The Parliament Buildings – where the laws are made.
Thousands of people pass this stately structure daily, but how many stop and really take a look at it and marvel at its architecture? How many ponder the significance of the legislation enacted there?
This week, Street Beat takes a look at the people who work in the shadow of Parliament on a regular basis.
This description fits “De Doughnut Man”, Gustavus Halliday, well.
In addition to doughnuts, he sells fishcakes, pone, sweetbread and other treats at one corner of Palmetto Square, The City.
“People are always asking me about Parliament and the Central Bank, so you have to be a tour guide and you got to be up to date with your history and the area, all that is part of selling in Town,” he said.
Halliday, who has been selling in Palmetto Square for more than 20 years, said it was a good location and he had special privileges to park where he did. He said his time there had acquainted him with several Members of Parliament, as well as staff.
“I have a good relationship with the Parliament staff and politicians on both sides. The only disadvantage is when there is [a meeting of the] House [of Assembly] or Senate, as no one is allowed to park here and I have to move,” he said.
Across from Halliday, there is the Old City Bar, a place renowned as a watering hole for politicians from both sides of the fence. However, proprietor Ken Cummins said this had changed.
“We don’t get parliamentarians coming here any more. In days past, they used to socialize and have a drink and connect with the people, but I think there has been a general fall-off in business as we don’t get nuh lot of people now.”
Rum shops have negative connotations as places where the dregs of society go to get drunk and behave disorderly, but the truth is, the rum shop is an integral part of Barbadian history.
In the latter part of the 17th century, Parliament actually met occasionally in one called The Roebuck, a then famous “tavern” in Roebuck Street, as well as in other such establishments.
Cummins said there was still a place for them today.
“There is a new association called BARS – the Barbados Association of Rum Shops – which is working to raise the profile of rum shops and promote business,” he said.
As for Parliament, he said people still asked about it as well as the Jewish Synagogue but he was up to the task as he knew Barbados’ history.
“[Being here] don’t present a problem to me, I hope it’s not a problem for them,” he said.
The vendors in the Palmetto Square Vendors Market had little good to say about Parliament or politicians. They said such people would not be seen buying from them.
“We don’t get any business from them. They should come out and help us, because at the end of the day, we help them by voting, but they don’t help nobody,” said one vendor, who requested anonymity.
However, she placed some of the blame on the vendors who she said were constantly quarrelling among themselves and scaring away customers.
Another female vendor, who also declined to reveal her name, said while some Parliament staff did patronize them sometimes, the only time politicians would show their faces would be during an election.
“Michelle” sells food opposite the market. She was more positive about Parliament although she said people were usually more interested in finding out where Broad Street was than asking about the Parliament Buildings.
“Some do come here; [the late Prime Minister David] Thompson has eaten here as well as politicians from both sides and the staff of Parliament. The only problem is when they enclose the area for House and Senate and you can’t park. Besides that, I love it here; it is centre stage!”
Some taxi operators in Heroes Square were apathetic towards working so close to the third oldest Parliament in the Commonwealth.
“People ask about it, and I tell them, but it is not a botheration – it don’t add or tek nothing from me,” said one driver.
Fabian Brathwaite and Stephen Alleyne said tourists often mistook the building for a church but were usually more interested in the nearby cannonball tree. They said only parliamentarians such as Hamilton Lashley and Patrick Todd would utilize their services as the rest drove their own cars.