From the Advisory Body Evaluation"Records exist of enslaved Africans being sent by planters to contribute to the construction and operation of the naval facility, as well as of their main occupations at the Dockyard, which also included serving as soldiers in the Army, in the specially- created West India Regiments."
One element to justify OUV- the construction of many facilities and the repair works at the dockyards were carried out by enslaved Africans, who were also employed as sailors and for other tasks on ships
"Finally, the contribution in labour and skills of enslaved African workers has proved to be substantial in the construction and operation of the Dockyard. The British Empire and other European powers were heavily dependent upon enslaved labour in their colonies; however, the Antiguan Naval Dockyard and its archaeological remains witness the relaxation of segregation rules in this compound, which were strictly applied elsewhere (e.g. burial sites were mixed and the same goes for hospitals)."
Solivagant:
Have just noticed a bit of "rewriting" of history in this year's inscribed list!!! ICOMOS suggests Criteria (ii)"Although not originally proposed by the State Party, ICOMOS found that the property had the potential to also meet criterion (ii), on the grounds of the information provided in the nomination dossier but not explicitly incorporated into the justification for the criterion."
In ICOMOS's interim report dated 15 December 2015, following dialogue with the State Party's delegation, it was requested to provide a justification also for criterion (ii).
Criterion (ii): exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
In the additional information provided by the State Party on 20 February 2016, the State Party holds that the enslaved Africans serving the British navy and army built and worked in the Dockyard facilities in Antigua and in other colonies in several capacities and were crucial for the development of the British Empire's economy, trade and industrialisation. The buildings, facilities and archaeological remains at English Harbour bear witness to their efforts and continue to inspire their descendants.
ICOMOS Conclusions"This Arsenal gave the British navy a strategic advantage in maintaining control over the Caribbean and the lucrative sugar cane production. Enslaved African workers were crucial in the construction and operation of this Arsenal, as in many others, and thereby contributed to the building of colonial fortunes."