“First to thine ownself be true.”
I AM compelled to respond to a letter from Cecil Miller, chairman of the Barbados Tourism Product Authority, re the Speightstown Alive event of Saturday, August 8.
Mr Miller , who was not in attendance at any meeting I attended, boldly states that yours truly, as a Speightstown businessperson, agreed with what was proposed.
That is far from the truth. When the idea to set up the entertainment on the steps of Republic Bank was put, a number of us objected, since the Esplanade has two purpose-built bandstands and it was seen as an unwarranted expense, in addition to the fact that that area was too congested.
I was very “vocal” in my objection to the placement of the entertainment, the time limit of the event, as well as the people who were chosen to do the tours, as I felt that there needed to be the inclusion of those who have intimate knowledge of Speightstown.
I was told: “Mr Husbands, we have a directive . . . We have a boss . . . Don’t go there.”
While there was an improvement in takings on that day, I firmly maintain that better could have been done if our advice had been heeded.
Mr Miller, Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy and Mr Lionel Weekes visited La Bouche later that evening and I expressed my concern to Minister Sealy and further stated that my “intellectual property (advice) will not be free”.
Let me thank Mr Miller for his acknowledgement that I have contributed to the tourism industry. I am still available to assist in the further development of Speightstown, but will not be muzzled. Hopefully, he will personally avail himself of the workings of “our” Speightstown and not depend on reports.
– L. Austin B. Husbands
