Clifton Heritage National Park
Sacred Space and Genesis
by Antonious Roberts and Tyrone Ferguson
Bahamas: Clifton Heritage National Park
Turning Point is on location in the Bahamas at Clifton Heritage National Park. A former slave plantation, the place is now renowned for the quality of its preservation.
On the shores of the Atlantic lies a historical diamond nestled in one of the most beautiful places in New Providence, Bahamas. The 208-acre Clifton Heritage National Park is a reflection of a civilization long gone by. Inhabited for over 1,000 years by Lucayan Indians, loyalist planters and enslaved Africans, this park is carefully being preserved. For many Bahamians visiting Clifton Park today, it's an opportunity to both reflect on the history of slavery and reclaim a rich heritage.
Dr. Jacinta Higgs, chairperson of Clifton Heritage National Park, is a descendant of enslaved Africans. She says there are many unique aspects of the park, particularly what is referred to as the Sacred Space.
"Within this space here in Clifton Heritage National Park, we have reminders that have been crafted by uh Bahamians in modern time, of our ancestors, and so this is the space that speaks to our genesis here in this part of the world, in this country," Dr. Higgs said.
On the park is an area known as Sacred Space, a place where female figures built from trunks of unwanted Casuarina trees stand together in a circle. The figures represent African women and the triumph of hope among Bahamians.
"These women are overlooking the ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, by which they came to this land via the slave ships," Dr. Higgs said. "And so here is a very sacred moment for us. This is a park that is designed and crafted to raise spiritual consciousness and sensitivity to the plight of diasporic Africans in this part of the world."
The park itself has a very unique landscape of beaches, rocklands and crevices. Around every corner you will find reminders of slavery.
Locals here call a specific crevice on the outskirts of the park the Pirate's Steps. For many years pirates would bring their goods from the Atlantic ocean onto the mainland, away from the watchful eyes of the authorities. Across these steps also passed the first enslaved Africans from the continent.
Dr. Jacinta Higgs gives some insight into the number of Bahamian slaves brought over from Africa to the island.
"Here at Clifton, there are record numbers of, say 200 slaves at one point, then it moved, dwindled down to about 67, so there was small scale concentrated agricultural work going on there," Dr. Higgs said.
Preserving this unique aspect of Bahamian history has come with a few challenges.
"The property was already owned by private citizens. Those citizens made a petition, a request to the Bahamas government to engage in the development of a touristic gated community. When the Bahamian people became aware of this, primarily because of the well-preserved ruins of the plantation, they refused and asked the government to stop the development, and allow the place to be preserved so that Bahamians could have a space, an oasis of tranquility to come to and to reflect upon who they were as a people.
Thankfully, the park was not sold, and today it's becoming quite renowned for the quality of its preservation. For Dr. Higgs and her colleagues, Clifton Heritage National Park is a place of beauty, a learning site. But, most importantly, it represents the determination of the Bahamian people to preserve an important part of their heritage for the next generation.
"Every generation is required to pass on those values, to remind the young people of those values," Dr. Higgs said. "And so when you would say the young people don't remember, we have to say, ‘We didn't teach.'"