We find it particularly interesting that for the second time since the 2014-2015 tourist season began, there have been calls for renewed efforts aimed at the revitalisation of both Bridgetown and Speightstown.
These are two centres of commercial activity that for generations have been focal points of Barbadian life, but which, for a variety of reasons, have fallen into varying levels of decay, while new areas of attraction have sprung up and are flourishing.
Without doubt, countless Barbadian families have achieved prominence and wealth from the enterprises they have staked in these two historic locations over the years, but shifting housing patterns, the monumental growth in the number of privately owned vehicles and the mirroring of the shopping tastes of Barbadians with people living in North America, in particular, have given rise to the “shopping mall”.
With this has come the establishment and almost non-stop expansion of Sheraton Mall in Christ Church, the rebirth of an expanded Holetown area, no doubt fuelled in no small measure by West Coast tourism, and, of course, the virtual urbanisation of Warrens into a town centre that rivals the island’s capital.
It is also certain that the pull of Warrens will be enhanced by the opening of the Dome Mall prior to Christmas, and the planned construction of a massive shopping centre starting later this year on the brow of Warrens Hill. And with construction of yet another high-rise office complex already under way and another expected to start during 2015, the volume of human traffic will certainly beckon even more retail activity there.
So what is to become of the once always bustling Bridgetown and quaint Speightstown that used to be affectionately known as Little Bristol?
For all its neglect and decay, there remains a sufficiently large cross-section of goods and services providers in The City to keep it afloat. And the presence of two major bus terminals servicing every corner of the island guarantees a certain volume of human traffic.
The commercial departures from Speightstown over the last quarter-century, however, especially the large anchor establishments such as the former Plantations Limited, Manning Wilkinson & Challenor, Elmers Supermarket, Noel Roach Drug Store and Cave Shepherd, have left the town a shell of its former self.
Additionally, unlike Bridgetown, it has also suffered from the shifting of the bus terminal from the centre of the town’s commercial activity to the Speightstown By-Pass Road, in effect allowing people to pass through without really touching Speightstown.
It is important, therefore, that those who are leading revitalisation efforts in both instances clearly define the niches they wish to carve out from the unique character of each location, and then seek the strategic partnerships that would lead to success.
It is hardly likely that Bridgetown will ever take on the status of Sheraton Mall, and Speightstown will never mirror the shopping and leisure offerings of places like Limegrove Lifestyle Centre or the mall that encompasses Massy SuperCentre in Holetown.
But both Speightstown and Bridgetown possess unique cultural and historical attractiveness that no amount of spending could ever bring to a new mall. Our business community, supported by Government, needs to figure out the best way to exploit this uniqueness and return life to these locations.