Dis Vendor need li’l help understanding something that does occupy de mind ever so often to de point where ah got to ask a question or two.
Daily we hearing things hard, how Government don’t have money, unemployment high, they can’t pay Al Barrack and they can’t find de money – over $100 million – they owe to pay Sir Hilary and de UWI.
We got nuff properties that could bring Government much needed financial relief but dem just sitting there, decade after decade, rotting away ’til they fall down because not a soul in either party would think ’bout selling them and bringing some small change to the Treasury.
How it is that we de people own several valuable pieces of property but Government does go and rent expensive accommodation rather than fix up what we have and keep the integrity of de architecture of de country intact?
It don’t need a genius to look ’round and see the amount of Government properties dat got real estate potential just lying idle like some Government departments.
We building a massive new complex fuh de Barbados Water Authority wid one of de best views in Bubbadus across de St George valley when just a few years ago Government build new facilities fuh dem in de Pine? We keep building real ugly complexes with nuh architectural beauty.
And while we doing dis, Government, both BLP and DLP, got fantastic property falling apart and would not sell them and bring money in.
We sell BNB, we sell BET to Cable & Wireless but will not fix, use nor sell valuable real estate.
Examples, Newcastle Great House used to be Newcastle Children’s Home. When dat close it just get left there fuh de paros to strip. Belatedly, it was sold, too late to save. Dat property had a view out to de east to die for; de view still there but not de Great House.
On Bay Street, de former Zephirin family home bought by Government was de Child Care Board and dat, too, sitting pun de most magnificent beach in Bubbadus.
Next door is de old Eye Hospital, whichin at one time was de Welfare Office. Again, it sitting pun a pristine beach, also abandoned fuh decades.
At Pine Hill, next door de Central Bank Gov’nor house, a magnificent traditional Bajan great house pun ’bout two acres of prime land rotting away. De rumour is dat St Winifred’s School did want to buy it but get turn down. Round de corner pun Philip Drive in de said Pine Gardens is another beautiful property owned by Government dat is beginning to fall apart; it is de one formerly occupied by de Anglican Archbishop Dr John Holder.
We need some action. I sure private enterprise could save these properties and turn them into revenue fuh Government and create jobs fuh de people that outa wuk.
I wonder if anybody in either party remember dat we own plenty valuable properties. I like I gine have to talk to Professor Henry Fraser and see if he can save some of dese places before all of Bubbadus get tek over wid ugly glass and rectangular buildings.
I, Market Vendor, gone fuh now,
You have a blessed and a wonderful day, yuh hear?
