Private Investment Powering Heritage Preservation

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March 27, 2026
In Maraval, a building that has served generations is being brought back to life—not just as a structure, but as a space for community, faith, and connection.
The Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Presbytery, now over 100 years old, has long been part of the rhythm of parish life. It has witnessed baptisms, meetings, quiet moments of reflection, and the everyday work of ministry. Like many heritage buildings, time has taken its toll—but its value has never diminished.
Today, that story is continuing through the Heritage Tax Allowance Programme (HTAP), a collaboration between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the National Trust.
 
Fr. Ronald Mendes, Parish Priest, successfully applied to the programme to support the restoration and adaptive reuse of the Presbytery. The vision is simple but powerful: to return the building to active use as a mixed-use space for the parish, while preserving as much of its original character as possible.
This work is being made possible through partnership.
 
Janouras Custom Design Limited has contributed to the project and was recently presented with a Certificate of Expenditure by National Trust CEO Graeme Suite. Through HTAP, the company receives a 150% tax allowance—an incentive that transforms heritage preservation from a burden into an opportunity.
But beyond the numbers, this is about something deeper.
 
It is about stewardship.
 
Places like the Our Lady of Lourdes Presbytery are not just buildings—they are anchors of community life. They hold memory, identity, and faith. When they are lost, something intangible is lost with them.
 
HTAP exists because preserving heritage cannot rest on property owners alone. It requires shared responsibility—between government, private sector, and community—to ensure that these spaces continue to serve future generations.
 
For the Catholic community, this work carries an added meaning. It is an act of care not just for a building, but for a living space of ministry and mission.
For the wider public, it is a reminder that heritage is not about the past alone. It is about how we choose to value, invest in, and carry forward the places that shape us.
 
The restoration of the Presbytery is still ongoing. But already, it stands as a clear example of what is possible when partnership meets purpose.
To learn more about the Heritage Tax Allowance Programme, visit: https://htap.nationaltrust.tt/
 

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