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.