MUSEUM PROFILE Museum registration number #C2014060600477

Opened 30th November 2013

Governed by a board of Directors

Has a staffing of 5 persons

Auxiliary staff of 5

1 watchman and caretaker

Maintained and up kept by the St. Vincent Ferrer Society

Registered with the Ministry of Legal Affairs

Has a bank account in the Museum’s name Moruga Museum

Houses exhibits of geological content, natural science (whale bones, dolphins, etc)

Exhibits- Amerindian (First Peoples), European, African, Pre-colonial Trinidad and Tobago era, Cocoa plantation items.

Occupy a space of 5000 sq ft.

Building space of 1440

Research teams comprises of professionals, amateurs and persons with a passion for the preservation, exploration and history.

Has a repository

The Museum’s collection is not limited to items found or from Moruga only. On the contrary the collection is restricted to items of historic, archaeological, geological, educational, cultural and scientific

interest.

One key goal of the Moruga Museum is to educate and to implore an appreciation of the past and our heritage to the wider community. As such, the Moruga Museum (MM) has done mobile displays throughout Trinidad. Artefacts were displayed at the World Indigenous Conference at Omera campus for the First Peoples Heritage Week where the regional queens of the First Peoples interacted with some

of the artefacts.

Present at this event were some of the chiefs of region and President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, President Carmona.

The Moruga Museum started off with 300 pieces on display and now has over 800 items on display.

The Moruga Museum has therefore become a database for the collection and storehouse for local history. Also a

research space for students from primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education.

In 2014, the Moruga Museum was also able to have representation in Suriname at the Maroons Women Conference when director Curwin Callender represented the Merikin peoples and the Moruga Museum.

The Moruga Museum though not funded by any state agency has been able to still propel archaeological and geological research on local history and has been instrumental in helping define our country’s history.

Through the research and exploration of the MM Trinidad’s unknown has now moved from theory to reality. Through the discoveries at the Chagaramal northern range hills and the recently discovered Amerindian Archaeological site at the Princes Town Roman Catholic Church.

Additionally, there have been the discoveries of several other sites through Trinidad’s south coast which are currently under heavy erosion. The finds even extend into the forest of Moruga, Mayaro and Morne Diablo.

Through the press/media the MM has been able to inoculate a sense of national pride and appreciation for Caribbean archaeology. The Moruga Museum has also been a beacon of truth

that the next generation has the capability to preserve the countries rich past. The Moruga Museum also has one of the most diverse collections in Trinidad in one location.

The MM was represented at the Museum Association of the Caribbean in Jamaica and was among a small local contingent at the conference where the MM presented on collection and research at the Mona Campus.

The Museum stretched its arm in south land to schools in Princes Town, Princes Town Roman Catholic Church, St. Michael’s Anglican in Moruga, La Lune Roman Catholic, Moruga Roman Catholic, Marac Baptist.

The MM loaned artefacts and items of historical interest as part of an archaeological contribution to educational initiatives and have made several displays at UTT Corinth heritage

campaign drive to educate about the importance of preserving our

country’s history and heritage.

Many students and teachers responded positively to the workshops that were done at their schools.

MM was represented at the Boca lit festival on the panel presented on the pre-colonial unearthings which was discovered by Eric Lewis.

The Museum celebrated its 1st year anniversary and heritage day on 30th November 2014 where the Eric Lewis and the museum were awarded a silver medal of Pope Francis for its Catholic

Collection and exhibit

(Founder Eric Lewis displaying and receiving artefacts from the Princes Town RC Church)

and the museum’s founder Eric Lewis also received Vatican Gold Medal from Papal Nuncio Archbishop Nicoli Girasoli for his remarkable work of preserving the history and incorporating

diversity in the museum environment.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Moruga Museum made world news in several media throughout the world upon receipt of the Vatican medals.

To date the Moruga Museum is not funded by Government and is a great example to communities and people to take intiative to preserve their heritage and honor the works and turmoil of their heritage and honor the works and turmoil of their ancestors and to live their identity with pride and unity among the rich diversity of the twin island country.

The museum has been able to transform the mythical ways that Moruga had been scarred by many rumours and through the Museum establish a space where the history heritage and cultures of the peoples are preserved, exhibited, explained, and research adding to the database of Trinidad and Tobago and world history.