The Heritage Village project atMimiBay– situated along the southern coastline, east ofSandyHillBayand reached by travelling through the Copse village inEast End- has been included in the island’s recently completed official Tourism Master plan which delineates the destination’s tourism development areas (TDAs).
In effect, it is viewed as an integral part of the projected East EndVillagetourism development plan and has received wide acceptance and recognition for its potential and capacity to effectively help to diversify our tourism product and thus make the destination all the more attractive to both potential and repeat visitors.
For about a year, the project will resemble the annual Festival Del Mar in that booths will be either mobile or temporarily; for, it will take some time to develop the site and erect permanent structures which will replicate an old time Anguilla village.
It will be mandatory that booth owners/operators keep strictly to theme in the project’s goal to recreate, a s perfect as possible, a true reflection of life and living that went on across the length and breath ofAnguillain the olden days.
Much emphasis will be placed upon the need to incorporate Anguillians in the day-to-day running of the village in as many ways as possible, so that it will become a heritage learning centre. Our elders will be sought to volunteer their services as demonstrators, guides and storytellers. There will be youth programs which will include workshops, camping, apprenticeship and group visits for which students will prepare and afterwards submit assignments.
The village will be run by the Board of Directors and have a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Operating Officer and a General Manager. The Village will operate 7 days a week, year-round, opening around dawn for breakfast and going until nearly midnight, thus offering our visitors and locals alike a full day’s experience, if they so wish.
Booth operators will be required to pay 15% of their daily gross receipts which will, among other relevant things, go towards ongoing advertising, promoting, developing, and running the village.
To qualify as a booth owner/operator, interested persons must first show proof that they meet – or, give a guarantee that will meet – all Government requirements to operate food or other types of business ventures and, in addition, they must have or promise to acquire requisite and adequate insurance coverage.
They will then sign long term agreements to abide by the rules of the village and will pay US$10 a day for a 30 foot wide by 60 foot long area on which to conduct business. 34 such areas are provided on the nearly 5-acre lot.
There is adjoining land that should be possible to incorporate, if there is need for expansion in the future. A dolphin pool – or, a mini zoo of local animals, fowls and birds – atMimiBaymight be an added attraction that would warrant an expansion of theHeritageVillageproject.
In addition to the 34 booths, there will also be an old time store, school, church and a museum. Old time household utensils and other items are presently being requested and collected for eventual display and demonstration where possible.
Booths are presently being allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. All interested should contact the Hodge’s Law Office in the Social Security Complex. Those interested can either state the type of booth they plan to operate – e.g. bush teas, soups, fish fry – or choose from a list that will be provided.
Banners showing the layout of the village are at the airport and Sandy Hill roundabouts and opposite LIME in the Valley.
For more information, please email george@anguillanet.com or call 581-2355.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
