Minister of Tourism and Transport Dr. Ewart Brown has applied on behalf of Government to incorporate The African Diaspora Heritage Trail as a local company able to receive charitable donations.

The company is to be called the The African Diaspora Heritage Trail (ADHT) Bermuda Foundation.

When contacted Dr. Brown for comment yesterday on this move, he declined to respond.

Instead, Transport Permanent Secretary Marc Telemaque said Dr. Brown followed legal advice that the best way for The African Diaspora Heritage Trail to operate as a charitable organisation is to incorporate a local company limited by guarantee.

This will enable the organisation to engage in charitable activities in any form including education and promoting relations between countries of the African Diaspora.

Mr. Telemaque said the purpose of ADHT is to ?develop the concept of an African Diaspora Heritage Trail, being a unified cross border cultural and educational initiative to enhance and conserve the essence of African descent, culture and history in Bermuda and through the world?.

As a charity the ADHT will be able to provide educational or other grants, loans or bursaries to individuals engaged in the study or the publication of books or papers related to any aspect of ADHT.

Mr. Telemaque said the purpose of the ADHT is to ?conserve and promote historic sites and venues throughout the African diaspora and to promote the education of visitors to Bermuda and other countries of the African diaspora?.

ADHT will also be able to engage in research, produce policy papers, reports and hold educational courses, conferences and exhibitions.