Recommended amendments to the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Bill in the House of Assembly would allow people to greater benefits from treasure excavations.
The government has proposed a 75 to 25 per cent ratio with the majority share, going to the excavator. There are some conditions, however, one being that the government would receive a greater share depending on the cultural value of the artifact.
The Bill states: “Both government and licensee to agree in writing that government’s retention of artifacts important to the protection of the national patrimony may exceed government’s 25 per cent share in certain years with the imbalance to be corrected by future divisions.”
Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Charles Maynard said the government is sensitive to the high risk taken by excavators, often involving deep ocean dives. A higher level of documentation of findings is also encouraged.
Another condition aims to ensure preservation of all salvaged artifacts. Excavators will be required to possess a wet and dry restoration unit as a part of their equipment. Such a machine is currently utilized by the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation, housed at Fort Charlotte.
The amendments to the bill aim to update the law relating to the salvage and recovery of the underwater cultural heritage.
