Pedro St. James and CIFEC Partner to Restore Pedro St. James

Javier Bush, varnishing a Mahogany Cheval antique mirror

(Savannah, Grand Cayman, April 15^th, 2024) Pedro St. James and the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC) are pleased to announce a successful partnership aimed at the restoration of antique furniture at Pedro Castle, one of the Cayman Islands’ most cherished historic sites. The collaboration culminated in a three-week project undertaken by students enrolled in CIFEC’s Assured Certificate in Construction Technician program, under the guidance of dedicated teachers and the Operations Manager of Pedro St. James.

The project, aptly named “Revamping Pedro” commenced on April 13th, 2024, and concluded on April 27th, 2024. The focus of the endeavor was on restoring the castles’ antique furniture to its original grandeur, with particular attention given to the internal and external walls, wooden panels, antique furniture, doors, and ironmongery.

Ryn-Anthony Rankin, assistant foreman, and Danukas McCoy varnish chairs from the 18th-century home.

Students, guided by Dr. J. Ransome GMM and Mr. A. Thompson, worked diligently to refurbish the historic building, utilizing the knowledge gained from the Painting and Decorating Unit of their course. The restoration efforts included varnishing antique furniture to its original state, repainting walls, and doors, and meticulously addressing every detail to ensure the castle’s authenticity was preserved.

Reflecting on their experience, students expressed enthusiasm and gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to preserving their cultural heritage. Ryn-Anthony, the team’s Assistant Foreman, shared, “I’ve had a wonderful three-week experience here, where I’ve gained a lot of new knowledge about my culture and the field of construction.” Codi Ann, Foreman of the group, added, “Refurbishing the furniture at Pedro Castle was a meaningful and enjoyable experience. It was great to see that our efforts could help keep history alive.”

Caught in her element, Adriana Sierra (left) meticulously adds the finishing touches to the Early 18th Century Georgian Hunt Table.

Mr. A. Thompson, Assistant Teacher at CIFEC, emphasized the significance of the project in providing valuable hands-on experience for the students. “We collaborated with Pedro St. James

to help refurbish the historic building. Our tasks included repainting and varnishing the walls, doors, and furniture to restore their original appearance,” Mr. Thompson remarked.

Candace Grant, Operations Manager at Pedro St. James, expressed gratitude to CIFEC for their partnership and dedication to the restoration project. “We are extremely grateful to the director and management for the opportunity to restore the Cayman Islands’ top historic site,” she stated.

Mrs. Grant and Ms. Whittaker from Pedro St. James, stand alongside the CIFEC Construction Technician program students, embarking on their first day of restoration work at the site.

The successful completion of the Revamping Pedro project stands as a testament to the power of collaboration between educational institutions and community landmarks in preserving cultural heritage for future generations to cherish.