in the constituency of St Paul, expressing that the stabilization efforts filled him with national pride.
Chairman of the NPA Board Senator Phillip Shoul encouraged public engagement with the project, stating, “I invite the people of Antigua and Barbuda to come and witness the remarkable talent being displayed here. This project has my unwavering support, and I hope to extend our efforts to more ruins within the National Park.”
The 2025 commemoration theme “Built on Legacy” celebrates the skills and contributions of the free and enslaved Africans who lived and worked in the Dockyard, and whose impact continues to resonate 300 years later as the Antigua Naval Dockyard thrives as a heritage tourism site supporting their descendants’ livelihoods.
This year’s events hold additional significance as the National Parks Authority celebrates its 40th anniversary of service, continuing its mandate to preserve and develop the natural, physical, ecological, historical, architectural and cultural heritage of Antigua and Barbuda.
The stabilization work at the Blockhouse Military Complex is expected to continue throughout 2025, with additional sections of the historic structure slated for restoration in the coming months.
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