City starts process to remove Columbus statue

The controversial Christopher Columbus statue in Port-of-Spain is one step closer to being removed, as city officials have begun technical and stakeholder consultations on its relocation.

Port-of-Spain Mayor Chinua Alleyne, along with representatives from the National Trust, the Santa Rosa First Peoples community, and the city’s engineering team, toured Columbus Square in Port-of-Spain yesterday to assess how best to carry out the removal.

“We’re doing our first technical site visit with all the stakeholders,” Alleyne said.

“We’re making sure we’re on the same page about the best way to implement the decision and that it can be done within a reasonable time frame.”

The statue, long criticised as a symbol of colonial violence, has been defaced multiple times over the years—painted red, its hands sawn off, and bags placed over its head.

Alleyne confirmed the statue will be transferred to the National Museum once the facility is ready. Asked whether he was concerned there might be more vandalism of the statue, he said no.

“Remember, the place for it to be vandalised would be here, as it has been several times. Once it’s removed, it will be secured and placed in a more appropriate space.”

He said the museum falls under the Central Government, and he could not provide a timeline for its readiness.

Alleyne described the response from stakeholders as positive.

“They’re happy their voices have been heard. Everyone’s committed to making sure this is done in a dignified way, that preserves our history, and allows us to hold our heads high.”

During African Emancipation Day celebrations last week, Alleyne announced that the Port-of-Spain City Council had voted to remove the statue and gift it to the National Museum and Art Gallery.

He also said there were plans to rename the square and erect a new monument honouring the victims of genocide, slavery, and colonialism.

“We’ve taken the decision to establish a committee to recommend a new name for the square—for all the victims of the genocide of the First Peoples, the transatlantic slave trade, and colonialism,” Alleyne said at the time.