A PLAN TO REVITALISE the “island’s oldest town” was launched yesterday by the charity The Barbados Association of Tourism Employees (BATE).
Facilitator Hal Austin, who made the announcement at a Press conference at La Bouche Restaurant in Orange Street, said the association would be kicking things off with a fiesta later this month.
“The Speightstown Fiesta, which will be commencing January 17, is going to involve a potpourri of entertainment in the Esplanade,” Austin revealed.
He said the streets would be closed to vehicular traffic and turned into a street fair where local craft people “will participate in the festival with the hope of attracting locals and tourists”.
In addition, Austin said BATE, which was in the works for the last 20 years, was reaching out to the 16 000 direct and indirect tourism employees and will help to beautify the tourism landscape; launch a discount card; award monthly and annual incentives and give free certified training courses in service excellence
for members.
“I must emphasise these grand ideas are workable but can only succeed with the help of corporate Barbados,” he stressed.
Austin also said the entity had approached a number of officials about beefing up security in the town.
“We had a meeting with MTW [Ministry of Transport and Works} and we have a meeting with the police and we’re just waiting on approval from the Government Engineering Electrical Department to add some light – some big floodlights – in Speightstown, so that would increase the safety and security big time,” he said.
“We hope to have that address this month.” (HLE)
