Relics and Forgotten

Old lighthouses are broken down, and whitewashed, sterile structures take their places. Old French Colonial buildings are demolished for glass high-rises, 100 years of Caroni historical structures razed in a rush for new urban housing projects. Grass silos earmarked for demolition. Even an old church pictured above, a Trinidad heritage site in Macqueripe, has been allowed to collapse in on itself. The rare structures lucky enough to get some restorative work end up looking like caricatures of someone's demented sensibilities: the original design and materials shaped into a painted modern-day abomination. We are not at all First World in our appreciation of historical originations, or of the structures which remind us of them; in the gutters of the Third World we are firmly planted. Unless it's the Red House or the Prime Minister's Office, talismans of hegemonic power, "restoration" is synonymous with "demolition".

Rather than a celebration of our past, these pictures represent an etude, and a silent mockery; that our revels in the shining masonry of the present will crumble all too soon. Other pictures will follow in time.

- February 2007










The Credo House was located within the school compound of Holy Faith Convent, Couva. We say was as this structure is in the process of being demolished. Originally built as an estate house, the house was sold to the Holy Faith Order to serve as its home. Years later it would become a retreat house for the Order. The building went on to house classrooms and administration facilities after the opening of Holy Faith Convent in 1951. It has seen hodge-podge expansion and renovation over the years but, unfortunately, the main structure has been deemed structurally unsound largely due to termite infestation and to dry-rot. The building was 98 years old at the time of its demolition. Ironically, we recorded 2 shots of the building on large format silver-halide film which will last 100 years longer than this building did.

We are indebted to photographer, James Solomon, for organising this opportunity to photograph the building. Thanks also to Marlene Solomon and to Leonora De Verteuil.

We apologise for just 2 pictures, but we guess you know we're a bit on the "low volume" side in general.